Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed

A little known midrash comments on Sarah's unique personality and outlook. It is just those very qualities that we need right now. Rabbi Soloveitchik's words are from his essay “From Generation to Generation”, pp. 186-7 in “Abraham’s Journey.”

God tests Avraham, as He tests us now. Yet, there is an important element of God's "tests" that we should not lose sight of.

Avram and Sarai have an outlandish conversation as they near Egypt. Their words and experiences speak to our moment.

What people say of us when they evaluate our actions now? Will we be great in our time?

Cain's brother's "bloods" call out from the ground. Bereshit Rabbah 22.

Moses was a "Man of God." Surely, we know that. What does this add to the verse and what does it mean for us?

We can ruin easily ruin our prayers, say the Sages. How, why, and how to avoid this problem addressed in brief in the Parsha Pick-Me-Up.

And all the nations will say, Why did God act this way to this land? Why is this great anger so strong? Unkelos's translation and explanation of the verses that follow give us a powerful insight into the connection between fantasy and suffering.

The Recitation of the First Fruits (Mikra Bikkurim) reminds us of a too often forgotten principle of Judaism.

The penalty for cursing God and for pagan worship is death by stoning. After he is killed, the perpetrator will be hung so that others will learn not to follow his path. How long shall he be hung for? And why is it so important?

No one could be like Moshe; he was truly unique. Yet, he promises to have a successor who is like him. What will that similarity be?

The Polish journalist and writer Ryszard Kapuschinski has a great affinity for Herodotus, the so-called 'Father of History'. This relationship has something to tell us about our own relationships and, of course, about the parsha.

Even in the midst of incredible blessing, we must fear for wild animals?! Why?

Does Judaism have to make sense? Should we be bothered when it doesn't?

Is it possible that Moses was not able to judge Israel? The man who took them out of Egypt and split the sea for them and brought down the manna for them and flew in the quail for them and performed miracles and wonders for them — he should not be able to judge them?! Indeed. Let us ask what this means.

A parable: To what might this be compared? To a king whose son was ill, so he took him to a place far away to heal him.

Zealotry is manifestly dangerous. Yet, God praises Pinchas for his fanaticism. What is praiseworthy about such zeal?

An unusual verb yields a vastly different meaning- and lesson- in the story of the fiery snakes. Complaints, providence, and the wilderness and one grammatical note leave us with an important reminder.

Just who is in charge here? This is the right question to ask when the people surround Moshe and Aharon. It is key for their survival and to how we are going to live.

The order of the spies is very telling, suggests the Ramban. What do we learn from it? And what does it have to do with Alice in Wonderland Source: Ramban to Num. 13:4

Moshe must 'take' the Levites to serve God. The way he does so sets the bar for how we are to take people to serve God in our own time.

What is being a Nazir really about? And is it a good thing? Num. chap. 6 1-21, Nedarim 9b-10a, Rabbi Yehuda Amital, "Naso:Fear of Heaven and Fear of Sin"

Rashi teaches us about the true children of Moshe. Who are they and what do they mean to us?

The Sages dole out important advice on how to give charity. It's a bit of advice that could be life changing, if we let it.

It's usually fine to slaughter a cow. But not always. The limitation of the law known as 'oto v'et beno', the cow and its young, is instructive regarding our general moral obligations