Thursday, Sivan 19, 5786 / June 4, 2026

B"H

Thursday, Sivan 19, 5786 / June 4, 2026

In Parshat Beha'alotcha, which will be read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, we read that G-d instructs Aaron, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), about the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in the Tabernacle (Mishkan).  

G-d also assigns the men of the tribe of Levi to perform many of the services in the Temple.  Originally, G-d intended to give this important task to the Bechorim (first born).  However, after the other tribes worshipped the Golden Calf, G-d chose the tribe of Levi instead. 

The Parsha also teaches us about the mitzvah of "Pesach Sheini" - the "Second Pesach".  It gave those who couldn't perform the mitzvah of Passover in time, a chance to perform it a month later.

The Parsha also describes that a miraculous cloud hovered over the Mishkan.  "Whenever the cloud went up from over the Tent (Mishkan), then the Children of Israel journeyed; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the Children of Israel encamped."

The Parsha tells us that the people, growing tired of their daily diet of Manna from heaven, complained, "Who will give us meat?... We remember the fish which we used to eat in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic."  They even questioned if it was worth coming out of Egypt where they had a variety of foods.  In response, G-d sent quails from the sea.  The people collected, prepared and ate them.  But G-d was angry for their lack of appreciation for the Manna and sent a plague and many died.

At the end of the Parsha, G-d praises Moshe, "Moshe was the most humble person from all the people upon the face of the earth... In all My house he is trusted; mouth to mouth I speak with him."

In Israel Parshat Shelach is read this Shabbat.  The Parsha begins with the story of the twelve spies.  Before entering the Promised Land, the people asked Moshe to send spies to explore the territory.  Moshe chose one person from each tribe. 

For 40 days, they surveyed the land. When they returned, they brought back a cluster of grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig.  It took eight men to carry the grapes and one each to carry the pomegranate and fig.  Ten of them gave a negative report, only two of the spies, Joshua and Calev, tried to influence the people to go to Israel. "Trust in G-d", they said. "He will help us conquer the land."

However, the people refused to believe the two men.  The Torah tells us, "And the people wept that night."  As a result, G-d punished the Jewish people.  He made them wander in the desert for 40 years (one year for each day which the spies spent in Israel).   Only after all those who refused to go to Israel died, did their children enter the Promised Land.

"And the people wept that night" -  "That night" was the 9th of the Hebrew month Av (Tisha B'Av).   Many years later, that date became a time of genuine mourning for Jews, to this very day.  The destruction of the First and Second Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temples) took place on the 9th of Av.  With the coming of Moshiach, for which we pray every day, and the re-building of the Holy Temple, the 9th of Av will be transformed into a day of happiness.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Tuesday, Sivan 17, 5786 / June 2, 2026

B"H

Tuesday, Sivan 17, 5786 / June 2, 2026

This week’s Parsha, in the Diaspora, is Beha'alotcha – it is the third Parsha in the book of Numbers. The Parsha begins with G-d's instructions to Aaron concerning the lighting of the Menorah in the Tabernacle, which had seven lights; one in the center and three on each side.

G-d commands Aaron, "When you kindle the lights, toward the center of the Menorah shall the seven lights shine." The three wicks on each side of the Menorah are to point toward the center.

Q.   Why did the lights on either side of the menorah have to be pointed toward the center?

A.   Our sages explain that the three lights on the right represent those who are totally committed to spirituality and Torah study.  The lights on the left represent people who spend most of their time in worldly matters.  By pointing the lights toward the center, the Torah teaches us, that no matter whether a Jew is on the left or on the right of the Menorah, the most important thing is that their heart be focused toward the light of G-d – which is represented by the center light of the Menorah.

Instead of using the word "Lehadlik" which means to "kindle," the Torah uses the word "Beha'alotcha" which literally means to "elevate."

The sages discuss the reason for this. Some say that Aaron had to go up several steps in order to light the Menorah. Thus, Aaron had to be elevated to light the Menorah.

The Menorah was not high, so Aaron could have cleaned and kindled the Menorah standing on the ground. However, Aaron had a gold plate on his forehead with G-d's name engraved on it.  Therefore, he was not permitted to lift his hands over that gold-plate. Thus, he had to go up the steps to kindle the Menorah.

Another explanation is that the lights of the Menorah represent the Jewish soul, which is compared to a candle. Just as the flame of the candle draws upward, so too, the Neshama is drawn "upward" to be connected with G-d, its creator. Aaron's mission was to "elevate" the Jewish souls so that they will strive to connect to G-d, just as the flame of the candle continuously strives to go upward.

"Be of the disciples of Aaron," says Hillel in Pirkei Avot.  "Love peace, pursue peace, be one who loves his fellow men and draws them closer to the Torah."

The Midrash tells us that the lights of the Menorah in the Holy Temple were not for G-d’s benefit, but for the benefit of the people.  The Menorah in the Holy Temple brought forth spiritual and holy light to the Jewish nation and to the entire world.

"The function of a Jew is to be a lamp-lighter," said Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch. Just like G-d commanded Aaron, it is not enough to feel spiritually enlightened by ourselves. One should also light up the candles/souls of others by bringing them closer to Torah and Mitzvot.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Monday, Sivan 16, 5786 / June 1, 2026

Monday, Sivan 16, 5786 / June 1, 2026

Many congregations have a custom to study a chapter of Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) each Shabbat between Pesach and Rosh Hashana. In the second chapter of Pirkei Avot, the Talmudic sage Rabbi Eliezer says: ”Your fellow’s honor should be as dear to you as your own.”

The simple meaning is that another person’s honor should be valued by you just as your own honor. However, there is another explanation, which is illustrated by the following story: Rabbi Shmelke was a great Torah scholar, who was invited to Niklosburg to accept the rabbinical position of that city.

Before addressing the crowd for the first time, Rabbi Shmelke asked for a private room. Everyone thought that he was tired and wanted to rest before addressing the crowd. 

After a while, someone went to call on the rabbi and bring him to the packed synagogue for his first address to the congregation. To his surprise, when he came to the room, he heard the rabbi speaking.  Knowing that there was no one in the room, he was curious and peeked through the keyhole. He saw the rabbi pacing back and forth in the room and talking to himself.  He was saying, “Shalom Rabbi Shmelke.. Thank you, Rabbi Shmelke.. What a great speech you gave, Rabbi Shmelke..”  Not wanting to embarrass the rabbi, he left.   

Later, Rabbi Shmelke went to the synagogue, where he gave his speech.  Everyone was amazed at his brilliance and clarity of thought.  He was unanimously accepted as Rabbi of Niklosburg.

The man who overheard the rabbi speaking to himself was bothered by what he saw. He had to ask the rabbi about it. “Rabbi, I happen to have overheard you praising yourself. What was the point?”

Rabbi Shmelke replied: “I was worried that after my lecture, people will come over to thank me and praise me, I may become proud and haughty. I was worried that I may transgress the mitzvah of being humble. So, I went into the room and sang my own praises. The more I did it, the more I couldn’t stand it. I realized how foolish and meaningless it is to be praised by yourself. Now that I felt bothered by being praised, I knew that when people will praise me afterwards, it won’t affect me, just as praising myself didn’t mean anything to me.”

Concluded Rabbi Shmelke: “This is what Rabbi Eliezer teaches us in Pirkei Avot: ‘The honor of your fellow should be as considerate to you as your own.’ In other words, when your fellow gives you honor and praise, consider it as you would praise yourself! It shouldn’taffect you to the point where it takes over your humility. It should be as insignificant to you as self-praise.

Our sages say, “Whoever runs away from honor… honor chases after them.  But one who chases after honor… honor runs away from them.”

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY