Shalom JTF Readers,
I hope you all know that I love you like brothers, and no matter what anyone says about this forum the core members here are true-blue Jews. It is my hope that studying the weekly portion with help from this thread should be a merit for JTF so that we may, with Hashems divine assistance, accomplish all of our goals.
This weeks Torah portion begins with Hashem commanding Aaron and his priestly descendants (The Kohanim) to constantly light the menorah. While the simple meaning is that one of the jobs of the priest is to light the menorah every day. The mystical meanings have to do with the deep-rooted kabbalistic ideas of what 'Light' is in the Torah.
We know Hashem through his attributes which he reveals to us in this world. One of the primary aspects of Hashem which we relate to is the attribute of Mercy and Forgiveness. Some Jews were unable to observe the Passover offering because they were impure (from death). They asked Moses why they should be punished because they had to help someone who died. Hashem, once again, allows for them to observe the Passover but not on the original date. A 'Second Passover' was established so that those who were unable to partake of the offering will have a second chance. The simple meaning is clear, but the mystical concept of 'Second Passover' is very deep. Hashem will work with us and give us second chances, should we fall, to rise again and with clean conscience.
This portion ends on a sad note... The people start to become dissatisfied with the food arrangements and they complained against the manna. They wanted meat... This frustrated Moshe a bit... So too Aaron and Miriam discussed Moses behind his back (commiting Lashon Hara) and she is struck with Tzaras (leprosy)...
So this portion is full of all kinds of ideas... We will see how the sages understand why these concepts are related in one portion (why they are next to each other)...
Aaron is commanded to raise light in the lamps of the menorah, and the tribe of Levi is initiated into the service in the Sanctuary.
A “Second Passover” is instituted in response to the petition “Why should we be deprived?” by a group of Jews who were unable to bring the Passover offering in its appointed time because they were ritually impure. G‑d instructs Moses on the procedures for Israel’s journeys and encampments in the desert, and the people journey in formation from Mount Sinai, where they had been camped for nearly a year.
The people are dissatisfied with their “bread from heaven” (the manna), and demand that Moses supply them with meat. Moses appoints 70 elders, to whom he imparts of his spirit, to assist him in the burden of governing the people. Miriam speaks negatively of Moses, and is punished with leprosy; Moses prays for her healing, and the entire community waits seven days for her recovery.
Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute discusses our weekly portion.
Topic: Video Study for Parshat Beho'alachta : The Light, Second Chances, Grumbling (Read 2737 times)