Insight 5773-41: Kadesh Atzmecha B'Mutar Lach

For Re'eh
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) In regard Rashi's view, how is one to look at Rabbinic enactments? Would one now say that they are but necessary deviations from the idea?

INSIGHT 5767 - #34: SUFFERING

For Ekev

Available on the Nishma website

Insight 5773-40: Bonded to God

For V'etchanan
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) How do you understand what would seem to be the absolute requirement that such study will necessarily lead to such love of God? It would seem to be a powerful statement in regard to the psychology of human beings. How would you explain the case -- if there is one -- of a person who has undertaken such study but does not experience this love of God?

Insight 5773-39: The Mitzvah to Judge

For Pinchus
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Question

1) How do you think the mechanism words to consider justice in connection with technical halachic details? Could this be a source for trying to promote peshara, mediation, between the litigants?

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.

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?

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?