Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.
Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.
kPinchas 5784
Balak 5784
Korach 5784
Chukas 5784
Shlach 5784
Shlach 5784
Please click on the link below to receive the e-Parsha in the way cool HTML version right to your inbox. http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1103523647591&p=oi
======================================
This week's YouParsha Shlach https://youtu.be/5y9k-W6tI04 The Making of a Good Spy.
======================
One of the Mitzvahs of Parshas Shlach - Numbesr 13-15, is to separate the dough offering for the Cohen - Challah. Adding water to flour and turning it into dough serves as an allegory for the effect of the Torah on the mundane physical world. Flour consists of thousands of small and independent pieces, but when water is added, these pieces become a singular cohesive mass of dough. Just as water serves to make a unified reality out of the unconnected particles of flour, so does the Torah allow us to see the underlying unity and harmony of all existence. Every created thing serves a unique purpose, but these purposes can often seem at odds with one another. The Torah illuminates physical reality, allowing us to realize the ultimate purpose of creation as a whole and the specific contribution of each created thing toward the overall purpose.
According to Jewish Law, the flour that remains in the bowl after the dough is made is not considered part of this batch of dough. When we remove the challah from the dough, the leftover flour is still under the obligation to have challah taken from it. This teaches us that even if we have illuminated certain aspects of reality with the light and holiness of Torah, we must not forget about the areas we have not yet touched.
==============================
Reb Yekutiel, a very wealthy business magnate from Chernigov (located many miles east of Grosse Pointe Farms), was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to ten years hard labor in Siberia. He requested the chief rabbi of the city Dovid Tzvi Chein visit him before he left.
Tears filled Rabbi Dovid Tzvi's eyes at the sight that met him upon entering the cell. Reb Yekutiel, too, was overwhelmed with emotion. Finally, the prisoner began to speak: "I asked you to come, because I want to tell you why I am here. Perhaps others can learn a lesson from my story. "Several months ago, I was traveling to Petersburg and obtained a compartment in the first-class section of the train. The Lubavitcher Rebbe was also on the train.
"I passed by the Rebbe's compartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of his holy face. The door was ajar and suddenly I found myself gazing into his eyes -- eyes that looked deeply into mine and seemed to know the innermost reaches of my soul. I stood there rooted to the spot. The Rebbe motioned for me to enter. With awe and trepidation, I entered the Rebbe's compartment. The Rebbe soon put me at ease, inviting me to sit and offering me a cigarette. He expressed great interest in our community as well as in my personal life and business dealings. In parting, the Rebbe said to me, 'I'm sure you've heard of the railway that the government is planning to build across Siberia. I think this is a perfect business opportunity for you. As one who has close connections with Minister Potysukshnikov, you should be able to obtain a sizable contract as a lumber supplier.'
"I returned to my compartment in a state of confusion. The last thing I expected from the Rebbe was a business tip. On the one hand, I felt that the advice of a tzaddik should be followed. On the other hand, the proposal held no attraction for me, despite its great financial potential. My business affairs were going well, thank G'd; why should I leave my family and community and spend many long months, if not years, in far-off Siberia?
"And so, now I'm on my way to Siberia. I thought that the Rebbe was dispensing business advice, but he must have seen that there is something in Siberia that I must achieve -- some part of my mission in life that must be played out in the frozen east. I could have gone in comfort, as a wealthy businessman and government contractor. Now I am going in chains.
============ ==========
Listen Weekly to the Jewish Hour Podcast. www.rabbifinman.com/radio. Now available on iTunes, spotify, audacy, stitcher and wherever you park your podcasts.
The Torah e-Parsha is a project of Jewish Ferndale. For information on sponsoring the Torah e-Parsha in memory or for the recovery of a loved one, in honor of a simcha or you just feel like being nice, contact via reply. All contributions are tax deductible. Please forward this message to as many friends and associates as you like. © 2024 by Herschel Finman.
Contact Rabbi Finman for information on sponsoring the e-Parsha
