Rosh Hashana 5773

Where do we know that we need to use a shofar for the tekios on Rosh Hashana? The Gemara (R"H 33b-34a) cites a baraisa explaining that we learn it out from the Yovel (Jubilee) year. The shofar's "teruah" is sounded on Yom Kippur of that year. The posuk also points out that this takes place "in the 7th month" (Vayikra 25:9). In regards to Rosh Hashana, the posuk says it is a day of "teruah" in the "7th month" (Bamidbar 29:1). Since both instances use the phrase "7th month", we learn to blow teruahs with a shofar on Rosh Hashana from Yovel.
Why do we have to learn it all from Yovel? Couldn't the Torah have stated to use a shofar by the pesukim of Rosh Hashana?
I would like to suggest that we re-examine the concept and wording of Yovel. At the end of a 50 year cycle, any land sold goes back to the original owner. The posuk says that each person should "return to his family and inheritance" (Vayikra 25:10).
The Hebrew word for "return" is "lashuv". The Hebrew word for repentance is "teshuvah". They contain the same root. When you do teshuvah, you are returning to Hashem from your bad ways.
What the Torah is saying is to take a step back and remember where you came from. You are a Jew and Eved Hashem just as your family members before you were. That is the purpose of ancestral lands returning to their original owners.
The shofar is sounded on that Yom Kippur to emphasize this message to us. The Rambam says the shofar is to wake us up to do Teshuvah.
This is why we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana, to wave a flag at us to look at ourselves and our past and how we can improve and grow in the future.

Nitzavim 5772

It is very appropriate to have Nitzavim as the last parsha of the Jewish year. The posuk (30:11-14) states "This Mitzvah which i have commanded you today isn't hidden from you, nor far away....it isn't up in heaven or beneath the sea. Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth and your heart." The Ramban points out this Mitzvah is doing teshuvah. Hashem is telling us that teshuvah isn't unreachable. If we make mistakes and taint ourselves, it's an easy process to repent. This is the Mercy of Hashem: He gives us the gift of opportunity to fix our mistakes.

Ki Teitzei 5772

The Torah forbids a mamzer from converting to Judaism. The posuk (23:3) states that even the 10th generation can't. The Gra shows why the Torah emphasizes the 10th generation. The mamzer's son contains 1/2 of his father's blood. The grandson only contains 1/4 of his grandfather. The 10th generation turns out to be 1/1024 of the original mamzer. Based on a Yerushalmi in Terumos (10:5), 1/960 is enough to allow a forbidden object. In reality, the mamzer's descendant should be allowed to convert due to being more than 1/960. However, the Torah points out that he still cannot.

Pinchas 5772

The daughters of Tzelafchad approach Moshe to see if they can inherit their father's land. They mention to Moshe that their father had died and specifically say he wasn't part of Korach's rebellion. Why was it necessary to add that in? Why not just say he died of old age? The Ramban answers this is because they were worried Moshe wouldn't show compassion towards them since he hated the sin of Korach more than any other sin.

Balak 5772

At the very beginning of the Parsha, Balak the king of Moav goes to Midyan for advice to take on Bnei Yisroel. Rashi raises the question: Weren't Moav and Midyan longtime enemies? He answers since they both were afraid of Bnei Yisroel, they made peace. This Rashi is a living pshat, as this situation still occurs today. No matter how much hatred there is between nations, they'll join up against Israel and the Jews. But as we know the outcome of the story of Balak and Bilam, we have hope that we will come out victorious against our enemies.

Shlach 5772

The Meraglim claimed that Eretz Yisroel is a "land that eats its inhabitants." Rashi explains this is because wherever they went, funerals were taking place. Hashem was doing them a favor and distracted the inhabitants from causing the Meraglim any trouble. As the Midrash Tanchuma says, "Within the miracles Hashem did for them, they spoke bad about." The Meraglim failed to see the good in the matter. We should learn from their mistake and see the positive in even the worst of situations.

Emor 5772

Sefiras Haomer is mentioned in Emor, and the posuk says "You shall count for you 7 weeks." What does it mean "for you"? R' Yisroel Salanter explains that during Sefirah, we prepare ourselves to acquire the Torah FOR OURSELVES. That's why Pirkei Avos tells us 48 ways to acquire Torah; we're supposed to work on one way each day and one day to review it all. May we all be zocheh to acquiring the Torah by the end of Sefirah.