Pinchas 5773

Parshas Pinchas is the most read parsha during the year due to the fact it discusses the holiday offerings given throughout the year. The formula for sacrifices consists of certain numbers of bulls, rams, sheep, and goats. Rashi and Chizkuni explain that each type of animal represents a different forefather. The bull corresponds to Avraham who fed his visitors steak. The ram represents the ram given instead of Yitzchak at the akeidah. The sheep represents Yaakov and his story with Lavan's sheep. The goat is to atone for the brothers selling Yosef and dipping his coat in goat's blood.

Balak 5773

After Bilam receives permission to go meet with Balak, he wakes up early and quickly saddles up his donkey to leave as soon as possible. Rashi notes that hatred affects the way a person acts; Bilam was eager to curse Bnei Yisroel. He than contrasts Bilam with Avraham who also got up early and saddles his donkey to fulfill Hashem's request. We see from here that motivation can be used for both good and bad. It's our job to use it just for good.

Chukat 5773

Moshe is afraid of Og when Bnei Yisroel go to war with him. Rashi explains this is because Og had told Avraham about saving Lot, and Moshe had thought that this merit would protect Og. Hashem then guarantees a victory over Og. The Kli Yakar expounds on this and explains that Hashem was really saying to Moshe that Og never had any merit to begin with. Og had gone to Avraham with the wrong intentions; he wanted Avraham to die, so that he himself would marry Sarah.

Korach 5773

In selichos, we call out to Hashem to answer us just as he answered Aharon during the plague in this week's parsha. But Moshe had commanded Aharon to fight the plague, there was no answer from Hashem to Aharon! R' Moshe Feinstein answers that if Moshe had called upon any other priest, they wouldn't stand a chance. Only Aharon had the merit to fight against the plague and stop it. This is to emphasize once again that Aharon was the chosen priest of Hashem and to further dismiss Korach's claim.