This week's Parasha, Parashat Haazinu, contains some of Moshe's final words to the people before his departure from this world. Thus it is fitting that Moshe calls upon the heavens and the earth to be the eternal witnesses to the Jewish people's commitment to keeping the Torah, as the heaven and earth are eternal witnesses (see Rashi 32:1). The Or HaChayim has a different perspective on the role of heaven and earth. He explains ...

During the month of Adar, an often quoted idea about Purim is that it is not only a day of fun, but if we break down the words Yom Kipurim, we can read it as Yom Ki...purim, translated as a day like Purim. In doing so, we add a certain amount of importance to the holiday of Purim. That being the case, we must assume the connection would work in the other direction as well. What can we learn about Yom Kippur from the holiday of Purim?

List the mitzvot commanded to us by Hashem in the Torah pertaining to Rosh Hashanah: this was the task I gave to my 7th grade Gemara class! One would think that as auspicious a day as Rosh Hashanah is, it would certainly be filled with many mitzvot. However, this is not the case. The only mitzvah we have on Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar. That being the case, it is important to figure out the special meaning behind this single mitzvah.

Korach is from shevet Levi. His birth is mentioned in the Torah. However in this parasha he starts a revolt against Moshe. He gets 250 people to confront Moshe and Aharon. These people were from Reuven and Levi. Korach says to Moshe that he is keeping Hashem to himself and that other people are also holy. Moshe and Korach go to the tent and both bring offerings. Then the earth swallows Korah, and fire consumes his 250 followers.