Torah On My Mind with Rabbi Yosef Marcus

"That reminds me of a story...." -- my taxi driver who was not an anti-Semite but was new to English. Also: when it's time to leave the mountain, even Sinai, it's time to leave. Plus: how it could have been if the Israelites had not allowed their fears and insecurities to get in the way. For questions and comments email rabbi@chabadnp.com. 

The fifth book, Devarim, or Deuteronomy, is spoken almost entirely by Moses in the first person. Why this change from the first four books of the Torah? And how, counter-intuitively, does this make the fifth book an even greater expression of Moses' absolute dedication to G-d? Plus: more advice on how do rebuke. For questions or comments, email rabbi@chabadnp.com. 

Thirty-six days before his passing, Moses begins “the talk” to the Jewish people. Rebuke ensues but it is done softly out of respect of the Jewish people. What is the lesson there as we commemorate G-d’s rebuke during these “three weeks” of mourning? And why was it necessary for Moses to translate the Torah to seventy languages? Couldn’t that have been done later at some future point in history when translation would become needed? 

G-d confirms that the daughters of Zelophead were right on -- "they perceived that which eluded even Moses." Moses thinks he's been given a pass and might yet enter the Holy Land but G-d tells him, Sorry, no can do. So Moses asks G-d to appoint a good leader to replace him and G-d chooses Joshua. What qualities did Moses say were needed in a leader? And why did G-d choose Joshua? 

The land is to be divided by tribe size, but Divine intervention will seal the deal with a "talking lot." Tribe of Levi is counted and the daughters of Zelophehad come forward to present their case to Moses. Why are they traced to Joseph? And why were the women not included in the "decree of the spies"?

The Jewish people are counted once again, as G-d enwraps the name of each of the 65 families with His Name Y-H. Why those two letters? And why are they out of order with the H before the Y? Also (in the Q&A), why does the Torah use up all that real estate to go through all the names? Why not state it succinctly summing it all up in a few verses? 

The tribes question Phineas' act, ascribing it to a cruel streak that he supposedly inherited from Jethro, who fattened calves only to have them slaughtered for idols. What impels us to ascribe negative motivation to the good acts of others? And what can we do about it? Also, what do you do when nobody seems to be doing anything?

Moab is trembling, worried that the Israelites are coming for them. (Do you ever worry needlessly?) They seek to hire Balaam to curse the Jews. G-d gives Balaam three no's: don't go, don't curse them, and, no-thank-you, they don't need your blessings.

What's so terrible about a blessing from Balaam? And in the end, doesn't Balaam in fact bless the people?

Ripple effects of Aaron's death: the clouds of glory disappear and the Amalekites smell blood. A prayer and promise fend off the enemy but the Israelites are overwhelmed by it all and lash out. We learn about the two ways to battle Amalek: the path of logic or that of the transcendent ark that cleared the way to serenity.  

Three go up the mountain and two come down. The people can't believe that Aaron, who defied the Angel of Death, has himself died. They mourn for him thirty days, the man who instilled peace betwen disputants and between husband and wife. The story of the "Jew from Baltimore" helps us understand that Aaron's diplomacy was not a lie -- it was the ultimate truth.