The Weekly Mission- Torah Portion by Isaiah Rothstein

Weekly Mission: Parshat Behalotcha Holy friends, this dvar Torah is meant for me as much as it is for you. So please, open your hearts… Life is a rollercoaster. Sometimes we go up and sometimes we go down. Sometimes we reach high levels, but then we come crashing down. Throughout their existence, the Jewish people constantly lived this rollercoaster ride as the “stiff-necked-people.” We try and we fall. We try again and we fall again. How do we understand our failings and consistent struggles? This parsha begins with the beautiful light of the Menorah and ends with the unfortunate slander which Moshe’s siblings spoke against him. What causes us to fall as individuals and as a greater community? Why do we all share, in some respect, an appetite for destruction and a battle for G-d-consciousness? When the Jews begin journeying from Sinai, HaShem searches for a resting place for them. As they travel, the Clouds of Glory leave every moment utterly unpredictable. [i] Then,...

Parshat Bimidbar (5770) - Will You Marry Me? After a long Journey at Binghamton, I am finished, and off on a new adventure with Rachael. I am getting married to the best editor in the world, and I could never be happier. Binghamton was life changing and the friends that I have made over the last couple of years have deeply affected me, and made me a stronger person, thank you. “And I, Behold! I have taken the Levites from among the Children of Israel, in place of every firstborn...” [i] At the sin of the golden calf women and the tribe of Levi did not participate, but the first born did. Originally, G-d gives the responsibility of the temple service to the first born of Israel. Because they also participated in the sin of the golden calf, the holy maintenance team for the Temple, in most of its facets, is given to the tribe of Levi. Among the many areas, the Levites are commanded to carry the Mishkan, to clean the Altar and upkeep the cleanliness of the Temple. Marriage is on...