Weekly Parsha

This weekly study is dedicated to the birthday of Rabbi' Tank's wife "Esther bas Raizel". "Mazal Tov"! I pray your day is filled with immense joy and that you are surrounded by family and friends and may the joy present at your birth be with you today and always, Amen. "Yom Huledet Sameach!" (happy birthday). 

This weekly study is also dedicated to the "Refuah Shleima" (speedy recovery) of "Rafael ben Gladys and Mariana bas Zulay".

Prayer List

May G-d deliver us from this crisis speedily and grant a complete recovery to those who are ill, Amen!

"Shlomo Tamas ben Sarah"
"Aaron Caleb ben Chana"
"Malka Batya bas Tova"
"Shabatai (Sebastian) ben Tova"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

Numbers 22:2-25:9

CHUKAT

Another week of action, adventure and mystery as the Jewish people wander the desert in their 38th year. First, the laws of the red heifer (parah adumah) which was burned with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet thread. The ashes were then used in a purification ceremony for those who had come in contact with the dead. Strangely enough, all who were involved in the making of the ashes became ritually impure, but all who were sprinkled with them became ritually pure.

Miriam, Moshe's sister and a prophetess, dies. The portable well which had accompanied the Israelites on her merit, ceases to flow. Once again the people rebel against Moshe and Aharon because of the lack of water. The Almighty tells Moshe to speak to the rock for water. Moshe gets angry and hits the rock and water rushes forth. (There are two incidences of Moshe hitting the rock; the first time he was told to hit it - this time he was told to speak to the rock.) However, the Almighty punishes Moshe and Aharon for not sanctifying Him by forbidding their entry into the land of Israel. (It pays to follow instructions and to withhold anger!)

Aharon dies. His son, Elazar, is appointed the new High Priest. The Canaanite king of Arad attacks the Israelites and later is soundly defeated. Then there is another rebellion over the food and water which is answered by a plague of poisonous snakes. Moshe prays for the people and is instructed by God to put the image of a snake on a high pole. All who saw it would think of G-d, then repent and therefore live.

The Israelites then annihilate the Amorites and Bashanites who not only would not let us pass peacefully through their lands, but attacked us. (There are many questions which need to be asked. Please consult the original work and a good commentary.)

BALAK

The second portion this week, Balak, is one of the most fascinating psychologically-revealing portions in the whole Torah! Bilaam, a non-Jewish prophet, is granted a level of prophecy close to Moshe's level of prophecy. The Almighty gives Bilaam these powers so that the nations of the world could not say at some point in the future, "If we had a prophet like Moshe, we too would have accepted the Torah and would have lived according to it." Bilaam is an intriguing character - honor driven, arrogant and self- serving. (Unfortunately, not too unique amongst mankind.)

Balak, the king of Moav, desires to hire Bilaam for a fortune of money to curse the Jewish people. It is interesting that Balak believes in God and the power of invoking a curse from G-d, yet thinks that G-d would change His mind about His Chosen People. (G-d is not a man who changes his mind). Bilaam is very desirous to accept the assignment to curse the Jews (more for the profit motive than the prophet motive).

The Almighty allows Bilaam to travel to Balak (cautioning him to only say what G-d told him). The Almighty gives every person free-will and allows us to go in the direction that we choose. Three times Bilaam tries to curse us and three times the Almighty places blessings in his mouth. Balak is furious! So, Bilaam gives him advice with hopes of collecting his fee - "If you want to destroy the Jewish people, entice the men with Moabite women and tell the women not to submit until the men bow down to an idol." Balak follows the advice and consequently the Almighty brings a plague against the Jewish people because the men fell for Bilaam's plot. We see from this that the Almighty hates licentiousness and idol worship.

* * *

The Torah states regarding Moshe's hitting the rock instead of speaking to it (as he was commanded to do by the Almighty):

"And the Almighty said to Moshe and Aharon, because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore, you will not bring this congregation to the Land which I gave them." (Numbers 20:12)

If Moshe were to have spoken to the rock (instead of hitting it) and it would have given forth water, there would have been a greater sanctification of the Almighty in the eyes of the congregation. The people would say, "If this rock which does not speak and does not hear fulfills the word of the Almighty, all the more so should we."

We see from here that the essence of sanctifying the Almighty's name is not merely that someone should be impressed by another person's righteous behavior or to think that a person is acting in an elevated manner. Rather, the key factor is that other people should be influenced to improve their own behavior. Whenever you behave in a manner that influences others to follow the Almighty's will, you sanctify His name.

Integrity is what we do,
what we say, and what we say we do.

Failure is when one stops trying,
not when one doesn't succeed

It's nice to be important,
but it's more important to be nice!

Shabbat Shalom!

Quarantine won't stop our learning

We are excited to announce the American Jewish College FREE Learning Program. Please contact Rabbi Tank WhatsApp number +1 (917) 834-4770 to let him know that you want to join the English, Spanish or Portuguese group.

COVID-19 Kids Activity List

We will be publishing a centralized directory of things to keep your children occupied with as all are currently home without school, and unable to go outside.

There are many Torah learning events, educational online events, entertainment for children, musical live streams etc.

PLEASE SEND ANY ITEMS YOU ARE AWARE OF TO HAVE THEM LISTED HERE TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST

COVID-19 Prayer List

If you have any Tehillim names of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19, please contact Beit Chai with those names to be added to the list.

Do NOT send us names from existing lists, and ONLY send us names you know personally. This is for COVID-19 victims ONLY. 

SEND THE NAMES TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST