Numbers 8:1–12:16
Parshat Beha'alotecha
Aaron is taught how to kindle the Menorah, the Levites begin their service, and a second chance, Pesach Sheni, is given to those who could not bring the Pesach offering. The people travel by the cloud and the silver trumpets, complain about the manna and crave meat; seventy elders are appointed to share Moses' burden, and Miriam is punished for speaking against Moses.
Essays
Parsha Behalosecha – Are You an Elder? Depression, the Chassidic masters say, is not technically a sin, but it can lead the person down a slippery slope which can ultimately lead to the transgressing of all sins. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Celibacy and Judaism Marriage is the most powerful institution in Judaism, and making it holy, not shunning it, is the ideal. The Zohar teaches that marriage is the reunion of two half souls that were separated at birth. Marriage makes the soul complete and fully capable of taking on the challenge of changing the world. Parsha Behalosecha – Fifty and Still Counting Counsel is more than acquisition of knowledge in all of its forms (breadth, length and depth). It is also the ability to distill that knowledge, removing the undesirable ideas that can taint and distort the thinking of even one endowed with the greatest intellectual capacity. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE E Parsha Behalosecha – Complain, but Don’t Run Away A Jew can never run away from his or her connection to Mount Sinai. When we try to escape, our soul picks up a heavenly voice from Sinai that beckons us to return. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Free from Freedom The message of Judaism is that to reach a genuine spiritual high one must spend years, indeed a lifetime, in its pursuit. Spiritual gains require a life of devotion to G-d’s commandments, coupled with profound study and deep meditation. Jewish Messianism is nothing less than an insistent demand for Parsha Behalosecha – G-d, Moses and the Trumpets The Land of Israel is G-d’s special gift to the Jewish people. It is not ours to give away. Giving it away is not why we traveled this long, arduous journey. Being in Israel is also a mindset that encourages us to conform to G-d’s will. The phrase “Land of Israel” can be translated as “the land that Parsha Behalosecha – Heavyweight Champion Kabbalah teaches us that the specific details involved in the performance of a Mitzvah are not arbitrary. When we perform a physical act in the course of doing a Mitzvah, our physical movements parallel the spiritual effects of our Mitzvah. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Keep on Complaining The secret to our survival is our resistance to Galus-exile and to all forms of authority; even those that we may pledge allegiance to. Our essence only accepts G-d’s authority. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Lost and Found Department Our generation might be less spiritually sophisticated than preceding ones, but, our ability to remain faithful despite all odds makes us eminently qualified and deserving to witness and experience the last leg of the journey. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Our Efforts Count One of Judaism’s paradoxes is that while G-d is infinite He cares for every detail of our lives and our actions. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Loss Leader When we are unaware of our G-d-given talents that we could have used to make the world a better place—that is a major loss. When a person “kills” time, those lost moments are far more significant than the loss of material objects. When a Jew is unaware of his or her soul’s existence and its potentia Parsha Behalosecha – Passover in June! The Lubavitcher Rebbe cited the words of the Midrash: “The Time of your Redemption has arrived!” The Rebbe declared that we are on the threshold of the Redemption. What we need now is the desire and courage to cross over this threshold into the “Sanctuary courtyard”—the Final Redemption! LIGHT FROM Parsha Behalosecha – Realignment The irony of exile existence is that we tend to glorify and revere the very forces that withhold all of the kindness to which we are entitled. In the future Messianic Era we will again return to a state of complete alignment. The physical world will mirror the spiritual world and there will be no ne Parsha Behalosecha – Sam Sapozhnik Our generation is very special. We are a fiercely independent minded people. Yet, we nevertheless yield to G-d’s will and seek ways to follow every Mitzvah with precision and then more. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Sing a New Song When we grow in appreciation for and closeness to G-d, what seemed to be ideal in the past is severely wanting now. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Stairs and Ramps The Menorah was not intended for the sinners. It was intended to illuminate the souls of the Jewish people. Their souls, which were already on fire, would now be inspired to climb higher and higher. The goal of the Menorah was to awaken deeper and deeper spiritual powers. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAY Parsha Behalosecha – The Uncompromised Leader Compromise, complacency and comfort are signs of immobility and stagnation. They derive from a distorted picture of one’s purpose and capabilities, as well as a jaundiced and jaded image of the world’s potential. To reverse that situation, one’s eyes must be opened to see the unblemished truth of ex Parsha Behalosecha – Transcending Emotions When doing a Mitzvah, we must ask ourselves, “what effect did the Mitzvah have on me?” LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – The “Make-Up” Holiday When a community of Jews is involved in a Mitzvah it introduces an element of holiness that is truly infinite. No matter how many excuses we may have for separating ourselves from the communal effort, it will not make up for the lost spiritual gain. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSE Parsha Behalosecha – True Humility Moses was overwhelmed, awe stricken and humbled when he was shown the Jews of the last generation of exile, who could remain steadfastly committed to the Torah, despite the suffering, hardships and temptation. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA