The episode of Mei Merivah (Numbers 20:1-13) is among the most perplexing narratives in the Torah. After the people complain about the lack of water, God commands Moses to take the staff, gather the nation, and speak to the rock so that it will produce water. Instead, Moses rebukes the nation, strikes the rock twice, and water emerges abundantly. God then declares that Moses and Aaron will not lead the people into the Land of Israel.
Religious life entails participating in a community, observing shared rituals, following traditional patterns. It can happen that one’s individuality may seem compromised or lost in the process. The priestly blessing reminds us of the need to be part of the community…but to retain our own distinctive individuality.
The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, founded in 2007, offers a vision of Orthodox Judaism that is intellectually sound, spiritually compelling, and emotionally satisfying. Based on an unwavering commitment to the Torah tradition and to the Jewish people, it fosters an appreciation of legitimate diversity within Orthodoxy.
Recent months have seen ugly manifestations of anti-Zionism throughout the world. The haters have distorted the meaning and mission of Zionism. We need to embrace “Bible Zionism” in every forum to set the record straight.
The Torah’s presentation of the Nazir (Numbers 6:1–21) invites a fundamental question: is nezirut primarily a discipline of restraint, or an ascent to a higher, crowned sanctity? The answer emerges from the Torah’s own language, which points simultaneously in two directions.
Ten spies return with a demoralizing report, the nation loses faith, and God decrees that the generation of the wilderness will perish before entering the land. In the plain sense of Numbers, the sin lies in the people’s faithlessness and despair after hearing the spies’ report. However, the Book of Deuteronomy dramatically complicates this picture.
The approach of the ten spies is still espoused by many today. But just as their error caused massive suffering to the people then, it can cause serious harm to us today. We need to hear the courageous and faithful voices of Caleb and Joshua. Reality is difficult; escapism is far worse.
Bravo to Jews who forego days at school or at work in observance of Shabbat and holy days. Even if they lose class time or take financial losses, they demonstrate the courage and commitment to maintain their religious values.
The Song of Songs teaches that the infinite gulf between God and humanity is deepened—and bridged—through the ongoing struggle of love and relationship. In our world, the tendency for instant gratification prevails. In contrast, true love may be judged by its ability to weather crisis and grow into mature adulthood. In brief, our ability to relate to God is measured by our ability to love as people.
The Torah’s distinction between land and urban property reflects a deeper principle: land represents a divinely ordered reality that resists permanent human ownership, whereas cities represent human-created environments that lend themselves to the illusion of permanence.