No community start suggestion yet.
Why does the Torah (תורה) connect murder with the prohibition against flattery in Parshas Masei? The shiur develops a profound yesod that flattery is a form of spiritual murder — it disconnects victims from their true selves and creates delusions about their identity. When someone lives according to who they're not rather than who they are, they become spiritually dead.
This shiur on Parshas Masei begins with the Ramban (רמב"ן)'s question on why the Torah (תורה) juxtaposes the prohibition "lo sachnifu es ha'aretz" (don't flatter the land) with the laws about not taking kofer (ransom) for murderers. The Ramban explains that taking money to free a murderer constitutes flattery, making them feel like upstanding citizens. Rabbi Zweig finds this explanation difficult and proposes a deeper understanding. The shiur develops around a complex Rashi (רש"י) in Kiddushin about the non-kosher bird chasidah, which "does chesed (חסד) with its friends." Rashi connects this to why flattery and arrogance descended to Babylon. Rabbi Zweig explains that true friendship doesn't involve "doing favors" - with real friends, helping feels like helping yourself, not performing chesed. When someone does calculated acts of kindness to people they don't genuinely care about while pretending friendship, this constitutes flattery through actions rather than words.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does seeing a sotah inspire one to become a nazir? The nazir's abstention creates a pre-sin state where body and soul exist in perfect harmony. This 30-day period corrects the internal contradiction that led to his original transgression.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Masei - Bamidbar 35:33
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
