Welcome to the Nishma Insight Discussion Forum blog.


The NISHMA INSIGHT is our popular dvar Torah, distributed almost every week by e-mail, that touches upon an important concept in the Parsha, theme in a holiday or event in contemporary society.

Often, readers respond, via e-mail, with comments that initiate a further dialogue. Through this Discussion Forum, we now wish to open this dialogue to others. If you have a comment on the INSIGHT, we invite you place to your comments here; then we invite everyone to join the discussion.

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Friday, June 28, 2013

Insight 5773-38: Retaliation

For Pinchus
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) We can look at the two verses -- Bamidbar 25:18 and Bamidbar 31:2 -- demanding action against the Midianites as two poles with the material in between serving as a language of connection. The language them emerges as to the nature of this language. How are these two verses connected through this material? In this regard, there are various comments of Rashi that connect one section to another and it may be worthwhile to look at these in formulating an answer.

 2) This is more applicable to the latter statement of Rashi, Bamidbar 31:2 in that Na'amah is mentioned here while not mentioned in his earlier comment, yet one may still wonder why Na'amah is mentioned at all. Ammon and Moav are clearly connected but they were not specifically connected in the events here. Thus the question.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Insight 5773-37: The Lesson for Bilaam

For Balak
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) One may wish to further consider the place of a prohibition on animal cruelty may have within the Noachide Code. This would involve a further recognition that those laws to which we refer to as the Seven Laws of Noach may not be the only element within the Noachide Code.

2) Another question worth investigating may be the exact nature of the influence a recognition of human limitations may have within our moral judgements. We are still called upon to basically act pursuant to our decision making capabilities -- how then is the recognition of our limitations to affect us?

Friday, June 7, 2013

Insight 5773-36: The Lesson of Miracles

For Korach
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) A similar issue could be raised in last week's parsha, Shelach, in regard to those who chose, after the case of the spies, to attempt to go up to Israel immediately. Their frame of reference led them to reject Moshe's warning not to go. In this case, it would seem, there was also no chance for further education. How would you understand that?

2) So what happened in Egypt? What was the real effect of the miracles on belief?