Evergreen

Numbers 8:1-12:16

Moses describes the laws of oaths; the Israelites battle the Midianites; the tribes of Reuben and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel.

The Torah's establishment of Cities of Refuge introduces the idea that intention determines the meaning of an action.

The severity of the war against the Midianites should motivate us to examine our own behavior and root out our own forms of idolatry.

The laws of vows and the rabbinic cautions against making them teach the holiness and power of the spoken word.

The war against Midian teaches that when Israel does fight wars, they must fight with compassion and a minimum of casualties.

The daughters of Zelophchad teach us to see people not as objects in our lives but as subjects of their own lives.

Deuteronomy's laws of warfare include the requirement that a nation seek a peaceful settlement before engaging in war.

Are Jews really obligated to drink to the point of not knowing the difference between Haman and Mordecai?