ב"ה

Vigorous Counsel or Suborning Perjury
One of the most troubling "grey areas" in the practice of law is the question of where a lawyer’s advice crosses the line from helping the client make a good case into providing a recipe for perjury. How is this issue dealt with in the American and in Judaic law?

Letters and Numbers of Torah - Behaalotecha
"So it was, whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, Arise, O Lord, may Your enemies be scattered and may those who hate You flee from You. And when it came to rest he would say, Repose O Lord, among the myriads of thousands of Israel." (Numbers 10:35-36) These two verses are surrounded by an inverted letter "nun" at the beginning and end. Nowhere else in the Torah does the inverted nun appear. What is its meaning?

The Soul’s Essential Elevation via Torah
Declares G-d, "My flame – the Torah – is in your hands, and your flame – the soul – is in Mine. If you guard Mine, I shall guard yours" (Midrash Devarim 4:4). But is not the soul too "G-d's flame"? In addressing this question, this class offers new insight into why the Divine soul, which is naturally drawn and connected to G-d, requires Torah altogether? (Maamar Bahaalotecha 5729)

Parsha Bahaalotecha
"So it was, whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, 'Arise, O Lord, may Your enemies be scattered and may those who hate You flee from You." What is the difference between "Your enemies" and "those who hate You"? An analysis of Rashi's commentary on Numbers 10:35. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 23, p. 73.)

Parshah Curiosities: Behaalotecha
An intriguing overview of the biblical account of the Sinai desert journeys led by the Ark of G-d segues into two of the most famous yet least understood verses in the entire Chumash. It was with this formula that Moses prayerfully petitioned G-d for our protection, and tucked into its folds are the profoundest answer to the tragic yet historic pernicious anti-Semitism that has persisted for millennia. The timely and burning question: “Why do they hate us?” is frankly and candidly approached from an entirely new perspective. Discover a Torah-true take, and find out why identifying real haters empowers us to defeat them.

Letters and Numbers of Torah - Behaalotecha
"So it was, whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, Arise, O Lord, may Your enemies be scattered and may those who hate You flee from You. And when it came to rest he would say, Repose O Lord, among the myriads of thousands of Israel." (Numbers 10:35-36) These two verses are surrounded by an inverted letter "nun" at the beginning and end. Nowhere else in the Torah does the inverted nun appear. What is its meaning?

The saddest period in the Jewish calendar, when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple – amongst a litany of other national tragedies – is commonly referred to as 'The Three Weeks'. Yet, our Sages referred to this period as '21 Days'? The answer to this innocuous question reveals an astounding new depth to both the mourning period and its inevitable resolution. (Based on Sefer Hasichos 5750)

The Sages of the Talmud differ as to the positioning of the Menorah in the Holy Temple, whether east to west (along the width of the temple) or north to south (along the temple’s length). This class reveals the spiritual underpinnings of this discussion and the relevance to our daily lives. (Based on Reshimas HaMenorah)

Why Tisha B’Av will be a festival in the messianic era?
The teachings of chassidus look beyond the surface of the terrible destruction of the Holy Temple and the subsequent exile, which we mourn during the 3 weeks, and finds the hidden good embedded inside—offering insight into why they’ll ultimately be transformed into joyous holidays in the times of Moshiach.

Letters and Numbers of Torah—Matot
G-d tells Moses, “A thousand for each tribe, a thousand from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel you shall send into the army [to battle the Midianites].” (Numbers 31:4) The Hebrew word for thousand is “elef,” which is spelled the same as “alef.” What is the connection between the battle against Midian, the letter alef, and the Three Weeks of mourning over the destruction of the Temple?

Letters and Numbers of Torah - Pinchas
"Pinchas...has turned My anger away from the children of Israel by his zealously avenging Me... therefore I hereby give him My covenant of peace." (Numbers 25:11-12) In this verse, the letter 'vav' of the word 'shalom' (peace) is written like two separate letters, a 'yud' above and a small 'vav' below. What does this teach us about how to make true peace?

Eicha in Depth, Part 16
Eicha: 1:18, Zion publicly acknowledges spiritual shortcomings, moral failures and rebelliousness. In accepting G-d’s judgment upon herself, she faithfully confesses her guilt in bringing destruction upon herself. Yet in the latter half of the verse, mournful wailing continues. This class addresses the seemingly disparate reflexes expressed in this verse, and in doing so reconciles the implicit tension between maintaining absolute faith while expressing emotional angst of sorrow in the face of tragedy. The notion of “accepting Hashem’s judgement” is presented in the broader sweep of our biblical tradition, and we encounter the tragic end of Judea’s supremely righteous last real monarch.

Learning Likutei Sichos vol. 23, Behaalosecha sicha 1
Rashi tells us that the Torah’s narrative regarding the Pesach offering observed in the desert the year following the Exodus, does not follow chronological order. Learn how the reason behind this chronology change, which is the negative aspersion the narr
Get the Chabad.org Video app