Masei

“On the Road: The Lessons of Hindsight”

We need to carefully heed the lessons of the ancient Israelites who “traveled” and “encamped” for 40 years in the wilderness, and benefit from the incredible opportunity that hindsight provides.

“Pinchas Avenges the Midianites”

Why is the zealous Pinchas chosen to lead the people of Israel into battle against the Midianites?

“Words that Hurt, Words that Heal”

In parashat Matot, we are immediately confronted with the exceptional power of words.

“The Never-Ending Journey of the Jewish People”

It is important to carefully consider and review the ancient journeys of our people and learn from them, both the successes and the failures, as we travel on our own personal journeys to our own longed-for destinations.

"The Role of Witnesses and Testimony"

Parashat Masei features a chapter devoted to the case of accidental homicide. Nevertheless, this chapter also includes laws regarding premeditated homicide and definitively states that one witness is not acceptable in capital cases. This revolutionary Jewish juridical innovation underscores once again the principle of the sanctity of human life that governs all of Judaism.