"Let my death be the death of the righteous! Let my end be like his!"

What is it that Bilaam asks for? He seeks the profound, things that we all seek.

Take three minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Usually, just a moment or two of reflection can help us understand why the Sages comment on a phrase or verse. But some comments are stumpers.

This week, the Sages tell us that when Moshe and Aharon gather the people together, it is an example of the "few taking hold of the many," as though this is something I would not have figured out myself.

But there is something rather surprising and beautiful here, if we take a few steps backwards to understand the meaning of this seemingly innocuous comment.

Take a few minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to find something both practical and wonderful.

Does Korach have the right priorities?

Generally speaking, when we study the story of Korach and his group, we highlight his terrible moral and political errors. However, when we study Rashi, we find a positive lesson regarding Korach’s priorities.

The Spies saw what happened to Miriam. Yet, they seemed to miss something. Is it possible that we are missing something as well?

If that were the end of the passage, we would understand that Levites retire entirely at the age of 50. However, the next verse continues:

(26) However, they shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, but they shall do no service. You shall do thus to the Levites concerning their duties."

This is a little confusing. Are they to minister in the Tabernacle after the age of fifty, or not?

Notice, the verse tells Moses to Take the Levites because the firstborn are holy. That doesn’t make sense.

Shouldn’t it say take the Levites because the Levites are holy or it should saythe firstborn are holy, so take them?

Surely, it does not make sense to take the tribe of Levi for God because the firstborns were saved in Egypt!

Sources: Num. 3: 12, Bemidbar Rabbah 3:5

Join me for a special episode focused on Yom Yerushalayim with Rabbi Jordan Silvestri, Head of School at the Robert M. Beren Academy.

Rabbi Silvestri and I discuss Rabbi Doron Perez's essay, 'Six Days in June on “Eagles Wings”.

This special episode was sponsored by Elise and Marc Passy to mark the yartzeit of Elise's father, Jerard Cohen, Yosef ben Yehuda, of blessed memory.

What does the im, supposedly "if" really mean? The Sages tell us it means something much more meaningful than just "if." This word opens our Torah portion and contains within it so much more.

Take three minutes to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Source: Avoda 5a.

God chose the 7th day of the week and the 7th year of the Shmitah cycle to be special for Him but the special nature of these Sabbaths is dependent upon us.

Take three minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Our Torah portion begins with our deepest hope and greatest fear: getting credit for our children or receiving opprobrium.