This week's parsha

Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.

The Greenest Grass

Published: 08 June 2013 | Written by Rabbi Moshe Bryski

A rabbinical colleague of mine tells me that he's had extensive contact with one of the most popular and renowned entertainment celebrities of our time. This star is not only hugely famous, wealthy and successful, but has been acclaimed around the globe for his rare talent and genius. Hundreds of thousands of fans wish they could have his life; that they could be him.

In the course of their conversations, the rabbi asked this man what it is that he constantly wishes for in life. His answer: Obscurity. His dream is to fade from the limelight, and lead a simple, anonymous, man-on-the-street, white-picket-fence existence.

In this week's Torah portion, Korach, we meet a man who, by all accounts, was a very intelligent, affluent and gifted individual. A Levite by birth, he already occupied a position of prominence and prestige within the community of Israel. Yet, he rallies together a band of fellow Levites to challenge the leadership of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron.

The Evil Elitists

Published: 29 May 2013 | Written by Levi Avtzon

Just before Moses sent off the spies on their mission to tour the Land of Canaan, he called over his trusted protégé, Joshua, and said to him: "May G-d save you from the plot of the spies."

But didn't Moses select the spies himself?

If he didn't trust them, why did he choose them in the first place?

And if, for some reason, he did have to send these particular spies, despite his doubts, then why did he only pray for Joshua, and not the rest of the clan?

In today's political climate, perhaps the worse epithet you could throw at a politician is "elitist." Elitists are evil, haughty, out-of-touch, fly in private planes, and are "enemies of the people."

When Manna Wasn't Good Enough

Published: 21 May 2013 | Written by Naftali Silberberg

The Children of Israel began to cry, and they said, "Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, the cucumbers, the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic... But now, our bodies are dried out, for there is nothing at all; we have nothing but manna to look at!" (Numbers 11:4-6)

Besides its abundance, accessibility, and the absence of a price tag, the manna was the perfect food. Nutritionally, it contained zero waste or excess. It was 100% absorbed by the body, and those who subsisted on a strict manna diet actually had no need to relieve themselves! Spiritually, the manna was "matterized" divine light, the same diet which the supernal angels consume. According to the Talmud, the manna's spiritual qualities had a profound effect on its eaters, and the Torah "could only be given to 'manna eaters'"! To top it all off, according to tradition, the manna miraculously assumed any taste which its eater fancied. Imagine how simple it was to prepare a meal for a family. "Mommy, what's for dinner tonight?" "Anything you wish, dear," would be the convenient reply...

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