Becoming Grand by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine It was in the midst of a rebellion against Moshe that Pinchas took action. As a plague of punishment swept the camp Pinchas killed the leader of the rebellion, and put an end to the rebellion and the plague that it caused. In return for restoring peace between Hashem more »
Just Trying to Here You by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Parshas Chukas introduces quite boldly the concept of a mitzvah that we do not understand. Although we know that mitzvos are good, sometimes we can’t understand what Hashem had in mind. We may sometimes wonder “Why indeed should a specific behavior be considered so significant, such more »
When All Else Fails… By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The story of Korach is a remarkable one. Korach was a man who was afflicted with jealousy. He wished that he had been chosen as Kohein Gadol instead of Ahron. Korach stages a rebellion against Moshe which is successful enough that Moshe is concerned that the more »
How are you doing? by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Yisro, the father in law of Moshe, had come to check on the Jewish people and was impressed. He prepared to go back home where, he hoped, he would be able to share the message of the Jewish people with his relatives. Yet, Moshe objected. “Do not more »
Someone Else’s Zealot by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Pinchas acted most definitively. When he saw the prince of the tribe of Shimon teasing Moshe he killed him. The prince, Zimri, had taken a Midianite princess dressed for prostitution, and teased Moshe loudly, asking, “May I be with this woman.” Pinchas- the man who acted- is known more »
Mouth For Hire By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Bilaam was a powerful man. Blessed with a heightened spiritual awareness, Bilaam had trained himself in negative spirituality. No one could curse effectively the way Bilaam could. For the right price Bilaam was willing to provide his services. And because so many people have enemies Bilaam’s talents were more »
Speaking softly, while carrying a big stick by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Jews in the desert benefited from an ongoing water supply in the merit of Miriam. In the beginning of their sojourn in the desert Moshe is told to hit a rock and, in the merit of Miriam, water miraculously flowed from it. In more »
A Good “Machlokes” by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Parshas Korach describes the great argument or “Machlokes” between Korach and our teacher Moshe. Korach felt slighted by the way that Moshe assigned the honors. Korach wished that he had been chosen to be the Kohein. So he started a rebellion. By the time it is over, Korach more »
Did You Ask? by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Jewish people were ready for one of the greatest transitions of all time. They were about to leave the miraculous existence in the desert and enter the Land of Israel. Soon, instead of manna from heaven, they would plant seeds and they would grow. Soon, the miraculous more »
The Boat That Wouldn’t Row by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine In this week’s Torah portion we read of the Sotah, the unfaithful wife. A husband saw his wife “hanging out” improperly, and he warned her. Now she did it again. She was seen going privately with a man. The Torah outlines a procedure to clarify what more »