יום שבת, ו׳ חשוון תשפ״זSaturday, October 17, 2026
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It was necessary to have an equal number of people going to war, as were assigned to pray. This was to highlight the awareness that it was not the strength of those fighting that determined their victory over the Midyanim, but the prayers of the other 12,000 soldiers.
I realized that although he was in his late 80s, he wanted to walk from the bungalow all the way to the parking lot – a great distance – in order to personally greet her upon her arrival. That left an indelible impression upon me, of how a husband is supposed to show a wife that she is wanted.
The lesson is that Hashem’s judgment doesn’t reduce everything to qualities – good or evil – but pays close attention to quantities of good and evil.
How does Tisha B’Av and its meaning endure when we have little understanding of what we are missing? It’s because of the laws of mourning that we observe.
The last time the Torah mentions Aharon actually saying anything of his own volition, is when Miriam speaks lashon hara against Moshe. Aharon’s words are a plea for Moshe to pray to G-d to heal their sister.
Throughout history, cultures employed various forms of trial by ordeal in the hopes that either the person subjected to the test would be saved because of their stronger conviction of their innocence, or their guilt would lead to self-sabotage, or their innocence or guilt would be divinely orchestrated at that moment of intense danger or truth.
Everything in this world is merely potential, waiting to be used. Evil, therefore, is the misuse of potential, when we choose to use an object for something other than its true purpose.
Especially in our current times where we have a very clear demonstration of hatred toward Jews, both in the Arab world and in the western world, it is very important to focus on this all being part of Hashem’s plan and all being part of the bigger picture.
Without a moment of hesitation, he jumped into the water, reached out to the listless hand, lifted up the body and brought the little girl to the shore.
If Goats Had Wheels ‘The Goats Ate Husked Barley’ (Bava Basra 36a)
Shulchan Aruch, following Rashi and Rif, rules that the creditor cannot collect at all from sold property based on the invalid document, but he can still collect based on it from the debtor, who is not believed to contradict it.
Question: Whenever an activity is prohibited because of kavod hatzibbur [namely, the dignity of the congregation], may a kehilla decide that such activity, in their view, does not infringe upon the stature or dignity of the congregation? In my synagogue there are many people who do not wear jackets during services. What of a jacketless ba’al tefillah at Mincha or Ma’ariv, in a synagogue where the custom is such that the shaliach tzibbur does not wear a tallit for these services? Menachem Via Email
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Generalizing from judges to general ethical advice, the Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests that getting another’s perspective is essential for self-improvement. We tend to have self-serving biases in either positive or negative directions that distort our self-assessment.
An Egyptian whose ancestors committed genocide against our people may be accepted as a convert after three generations, but a Moabite and Amonite – who never gave us bread and water, they may never be accepted?
Moshe knows he’s running out of time, he wants to make his final request of Hashem.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
A leader who fails to work for change is not a leader. But a leader who attempts too much change in too short a time will fail.
Even those less academic and studious can master the Torah and even those less disciplined have the capacity to fulfill all of their mitzvot.
How could we err and think, like the Jews of Hungary did, that the nations of the world will protect us during times of tribulation? When the inhumane policies of the evil Hitler, yemach shemo, had already affected most of the countries in Europe after four years, people still paid no attention.
The successful relationship between husband and wife makes the home into a sanctuary as it says, Ish v’isha shalom beineihem, Shechina shruyah beineihem – A husband and wife, if there is peace between them, then the divine Presence dwells between them.
If we seek to live our lives based on our own abilities and means, we are very limited. However, if we live with the awareness that it’s Hashem’s world, and we are merely trying to play our part in the divine plan, then we tap into the infinitude of the divine.
We are each endowed with our own unique potential, and everything in our life – down to the smallest detail – is here to help us fulfill our unique role.
Before you call me an apikores, no proof is good if it isn’t subject to honest evaluation and criticism.
Many poskim hold that since the music at a baseball game is incidental, one may attend a baseball game during the Three Weeks.
17th of Tammuz: Beginning 3 weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The Jewish national period of mourning.
By Eliana Klein
Although I sincerely asked for mechila on every subsequent visit, she refused to accept my money or my apology. Instead she unequivocally announced, I don’t want to talk to you! and proceeded to ignore me.
Within His Grasp ‘Title…Is Established In Three Years [Of Occupancy] From Day To Day’ (Bava Basra 28a)
What is the biblical source for not causing pain to animals?
In the human experience, there’s no guarantee of a safe and successful landing and return. What is critical is not the ultimate destination, but the values we bring to the journey of life.
My son recently stopped wearing a necktie and lace-up shoes on the Sabbath. He explained that otherwise he fears transgressing the prohibition against tying knots on the Sabbath. Is he correct in this matter? A Mother in Israel Via E-mail
When you feel that the world is going mad, it is important to return to our sources. Our Torah portion this week reminds us that what we are experiencing today has occurred before.
How important are failed plans and plots, such that the Torah needs to mention any of them at all?
Part of what makes each of us so important is that we are all unique... Hashem created us this way because we each have unique missions in this world.
Parashat Balak is a very interesting parasha in that it relates an incident that none of Am Yisrael observed directly.
Balak realized that the land of the Amorites, including the strip of land between the Arnon River and the Yabbok river which formerly belonged to Moav, was eventually destined to be taken over by the Jews in accordance with G-d’s promise to Avraham.
Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil. -Plato
Bilaam’s hope is to reduce the power of Israel by carving away at our fighting men through spiritual means, so that they will be removed from the army as they are condemned to perdition for their transgressions.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
These are important fights, good fights, whose outcome will affect more than Jews.
Not only is our disposition and attitude critical in disquieting circumstances, but every word we utter during challenging times is significant.
As you get better in chess, you just can’t rely on your opponent to make a mistake. Better players won’t make mistakes.
Imagine how different things would have been earlier this week had the walls supporting the roof of the structure on which the assassin was perched not have been at a height from which the assassin could have peered into the area around the podium where former President Trump was standing.
Someone once noted that a goal without a time frame is usually a mere fleeting dream. Even the best of intentions and aspirations are nebulous unless there is a manageable goal within a specific time frame.
When you look at a beautiful sunset on the beach, where exactly is the location of beauty? Is it the sunset? The reflection on the water? The contrast of the beach against the sunset? It’s none of them and all of them.
Many aspects of human nature have changed, and one cannot take pedagogical advice from the Gemara alone, any more than one can decide halacha from the Gemara alone.
Yes, he looks rather ridiculous as he makes one poor decision after another, and that is rather the point.
There is no question that at least for the Ashkanazim the three weeks are a time for contemplation and introspection. That being said, the majority feeling among poskim is that vacations and family outings are permitted during this time at least for the weeks prior to Rosh Chodesh Av, when the nine days begin before Tisha B’Av.
How many times does Hashem save us without our even knowing? Most of the time our bodies function, our appliances work, things go smoothly, and we aren’t even aware.
The simplest calculation is a 1/6 variance from the fair market value, whether underpayment or overpayment, replied Rabbi Dayan. Thus, for an item worth $60, a sales price of $50 or $70 – a variance of $10 – is considered 1/6 onaah and warrants adding the $10 underpayment or returning the $10 overcharge (C.M. 227:2).
Beyond The Letter Of The Law ‘He May Be Replaced By One Who Teaches More [Faster] …’ (Baba Basra 21a)
What exactly did Moshe and Aharon do wrong in the incident of "Mei Meriva"?
My son recently stopped wearing a necktie and lace-up shoes on the Sabbath. He explained that otherwise he fears transgressing the prohibition against tying knots on the Sabbath. I am concerned, as I do not wish that he appear slovenly especially on the Sabbath, which might not reflect well on him regarding possible shidduchim. Is he correct in this matter? A Concerned Mother Via E-mail
In America, where he arrived from Europe in 1941, mitzvah observance had become moribund, increasingly disconnected from the modern world. The Rebbe reversed this trend by demanding more Torah, more Jewish brotherhood, more Jewish education.
Innocence and naivete must be left behind. How can we hope to recapture them? Some things cannot be undone, only lived with.
The Torah tells us that Nadav and Avihu died because they brought a “strange fire” before Hashem (Vayikra 10:1). But Rashi says in the name of Rabbi Eliezer that they died because they taught Torah in front of their master, Moshe.
Building a Mishkan, circumcision, tzedakah, and farming are not our only significant actions. Every good deed we perform, no matter how small, is important and impactful. Each of these deeds contributes to the betterment of the world and should be appreciated and recognized.
It’s time for all our people to stop using these rationalizations because any thinking Jew knows in their heart of hearts that every Jew should be in Israel, and these excuses have no basis. Our grandparents would have given everything that they own to have the opportunity that we have today to make aliyah and live in Israel.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
It is less reason than emotion that lies behind our choices, and it takes emotional intelligence to make good choices.
All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine. -Socrates
Why weren’t Moshe’s prayers effective, as they were when he prayed for the frogs to be removed from Pharaoh?
The smart player always trains himself to think what the other person on the other side of the board is thinking about.
Whether a person has self-esteem or is instead narcissistic will impact on his or her ability to embody intellectual humility.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We honor Torah, suggest the commentaries, by learning Torah and by performing the commandments, as well as by showing proper respect for both holy books as well as sages.
On the one hand, we all believe that we are unique and special. On the other hand, we sometimes struggle to experience our individuality, feeling almost lost in the crowd.
By Thursday afternoon (a day earlier than expected) camp reached the 2,500 berachos mark. The entire camp enjoyed a special dessert on Shabbos in celebration.
If we’re talking about an all one-gender situation, then there is no problem. So, if the water park is rented out and it is all men or all women, there is certainly no issue; in fact, it’s a fine idea.
Herod may have been the greatest builder of all time (or one of the greatest), but he certainly was not the greatest savior, saving the life of Ben Buta but then arranging for the gouging out of Ben Buta’s eyes (indirectly) to disqualify him from ever serving on a future Sanhedrin which could rule against Herod’s royal aspirations as did the rabbis he murdered.
By Naama Klein
Needless to say, in true Murphy’s Law fashion, I somehow managed to tip over the half-prepared bottle, thereby spilling powdered baby formula and liquid semi-prepared formula all over the dining room table, and wasting most of the powder in the sectioned-off Materna compartment.
If you would explicitly arrange not to accept liability for the money, but rather to invest Shimon’s money in a CD and give him at the end of the year whatever you receive back from the bank, replied Rabbi Dayan, you would not need a heter iska.
Sanctity In The Margins ‘Its Length Shall Equal Its Circumference…’ (Bava Basra 14a)
The pastime of blaming faultless leaders is apparently not new.
It is time to say goodbye to Shai. Maayan wraps her arms around her family, his family, all ages and generations, join together as one. She stands strong, you can see it in her eyes.
Who are the sources of our information regarding the war? After five get-togethers and lectures in the United States that included difficult questions on the situation in Israel, I understood how important it is to check our information sources.
My son recently stopped wearing a necktie and lace-up shoes on the Sabbath. He explained that otherwise he fears transgressing the prohibition against tying knots on the Sabbath. I am concerned, as I do not wish that he appear slovenly, especially on the Sabbath, which might not reflect well on him regarding possible shidduchim. Is he correct in this matter? A Concerned Mother Via E-mail
When God gets angry at the people, all Moshe can do is fall on his face in grief at his own responsibility about what was happening-- But Moshe doesn’t stay on his face for long.
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. -Edmund Burke
It bears mentioning, tragically, that when judgment is rampant in the world and the angel has been unleashed for the purpose of destruction, it tends to consume the innocent alongside the guilty.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Leadership is a role. It is not an identity. It is not who we are. Therefore, a leader should never take an attack on their leadership personally.
Outraged at Moshe and Aharon, they marched with Korach to stand up against Moshe, while Korach vigorously maintained that he was not doing this for himself; he merely wanted to save the people from being misled by Moshe and Aharon.
The pastime of chess, in a world where there are so many hobbies that can atrophy the brain – from vegetating in front of a screen to pounding feverishly the controls of addictive computer gaming – is a refreshing opportunity to activate the mind and train it in many beneficial abilities.
We do not just resemble G-d. We also have a personal relationship with Him.
This is the question that Turnus Rufus the wicked asked Rabbi Akiva: If your G-d loves the poor, for what reason does He not support them Himself?
Korach and his group were fighting with each other at the same time that they were fighting with Moshe and Aharon.
Perhaps it may be somewhat of a heretical question, but supposing G-d had a wallet, whose picture would be in it? Who could be deemed the Pride and Joy of the Master of the world, as it were?
When you see something, you experience it all at once; there’s no process, no surprises. When hearing, when taking a journey, there can be a long-winding path, twisting and turning in all directions, leading you on a seemingly endless quest.
To celebrate any day other than those mandated by the Torah or by Chazal is not proper. However, to commemorate days of importance is proper. Since July 4th commemorates the independence of the United States, it is proper to show one's gratitude to the United States for the freedom it avails to those that live there.
The next morning when I woke up at dawn, the wind sounded fierce outside. I could hear frightening noises of destruction, but it was still too dark to see outside, and anyway as soon as I turned my phone on, there were all kinds of warnings to stay away from windows.
I know that there is ona’ah regarding sales, replied Ari, but I never heard about ona’ah regarding rental. Anyway, I didn’t overcharge you; you offered $40 on your own! Besides, you should have asked around yesterday. You can’t come today and claim ona’ah.
A Fundraiser’s Reward ‘Those Who Persuade Others To Give Charity Are Greater’ (Bava Basra 9a)
Is remembering God's wrath the best way to commence every Shabbos?
Question: Recently we read the haftara of Parashat Naso. I am puzzled by the fact that the wife of Mano’ach was given to see things her husband did not see, yet only his name is mentioned. What was the name of Mano’ach’s wife? Yossy Guttman Via email
When faced with uncertainty, confusion, or disillusionment due to current challenges, turning our thoughts positively towards the past and the future can empower us with perspective and inner strength.
Everyone is aware of the Rebbe’s great leadership and his vast effort to revitalize and elevate the prestige of Judaism among Jews everywhere. However, not everyone is aware of the Rebbe’s greatness as a Torah scholar.
There is a strong message in this week’s Torah portion and it is the call to return home, to make Aliyah.
A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything. -Gustav Mahler
Angels emanate from and inhabit pure spiritual worlds above. G-d’s presence and their mission are both clear to them.
October 16, 2026 
