Torah Archives - Charles R. Lightner

27 Sep 2024

The Law IS Not Too Hard for You

It is in your mouth, and in your heart - and in the oven of Akhnai Parashat Nitzavim In this week’s Torah portion, there is a brief but powerful passage that always attracts attention. This is the text of Deuteronomy 30:11–14: For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not too hard for you, nor is it too far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go u...

Parashat Pinchas – Numbers 25

chucklightner Judaic Topics

Numbers 25 – Israel at Shittim and the Pinchas Episode In Numbers 25 the Israelites are in Shittim, which is the last stop on their journey through the desert. They are led there into both idolatry and illicit sexual activity by the “daughters of Moab.” Apparently, this is the doing of the prophet Balaam, whose attempts to curse the Israelites had been thwarted by God earlier, in the ac...