Parsha Pick-Me-Up

"If a man does well, they say to him, you preceded the angels; if he does not, they say to him: (in creation) the fly preceded you, the gnat preceded you, the snail preceded you." - Reish LakishBut what does this have to do with the laws of Kashrut and ritual purity?

Discover a powerful moment in this week's Torah portion — when celebration turns to tragedy, and true leadership emerges. In just a few minutes, gain insight into resilience, responsibility, and the roles we play when life doesn't go as planned. Tune in to this week's Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Do we need to earn our place in this world? We find ourselves here, and no one asked us whether we were interested. Yet, once we are here, God makes demands of us. Our parasha contains the beginning of a meditation on this issue.

Discover the deeper meaning behind Hashem's call to Moshe and how it offers a powerful lesson in affection, equality, and the way we relate to one another."

In this week's episode of Parsha Pick-Me-Up, we explore the surprising moment when Moses blesses the people after their painstaking work on the Tabernacle. Why is the blessing given at such an unexpected time? Join us for a thought-provoking insight into the power of finishing what we start and the true essence of success. Tune in for a quick, meaningful reflection on the Parsha that will inspire you to push through to the finish line.

In this week's Parsha Pick-Me-Up, we dive into a powerful question: Did everyone donate to the Tabernacle? The answer might surprise you – and it holds a message we all need to hear.It's not just about the donations; it's about presence, purpose, and the reminder that we all matter in building a stronger community.Don't miss out on this insightful episode – because we need you. Tune in now and find out why!

God asks Moses, "Why do I need you?" An intimidating question. Why, indeed, are we important? What are we good for?Looking in this week's Parsha, the Sages tell us how to answer.

What is the power of the consistent and the always in our relationships and lives? What do they mean for our Judaism? The Menorah is to be kindled, "always." And that carries an impact for how we see ourselves and the things we do.

The High Priests beautified the Temple just as we beautify our synagogues whenever we are able. But there is one more thing to beautify that we may be forgetting.

Torah speaks to our character, our behaviors, our knowledge, to the things that lift us up and make us up. It comes to harmonize society and make our lives and minds pure and good. It is anything but impersonal, anything but abstract, anything but distant.

We actively care for our parents, much as they once cared for us when we were small. But how do we know that all of that is necessary? Maybe we just need to be nice to our parents and we can leave it there. Or at least, that's what the Sages thought.

Somehow, like the new parent who gets annoyed when their new baby cries for too long, we forget that we are experiencing a miracle, we forget the true and deeper nature of things, the truth that should be more obvious. So who won the battle against Amalek? Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

How did the Israelites win over their former masters? Is such a thing even possible? It seems so. Take five minutes to study a fabulous answer to this question proffered by Rabbi Sacks in his commentary to the Chumash.

Why in the world did Hashem promise the forefathers the land of Israel if He had no intention of eventually giving it to them? Well, it's something we live with every day. Take five minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Here is a simple question: how long did the conversation between God and Moshe take? Was it an hour? Two?Somehow, we seem to miss the real number. And, along with it, one of the central lessons of the episode.

There's a lot to learn from how people phrase things. Sometimes, they don't want to talk about themselves directly. What are they avoiding? What are they trying to say?In our case, Yaakov Avinu uses circumventive phrasing to teach an essential lesson.

Some things are worth dying for. Knowing what they are can define us.

You need to have the right dirt. As is well known, Joseph advised Pharoah to take food from the seven years of plenty and store it away for the years of famine. Pharaoh, in turn, appointed Joseph to oversee this process. As we shall see, in order to do this, Joseph determined that you need the right dirt. And so do we.

Where did Yaakov live? Well, in the land of Canaan of course. But listen to the verse, because there is a phrase in it that does not belong. Of course, it contains a beautiful lesson for us about how to live.

What is God saying to Jacob? God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply. But the timing makes it very odd that Hashem says this to him. Take note: Jacob is 11 sons and one daughter into his total of 12 sons and one daughter and the time of this comment. What does God mean to tell him?

The story of his transformation begins, of course, with a dream about a ladder. Interestingly, the terminology and ideas of this passage bring to mind another passage in the torah, one where stones are noted as missing, where Hashem comes down to meet a tower that went up to the sky. But what is the import of this remarkable parallel? And what is the secret to fatherhood of the tribes?

When Esav heard the words of his father, he cried a cry that was great and very bitter. And he said “bless me as well, father!.”Esav knows that Yaakov has received the blessing that was intended for him. Hurt and saddened, he begs his father to bless him. Yet, he has no idea what blessing his father gave to Yaakov.Why is he so desperate for some unknown words?

How do the Children of Chet know that Avraham is a holy man? They are not privy to his prophecies, and there are many wealthy warlords who no one would confuse for a man of God. So what makes Avraham different?

Why did Hashem choose Avraham? It's not really a mystery: God tells us Himself in this week's torah portion. As Hashem says “because I know him, since he will command his children and his household after him and they will keep the path of Hashem, to do righteousness and justice.”Yet, we may struggle to find an instance where this actually occurred! When does Avraham teach his children what to do?

Avraham will receive the Land of Canaan as a gift... if he takes a walk first. Why is that so important?

Why not send the raven again? We tend to think that after the flood, Noah first attempted to send a raven to explore the dry land before he sent a dove to do the job. But there is something essential missing from this picture and most translations do not convey the passage accurately.

Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.What type of inheritance is this? What is the import of this idea? The Midrash Tannaim gives us the following most beautiful explanation, just in time to begin again.

We can ruin easily ruin our prayers, say the Sages. How, why, and how to avoid this problem addressed in brief in the Parsha Pick-Me-Up.

What is the last thing you'd like to eat before you die? What, indeed, do we want to do before we die? How would we spend today, if we knew we were in our final hours?

How do we find joy? Apparently we can find it after we bring the first fruits. A simple secret is once again taught by our tradition.

It is odd that he takes such a strong stand against vows. Is it really so bad to promise our children we will make the play, our spouse that we will take that vacation, our boss that we will make the meeting, and so on?Yes, Rav Dimi says. Take five minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn why.

Why is it so important to respect borders and boundaries?We begin with regular old fences. But there's a lot more there and all of our relationships are impacted by this teaching. This week's episode is sponsored by Sari and Scott Garfinkle in memory of Zev David ben Shlomo z'lSources: Sifri 188, Midrash Aggadah (Buber) Deut. 19, Lev. 19:10, Mishnah Peah 7:3, MT Gifts to the Poor 4:15, Proverbs 22:28, Yalkut Shimoni Deut. 19

They both rise on one and the same soil, both are watered by one and the same fall of rain and dew, the same air breathes over both of them… and yet Eval remains in barren bleakness while Gerisim is clad to its summit in embellishment of vegetation.

We return to an old problem with this verse. Could it be that the all knowing God really needs to test the people in order to see whether or not they would keep His commandments? Indeed, Ibn Ezra's comments here amount to something like “I already wrote about this earlier.”

Given the great number of laws in Judaism, we may be tempted to conclude that doing good in God's eyes means no more or less than keeping the law. However, we find in our parsha that this is not the case.

Moshe joins a long tradition of deathbed reprovers. It is a list that includes Yaakov, Yehoshua, Shmuel, and David. What is it about this practice that makes it so worthy of imitation by our greatest leaders and teachers?

The Tribes of Gad and Reuven just want a place to live. But Moshe goes right into panic mode. What is he so afraid of? And why should we be so afraid of it as well?

This episode carries different meaning this year. As I listened to it, I was surprised how different elements in it now became resonant. Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn about zealotry, Pincha's moment, and the Jewish interest.

"Let my death be the death of the righteous! Let my end be like his!"What is it that Bilaam asks for? He seeks the profound, things that we all seek. Take three minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Usually, just a moment or two of reflection can help us understand why the Sages comment on a phrase or verse. But some comments are stumpers. This week, the Sages tell us that when Moshe and Aharon gather the people together, it is an example of the "few taking hold of the many," as though this is something I would not have figured out myself. But there is something rather surprising and beautiful here, if we take a few steps backwards to understand the meaning of this seemingly innocuous comment. Take a few minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to find something both practical and wonderful.

Does Korach have the right priorities? Generally speaking, when we study the story of Korach and his group, we highlight his terrible moral and political errors. However, when we study Rashi, we find a positive lesson regarding Korach's priorities.

The Spies saw what happened to Miriam. Yet, they seemed to miss something. Is it possible that we are missing something as well?

If that were the end of the passage, we would understand that Levites retire entirely at the age of 50. However, the next verse continues: (26) However, they shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, but they shall do no service. You shall do thus to the Levites concerning their duties."This is a little confusing. Are they to minister in the Tabernacle after the age of fifty, or not?

Notice, the verse tells Moses to Take the Levites because the firstborn are holy. That doesn't make sense. Shouldn't it say take the Levites because the Levites are holy or it should saythe firstborn are holy, so take them? Surely, it does not make sense to take the tribe of Levi for God because the firstborns were saved in Egypt!Sources: Num. 3: 12, Bemidbar Rabbah 3:5

Join me for a special episode focused on Yom Yerushalayim with Rabbi Jordan Silvestri, Head of School at the Robert M. Beren Academy. Rabbi Silvestri and I discuss Rabbi Doron Perez's essay, 'Six Days in June on “Eagles Wings”. This special episode was sponsored by Elise and Marc Passy to mark the yartzeit of Elise's father, Jerard Cohen, Yosef ben Yehuda, of blessed memory.

What does the im, supposedly "if" really mean? The Sages tell us it means something much more meaningful than just "if." This word opens our Torah portion and contains within it so much more. Take three minutes to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more. Source: Avoda 5a.

God chose the 7th day of the week and the 7th year of the Shmitah cycle to be special for Him but the special nature of these Sabbaths is dependent upon us. Take three minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Our Torah portion begins with our deepest hope and greatest fear: getting credit for our children or receiving opprobrium.

Our verse functions as a sort of warning: don't turn to false gods, since, in the end, you may come to think that they are real.

Notably, this is not the usual uniform of the High Priest, clothed generally in gold, jewels, and wool. Rashi explains that the gold, reminiscent as it was of the sin of the golden calf, would have been problematic.

Some stupendous humility may be called for in such a case. Perhaps the teacher of all of the priests is not a priest. Then, that teacher will never be able to declare tzara'at, though his students could. A surprising lesson is contained here. Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.