Torah Classes

Chp. 16 verses 1 - 15: Introduction, portion deals with the rebellion of Korach and his group against Moshe and Aaron. Moshe proposes a test to prove that Hashem had chosen Aaron to be the high preist. Moshe goes to Dasan and Aviram to try and placate them but to no avail.

Chp. 15 verses 1 - 41: In this chp. Hashem introduces the wine libation that would accompany many sacrifices. Hashem also commands them about the taking of challah from their dough which would be given to the priests. Continues with the sacrifice brought for an error done by the congregation concerning idol worship. It continues with the individual who sins by error and his sacifice. The Torah mentions many times that there should be one law for you and the convert. Next the story of the gatherer of wood on Shabbos. The portion ends with the Chapter on Tzitzith and its laws.

Chp. 14 verses 1 - 45: The people cry in their tents and they complain to Moshe. Joshua and Calev try to convince the people that the land was very good and that Hashem will give them the land. The people threaten to stone them, but they are protected by the glory of G-d. Hashem tells Moshe that He will destroy the nation. Moshe is able to defend the people only to the point of Hashem not destroying them all at one time. He would punish all those between the ages of twenty to sixty with death and wandering in the desert for forty years. Only Joshua and Calev of those between the ages of twenty and sixty would enter the land. The ten spies die by the plague. Against Moshe's words some of the people try to go up and conquer the mountain but they are defeated by the Amalekie and Canaanie.

Chp 13 verses 1 - 33: Introduction, Moshe is given permission by Hashem to send spies into the land of Canaan. He sends twelve men one from each tribe. The Torah lists their names. They return after forty days with a cluster of grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig. Ten of them give their report to Moshe and the people, with the intent of frightened the people and they succeed. Calev tries to convince the people that the land is wonderful and conquerable. The ten spies try to convince the people that they would not be able to conquer the land and that they also saw giants there.

Chp. 11 verse 18 - chp. 12 verse 16: Hashem tells Moshe that He will give them meat for a month until it comes out of their nostrils because they complained. He tells Moshe to gather the seventy elders around the Mishkan and Hashem placed the spirit of Moshe upon them, and they began to prophecise. Eldad and Medad begin to prophecise. The quail fell on the camp in great numbers, and many people died. The place was called Kibroth-hattaavah. Chp. 12, Miriam and Aaron speak loshon hara about Moshe. Hashem rebukes them and Miriam is stricken with leprosy. Moshe prays for her recovery. She is quarantined for seven days and the people wait for her to recover before they travel.

Chp. 10 verse 28 - chp. 11 verse 18: Moshe tries to convince his father in law to stay with the nation. They traveled for three days from the mountain and the Ark traveled a three day journey in front of them. Continues with the two famous verses that we say when we take out or bring in the Torah to the Ark in the synagogue. Chp. 11 tell us about the murmurers, and Hashem punishes them with fire. The people complain about a lack of meat, and the Mann. Moshe complains to Hashem about his burden of taking care of the people, and that he cannot do it alone. G-d tells him to gather seventy elders, and that He would take some of the spirit of Moshe and place it on them and they would help him with the people. Also to tell the people that the next day He would give them meat.

Chp. 9 verse 7 - Chp. 10 verse 28: Hashem tells Moshe about the laws of Pesach Sheni. Description of the cloud and the fire that hovered over the Mishkan day and night. By the word of G-d they traveled and camped. this they were shown by the cloud that rested on the Mishkan. Chp. 10, Moshe is commanded by G-d to make to silver trumpets, to assemble the people or the princes,and to make them travel. The priests were also commanded to blow trumpets throughout the generations in times of war and in times of gladness of the holidays. Continues with the travels of the nation in the second year, and how the camps traveled.

Chp. 8 verse 2 - chp. 9 verse 8: Begins with the service of the Menorah and how is was made. Continues with the induction of the Levites to replace the firstborns, and to assist the priests in the service of Hashem. Chp. 9 begins with the only Pesach that was observed by the nation in the desert. Those that were spiritually unclean complained to Moshe about their inability to bring the Pascal sacrifice. Moshe tells them to stand there and wait and he would confer with Hashem.

Chp. 7 verses 30 - 89: Continues with the sacrifices and gifts brought by the princes at the dedication of the Alter. Chp. 8 verses 1-2 begin the portion of Beha'alotecha.

Chp. 5 verses 9 - 16: The gift of the First Fruits that were given to the Priest, and other gifts that are given to the Priests. Continues with the ritual of the Sotah, the woman who was accused by her husband of infidelity.