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ב"ה

Pinchas 5760 (2000)
 
COMMENT
How To Take the Law Into Your Own Hands

How To Take the Law Into Your Own Hands I was feeling quite satisfied over how I had handled the situation, when I discovered The Three Fundamental Rules on How To Take The Law Into Your Own Hands.

Well, that nipped my career as an outlaw in the bud. Though it was fun while it lasted.

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THE PARSHAH
Pinchas
Numbers 25:10-30:1
Week of July 16-22

Pinchas In this week's Parshah: the connection between zealotry, peace and priesthood; between numbers and souls, lots and plots, women and land; between Moses' sun and Joshua's moon; and then there are all those offerings--daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal--to contemplate.
  • The Parshah in a Nutshell
  • Full Parshah Summary with Commentary

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    FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS
    Tammuz 16: The Day Before

    Often, an extremely fine line distinguishes between the purest truth and the most distortive falsehood. Why was the Golden Calf the gravest of sins and the most perfidious of betrayals, while the golden cherubs in the Sanctuary were the epitome of holiness?

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    STORY
    The Cigarette Beggar

    It was rumored that back in Russia, before the Revolution, the Cigarette Beggar had been a wealthy man, with textile factories in Minsk and philanthropic projects all over the world. Some said that he had built the very institution whose charity now housed and fed him.

    If you passed him on the street, he would inevitably stretch out his hand and humbly request, "Please, may I have a cigarette?" No one ever saw him smoke these cigarettes, nor could he possibly have smoked them all--he must have begged a hundred cigarettes a day.

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    ESSAY
    The Abnormality of Jewish Life

    The Abnormality of Jewish Life We feel secure when our physician tells us that our test results are "normal", or when the principal assures us that our child's behavior is that of a "normal" teenager. People intuitively equate normal with good. In fact, normal is very bad.

    The ultimate fact of life in this universe is the second law of thermodynamics, which states that energy tends to dissipate, and structure and order tend to deteriorate into randomness. This is normal. According to the second law of thermodynamics, a person achieves normalcy when the molecules that comprised his being are in thermodynamic equilibrium with the environment, which is to say he is dust.

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    VOICES
    A Daughter of Tzelafchad Speaks

    A Daughter of Tzelafchad Speaks There are many teachings in the Torah's account of the petition presented to Moses by the daughters of Tzelafchad, relevant both to women seeking Halachic support for change and to the rabbis who are ruling on their questions. It suggests an approach that if conscientiously adopted by both parties, will keep peace below and draw grace from above. This article explores both perspectives.

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  • QUOTE FOR THE DAY

    POSTCARD: HILLSIDE, NJ

    Under the watchful eyes of their loved ones, 10 couples accompanied by 10 separate Rabbis bunched together under the traditional chuppah...


    Click for Full Parshah Summary with Commentary

    DAILY THOUGHT

    FROM THE ARCHIVE
    Ethics of the Fathers
    Avot: Chapter Six


    Study: Two Aspects Of True Humanity
    In many aspects of our lives, we generally feel that Reason, sound common sense, is enough. But does it touch our essence?


    Insight: Moment Of Fame Or Moment Of Fate?
    Sometimes leaders remain silent in the face of certain events.


    Story: The Queer Beggar
    His entire life was a secret.


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    THE REBBE: 50 YEARS

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