Idea for Parshas Masei

Idea For Parshas Mattos

When Hashem commanded Bnei Yisroel to take revenge against Midyan, He told Moshe Rabbeinu that after this war, his mission in this world would be complete and he would pass on. Upon realizing that Moshe’s passing was tied to their success in battle, Bnei Yisroel hesitated to go to war—not out of fear, but out of a deep love for Moshe. They wanted to delay the war and prolong Moshe’s life as much as possible.

Rashi (Bamidbar 31:5) points out how remarkable this is: “See how beloved the shepherd is to his flock! Until now, Moshe felt threatened that Bnei Yisroel wanted to kill him, blaming him for their troubles in the desert. Now, when they realize he’s about to die, they want to do everything possible to keep him alive.”

The Shlah Hakadosh asks, why is it a praise that up until now, Moshe felt threatened that Bnei Yisroel wanted to kill him? That doesn't show love at all!

There was once a man in a shtetl who approached the local matchmaker and asked, “Find me a wife who is always happy, who always sees the positive in life.” The matchmaker found him such a woman, and they married. But not long after, she began to voice her disappointments and frustrations. Confused, the man returned to the matchmaker, saying, “I thought you promised me a wife who is always happy!” The matchmaker replied, “She is always happy. The fact that she shares her complaints with you means she trusts you deeply. She believes you are the one who can help her, so she brings her problems to you.”

So too with Bnei Yisroel and Moshe Rabbeinu. When they complained and brought their grievances to Moshe, it wasn’t a sign of disrespect. On the contrary, they saw Moshe as the one person who could help them, who cared about their pain and could bring their concerns before Hashem. Their complaints were, in a sense, a compliment—they trusted Moshe and looked to him as their address for every problem. It was only when Moshe’s passing became imminent that their true intentions were revealed to all. Their desire to prolong his life showed that their complaints stemmed from a deep relationship of trust and love.

When we read through the stories in the Torah about all the times the Jews were complaining, we wonder what was wrong with that generation. Weren’t they holy? Now we understand that this was actually a great act of trust they were showing. And so too, in our lives, when a child or spouse complains to us, realize that you are the person they trust most!

Idea For Parshas Pinchas

Idea for Parshas Chukas

Reasons why being patient is worth your while and tips for developing it.

-Article on boredom From Rabbi Yaakov Barr MSc as featured in Mispacha Magazine Issue#1110 Titled: Don't Dodge Boredom ,It Unlocks the Brain

Life can send us to many unwanted places. Feeling like we have nowhere to turn we start to despair. It is then that we have to remember that we are always in G-D'S hands. Even in this dark place He can be found.

The Parsha addresses the issue of theft, stating that a thief must confess and repay the victim the principal amount plus a penalty. When the Torah directs the thief to confess, it states, “he shall confess the sin he did.” The phrase “that he did” seems to be extra, and needs to be understood.

The Beis Yaakov of Alexander explains that the phrase “that he did” emphasizes that the thief must not only confess to the act of stealing but also address the underlying jealousy that prompted the theft. The additional wording highlights the unchecked urge of jealousy as the true motivator for the act of stealing, and thus, an additional confession is necessary.

We can understand this better by using an analogy of visiting a doctor. When you visit a doctor you don't merely want a prescription for your symptoms; we expect the doctor to identify and address the root cause of our ailment. Similarly, the thief should not only confess to the act of stealing but also confront the underlying issue, which in this case is jealousy.

Consider a scenario where you feel slighted by a coworker at work, leaving you hurt without an opportunity to resolve it. Returning home, you might find your child making a mess, and in a moment of frustration, you react disproportionately. Upon regaining your composure, it’s obvious that you need to mend the hurt caused by your outburst, but we are now learning that you also need to recognize that your anger stemmed from the unresolved hurt from work.

The next time we face a challenge, rather than merely extinguishing the flames of our mistakes, let us strive to identify their origins and address them at the source.

Message for Parshas Naso

Idea from Rav Elya Lopian ZT''L