A Schoolboy’s Joy When School Is Over

Jun 21, 2019

In this week’s Torah reading, Parashat Beha’alotcha, we come across an oddity in the actual Torah script. Two verses are bracketed by an inverted and backward Hebrew letter נ, “nun.” (Bamidbar 10:35-36). The Oral Law, Talmud Shabbat, 116a discusses this issue. “These brackets indicate that this section is in the wrong (contextual) place. Where does it belong?

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Jun 13, 2019

The only blessing that uses the expression “with love,” באהבה is used is recited by the Kohanim right before they bestow God’s threefold blessing on the congregation. “Blessed are You, Hashem, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with the holiness of Aaron and has commanded us to bless His people Israel with love.” What’s love got to do with it and why does Aharon merit a special mention?