Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pinchas’ Lineage. Command to Attack Midian. Another Census. G-d told Moshe that Pinchas the son of Elazar the son of Aaron* channelled G-d’s vengeance against the Israelites so that G-d would not consume them out of vengeance. *Side note: Scripture makes a point of specifying his lineage since the other tribes mocked him, calling himContinue reading “Pinchas, 1st Aliya”

Bilam’s Blessings and the Jews Sin with the Moabites When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 6th Aliya of Balak begins here. Bilam’s Blessings Balak led Bilam to “the peak of Peor”, in the hopes that maybe G-d would want Bilam to curse the Jewish people from there. Balak chose Pe’or, since being a skilledContinue reading “Chukas/Balak, 7th Aliya”

Bilam Blesses Israel When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 4th Aliya of Balak begins here. Balak takes Bilam to a metropolitan city called Kirat Chuzot filled with men, women and children, to show him what was a stake in terms of protecting his land from being uprooted. Balak slaughters one cattle and one sheetContinue reading “Chukas/Balak, 6th Aliya”

Bilam’s Journey to Balak When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 2nd Aliya of Balak begins here. Bilam wakes up in the morning and tells Balak’s officers that G-d will not let him go back with them. Due to his conceit, he made it sound like G-d wouldn’t let him go because Balak’s men weren’tContinue reading “Chukas/Balak 5th Aliya”

War with Sichon. Bilam. When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 7th Aliya of Chukas begins here. War with Sichon and Surrounding Nations The Israelites* send messengers to Sichon the king of the Amorites asking if they can pass through their land. Although they were instructed not to begin talking to them with words ofContinue reading “Chukas/Balak, 4th Aliya”

Aaron Dies. Amalek Attack. The Copper Snake. Travel Miracles. Song of the Well. When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 5th Aliya of Chukas begins here. The Death of Aaron All of the Israelites who were destined to die in the desert before entering the land (see Bamidbar 14:30) had passed away. The remaining IsraelitesContinue reading “Chukas/Balak 3rd Aliya”

Moshe Hits the Rock. The King of Edom When Chukas and Balak are separate, the 3rd Aliya of Chukas begins here. Moshe Hits the Rock G-d tells Moshe that he should take the staff and he and Aaron should gather all of the Israelites together and speak to the rock and the Israelites will seeContinue reading “Chukas/Balak, 2nd Aliya”

When Chukas and Balak are separate, Chukas, 1st Aliya begins here. The Red Heifer. No Water. The Red Heifer G-d informs Moshe and Aaron regarding the rules of the “red heifer” which they are to relate to the Israelites. The rules of the red heifer are illogical in that the same ashes which purify oneContinue reading “Chukas-Balak, 1st Aliya”

The Legacy of the Levites G-d now goes on to detail the legacy of the Levites. The Levites are eternally responsible to prevent the Israelites from approaching the Ohel Moed and if anyone does approach it (in which case the person would die as a result), the Levites are to bear that person’s sin. WhileContinue reading “Korach, 7th Aliya”

The Special Role and Legacy of the Kohanim G-d tells Moshe to put Aaron’s staff back where it had been, in front of the Ark. Anyone who was not a Kohen who would enter into the Ohel Moed would die, so having this staff on display there would serve as a reminder and a deterrentContinue reading “Korach, 6th Aliya”