This parsha is typically read before shavuos? What is the connection between the parsha of Bamidbar and Shavuos. The Book of Numbers opens with a census of the people. Rashi explains because of the love for the Jewish People Hashem constantly counts us. The Torah goes through great length how we were counted. According to their families based on their fathers, their tribes, each male 20 years and older… Its still difficult to understand why did we even need to be counted?

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We will be talking about shavuos. The parsha of Bamidbar is always read before shavuos. Lets talk about this misunderstood Yom Tov (holiday). The Torah doesn’t tell us any reason why we celebrate shavuos. It tells us after Pesach, you’re supposed to count the day after the first day of pesach seven complete weeks. Count a total of 49 days and after that make a holiday and it should be a day where 2 loaves of bread are brought in the Beis Hamikdash. This is a special korban for Shavuos. We know that we generally call shavuous the “Holiday of the weeks”. Which also needs an explanation. What exactly is the significance of “the weeks”? The weeks are counted BEFORE the Yom Tov….?

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This week's Torah portion is Parshas Bechukosai. This is the parsha that's always read a few weeks before shavuos. Its the parsha called, "tochacha" (reproof). The Torah tells describes in great details all the rewards that will come to the Jewish people if they keep the mitzvah properly. As well as all the terrible punishments that will befall the Jewish people if they do not keep the mitzvah. The Talmud tells us that this is also read shortly before the end of the year (before Rosh Hashana) that the year and all its curses should come to a close and the new year should begin with blessing. Although Shavuos is not really the "new year" in that same sense, but in a form as the Torah was given to the Jewish people. Its a new year that will determine the new Torah insights that will come to the Jewish people in the preceding 12 months. 

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Shemittah - The Divine Authorship of The Torah!

This weeks parsha is Parshas Behar. The mitzvah of shemitah is a mitzvah where every seven years in Israel we cannot work the land. There’s a famous Rashi on the first passuk in the parsha which tells us, Hashem spoke to Moshe at Mount Sinai and gave him the mitzvah of shemttiah. Rashi poses the question, “why does it tell us over here that Gd told Moshe at Mount Sinai, we already know the entire Torah was given at har sinai?”

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Parshas Kedoshim discusses many of the mitzvos especially the interpersonal mitzvah. The prohibition of speaking “Lashon Harah”, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, “Not taking revenge”, “Not bearing a grudge”, etc. One of the mitzvos the Torah tells us about is “Betzedek Tishpot Amisecha”. The rabbis understand that to mean that a person should give his friend the benefit of the doubt. While the simple implication is towards a judge, but the reality is every single human being is a judge. Whether we mean to be judgmental or not, we always come to make conclusions about people. We are supposed to give people the benefit of the doubt.

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The hagaddah has been published with commentary more than any other book in all of Jewish history. Hundreds of them come out almost every year. Everybody has an approach to the hagaddah be it a more mystical approach or a simple understanding, deeper understanding, etc. There's so many different approaches to the hagaddah. The reason for that is because the scriptural passage regarding the Passover seder states, "And you should speak to your children on that day..." Discuss and elaborate on the exodus from Egypt. But if you break down the hagaddah into parts there are two main parts...

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The hagaddah has been published with commentary more than any other book in all of Jewish history. Hundreds of them come out almost every year. Everybody has an approach to the hagaddah be it a more mystical approach or a simple understanding, deeper understanding, etc. There's so many different approaches to the hagaddah. The reason for that is because the scriptural passage regarding the Passover seder states, "And you should speak to your children on that day..." Discuss and elaborate on the exodus from Egypt. But if you break down the hagaddah into parts there are two main parts...

Like what you hear? Connect with Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum at: www.clevelandjlc.com Remember to share this episode with your family and friends. Help us spread quality Jewish education.

Thinking about starting your own podcast? Visit us at: www.maverickpodcasting.com