Browse Torah Articles: Sefer Bemidbar
There are 10 parshiyot in Sefer Bemidbar
Parashat Behaalotecha - פרשת בהעלותך - מאקאם שיגא
136 verses, with Haftara: Zecharya 2:14-4:7
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This parasha begins with the unique missvah awarded to the Kohen Gadol of lighting the Menorah of the Mishkan. Following this misvah, we read of the sanctification of the Leviim to work in the Mishkan. The parasha then describes the missvah of Pesah Sheni, a second holiday of Pesah, for those that were unable to celebrate the first Pesah due to spiritual impurity or any other reason. We then read of the way Bnei Yisrael traveled in the wilderness, how they mobilized and how they settled.
The parasha closes with various complaints Bnei Yisrael had against Hashem and Moshe, and the consequential punishments they received. The immediate end of the parasha is the story of Miryam, sister of Moshe, who spoke about her brother, and was too punished.
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 A Missvah for a Lifetime - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Without a Clue
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Pesah Sheni - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Parashat Shelah - פרשת שלח לך - מאקאם חגאז
119 verses, with Haftara: Yehoushua 2: 1-24
Contains 3 Misvot: 2 Misvot Aseh, and 1 Loh Taaseh
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| To spy or not to spy on the land, to listen to the words of truth or not to listen are the questions in Perashat Shelah. These choices affected the future of Bene Yisrael. Bene Yisrael received permission from Hashem to send spies for themselves to tour the land of Israel. Though Hashem assured the land was good, Bene Yisrael wanted to have the land checked. The report given by the spies started on a positive note, saying that the land flowed with milk and honey. They also proceeded to show the fruit of the land. BUT, they continued, the people who live there are powerful, the cities are large and Amaleq lives there among the other nations. Kalev and Yehoshua both attempted to strengthen Bene Yisrael to believe they will conquer the land with Hashems help. The remaining ten spies persisted in their negative outlook portraying fear to the people. All the children of Israel wept and cried that night. Hashem came to the point of beginning a new nation from Moshe, and abandoning the current nation of Yisrael. In his humility, Moshe prays and wins Hashems forgiveness. However, there were still punishments that had to be carried out. The ten spies were killed through a plague from Hashem. The entire generation would now be wanderers in the desert for 40 years; one year for each day the spies scouted the land.
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Kaleb Ben Yefuneh - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Moshe & Yehoshua - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Moshes Prayer
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Spies - Contributed by: Rayna Cohen
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Parashat Houqat - פרשת חקת - מאקאם חוסיני
87 verses, with Haftara: Shofetim 11: 1-33
Contains 3 Misvot: 3 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| The quintessential Hoq of the Torah is the red heifer / cow. The ashes of a perfect red cow without a blemish and which did not work are the means of purification for those who become impure. One who touches a dead body becomes impure. Those who are part of the ashes preparation become impure until the evening. In perashat Houqat, Miriam and Aharon, Klal Yisraels leaders die and thereafter, Bene Yisrael realize their leaders merit. Through the merit of Miriam, Bene Yisrael had water to drink. After her death, there was no water. Bene Yisrael complained. Hashem asked Moshe to speak to a rock for water, also asking him to take his staff. Moshe erred in hitting the rock instead of speaking to it. Moshe and Aharon were denied privilege to enter Israel; they would die in the desert. Aharon was punished because he did not prevent Moshe from making that mistake. After Aharons death, Bene Yisrael complained about the taste of the mann. It was then, that the clouds protection from Aharons merit was missing. Hashem sent the burning snakes to bite the people. Bene Yisrael admitted their sin and asked Moshe to pray on their behalf. Hashem told Moshe to make a copper snake and put it on a nes / stick for the bitten people to see and be healed. Perashat Houqat ends with Bene Yisraels victory over the Amorites and the giant Og king of Bashan.
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To Drink the Water is Divine - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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