Author: Robert Pinkus

Bahalotecha This week the contest for leader of the conservatives which will decide who is the next Prime Minister was in full swing.(as of writing we are down to the final two!) Watching the TV debates online it really brought home to me the sad reality of our current political landscape where it seems to me that honesty and true commitment to what is best for this country are in short supply. The rhetoric being wielded by the candidates was more tactical - to get through to the next round - then truthful. Contrast this with weeks Parsha where Moses is tasked with inaugurating the Levites into the service of the Tabernacle. God tells Moses that the Levites " are wholly given over to Me from among the children of Israel". In Hebrew the double expression "Nessunim Nesssunim heima li" is used. The Torah is teaching us that the ideal life is one that is dedicated in service to something more than the self- in this case the Divine service in the...

Naso  In parshas Nasso is recorded the Birchas Kohanim, the Priestly Benediction. The benediction is a powerful and beautiful blessing that expresses Hashem’s greatest blessings upon the Jewish People. The Kohanim have the responsibility and honor to serve as Hashem’s messengers to impart these special blessings to His people. The Zohar says that any Kohen that does not love the congregation should not participate in Birchas Kohanim. This is because of the verse, טוב עין הוא יבורך – “He with a good eye should be blessed (proverbs 22:9).” The Zohar says, do not read that, “He with a good eye shall be blessed,” rather read, “He with a good eye shall bless others.” (זח”ג קמז,ב) The Shulchan Aruch - Code of Jewish law based on the above Zohar instructs that a Kohen who (God forbid)  hates a congregant should actually leave shul so as not to  do Birchas Kohanim, since saying Birchas Cohanim while hating a congregant is dangerous for the Kohen. The Zohar brings a story of a Kohen who once stood up to say Birchas Kohanim, and before he finished he became a pile of bones. The reason,...

Bamidbar- Shavuot  As we approach Shavuot I have been working up my appetite for my all favorite cheesecake! There are many reasons given for eating milky over Shavuot some of which we will discuss at Monday's discussion - yes over cheesecake! Usually I write original pieces for this section but on this occasion I would like to share a very interesting chassidic take on cheesecake by Rabbi Aron Moss: The teachings of Chasssidus in general is a perspective of Torah that helps us connect to the deeper and inner experience of the Torah and its Mitzvot. He writes as follows Milk is actually refined blood. In a complex and wondrous process (taking certain proteins etc), the mammary glands transform blood into pure white milk.There's something supernatural about that. To take a liquid as pungent and distasteful as blood, and convert it into a nourishing and drinkable food is nothing short of miraculous. We can simulate this miracle in our own lives. Blood represents raw animalistic passion and untamed...

Bechukosai There are three types of mitzvos: 1) Eidus - testimonies that remind us of a particular aspect of our relationship with Hashem Eg Shabbat reminds us of creation, Pesach - the exodus etc 2) Mishpatim- ordinances or laws that make sense to our natural inborn moral sense 3) Chukim- statutes which are laws which transcend our limited human wisdom The parsha opens with the promise of blessings for following the pathway of Torah. If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them then ..." It is interesting to note that the Torah encapsulates the mitzvot with the term "bechukotai" (related to chukim - statutes). The Torah does not say "if you will walk in my testimonies or ordinances" This is because at the heart of every mitvzah even the testimonies and ordinances that make sense to our minds and hearts is a Chok- a statute that transcends reason. Whilst we should and are even commanded to learn Torah and uncover spiritual depths of Hashem's wisdom, nevertheless at the...