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.

Beha'alotcha 5773

When Bnei Yisroel complain to Hashem for food, they say they remember how they ate "free fish in Egypt" (11:5). But how is that possible when they didn't even get straw for free? Rashi answers that they meant that they remember when they were free from mitzvos. Bnei Yisroel were mistaken in that regard. They had to understand that Torah and mitzvos are lehavdil like learning to play piano. You need a rule book in order to play well and to develop your own pieces of music (in this case that would be chiddushei Torah).

Bamidbar 5773

The Midrash Rabbah explains that the Torah was given with three things: fire, water, and desert. Just as these three items are free, so too are divrei Torah free (as they can be passed from Jew to Jew with ease). My rebbe Rabbi Shmulewitz explains that the three items represent different situations. It doesn't matter if the situation is good or bad, one must continue to learn Torah, anywhere and anyhow.

Behar-Bechukotai 5773

The Or Hachaim has 42 interpretations on the first posuk of bechukosai. Interpretation #17 describes a certain situation: A person is going to do a mitzvah but is prevented from doing it. Hashem gives him reward as if he had done the mitzvah. The posuk is read like this: If you are intending to go do a mitzvah but are prevented to do it, it'll be as if you had already done it.

Emor 5773

Emor is one of the most read parshios due to containing the different holidays throughout the year. When the Torah discusses Shavuos, there is no mention of the day commemorating Matan Torah. The Kli Yakar explains that this is because Hashem (kivyachol) thought it was improper to mark a certain day for this event. We are supposed to see every single day as being the day we accept the Torah. The Torah is supposed to have a new "taste" for us every day. We can always learn new ideas that we didn't know before. This is why on Shavuos we bring a "new sacrifice" (Bamidbar 28:26).

Tazria-Metzora 5773

The leper is considered a dead person. Rashi in Bamidbar says that just as a dead person makes a house and whatever inside it impure so too does a leper when he enters a house. He also sits outside the community just as cemeteries are placed on the outskirts of a town. What causes someone to be inflicted with leprosy? This is because of speaking lashon harah. By comparing the leper to a dead person, the Torah is telling us of the severity of speaking lashon harah.