Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

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At this point, the Jews had not yet crossed the Jordan River, so they had not yet entered the Promised Land. But they had conquered the land of the Midianites and it was theirs to do with as they pleased. The Tribes of Reuben and Gad thought the land was especially good for their flocks, […]

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Matot – Sh’vi’i

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That plan pleased Moshe and he approved. He made the Tribes of Reuben and Gad promise to stick to the plan, which they did. Moshe informed Elazar and Yehoshua of the agreement, since they would be the ones to fulfill it. Moshe gave the land they conquered from Sichon and Og to Reuben, Gad and […]

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Korach – Rishon

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A rebellion was started by a disgruntled Levite named Korach, from the family of Kehos. (Rashi cites the Midrash that the reason for his rebellion was that Korach felt passed over for a promotion when he wasn’t selected head of his Tribe. He then accused Moshe of nepotism in making his own brother High Priest.) […]

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Korach – Sheini

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Continuing the rant of Dasan and Aviram, they accused Moshe of deceit and refused to come. (Their words “lo naaleh” literally translate as “we will not ascend” – words that turned out to be truer than they could have imagined!) Moshe was angered by these false accusations and he prayed to G-d not to favor […]

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Korach – Shlishi

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G-d told Moshe and Aharon to stand aside, as He was about to strike down the entire community. They prayed that He only punish the rebels. G-d agreed and instructed the people to distance themselves from Korach’s assembly. (The words “mishkan Korach” could be taken to mean that Korach had established a “breakaway” Tabernacle.) The […]

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Korach – R’vi’i

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…the people were blaming him for the deaths of the rebels, when God made His Presence manifest. “Step aside,” said God, “and I’ll wipe them all out in an instant.” Moshe and Aharon did not want God to do this, so they prayed for the people. The plague had already started, so Moshe had Aharon […]

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Korach – Chamishi

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God had Moshe speak to the Tribal leaders. They were told to write their names on their staffs and to bring them to the Mishkan. Aharon’s name would be written on the staff of the Tribe of Levi. God said He would cause the staff of the one He desires to blossom. That should put […]

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Bamidbar – Rishon

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On the first day of the month of Iyar in the second year of the Exodus, G-d spoke to Moshe in the Sinai wilderness and told him to take a census of the Jews, counting males from the age of 20. Moshe was to be assisted by the Tribal leaders, who are then named. (The […]

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Bamidbar – Sheini

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This aliyah gives the Tribe-by-Tribe tally of the census results. All told, there were 603,550 males from the age of 20 and up in the twelve Tribes (counting Ephraim and Menashe as two Tribes and not including Levi). Moshe was instructed not to include the Tribe of Levi in the general census since they had […]

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Bamidbar – Shlishi

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G-d detailed for Moshe the layout of the camp. Each division would have a unique banner and they would camp equidistantly from the Mishkan. On the east would be the division of Judah, including the Tribes of Issachar and Zebulon. When the camp traveled, they would lead. On the south was the division of Reuben, […]

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