Raboyseyee and Ladies,
A big mazel tov to Avigail and Gabriel Leifer upon the birth and bris of their new baby son. Welcome to the world Ezra Yosef Moshe Leifer and may you bring much nachas to your parents, grandparents, great grandparents and to your entire extended family. Mazel to the entire Leifer family- Astrid & Mord, Babby Sara, Raizy and Shlomo Hackel, Lieve Guttman, all family on the Hackel side I don’t know by name, and to the many uncles, aunts and cousins…………………..
This week the heylige Ois shouts out Dena Isaacs (married to Ben) who stopped off at the Ois’s house last Friday -mamish unexpectedly- and handed me a freshly baked Emunah Kugel which was prepared specifically for the Ois and enjoyed with the eishes chayil at the Friday night seudah. Thank you, Dena! You are one of a kind good- the real thing!
Ober, just what is emunah kugel? Is that a real thing? Nu, after some research, the Ois reports as follows: “Emunah Potato Kugel” isn’t a classical Jewish term or halachic category, but rather a modern, informal phrase—similar to “Emunah Challah”—used to describe the intentional and spiritual approach some people take when cooking traditional foods with faith (emunah) and prayerful focus. It may sound tongue-in-cheek, but for many, it reflects a real belief that emunah (faith) can infuse even the most “ordinary” actions—like grating potatoes—with spiritual power.
The bottom line: It refers to potato kugel made with deep emunah and kavonoh (intention). And for those reasons, for having the Ois in mind while preparing the kugel and making an in-person delivery along with the incomparable Ben (aka: thekosherhippie- follow him on Instagram), thank you Dena Isaacs; you are indeed a special person.
Following up on last week’s amazing post about eating chulent during the week, perhaps you may have seen this shtikel news:
After reports emerged that PM Netanyahu missed this morning’s weekly cabinet meeting, his office releases a statement that he is ill and will be working from home for the next three days. Netanyahu began feeling sick overnight, says the Prime Minister’s Office, and was examined at his home by Dr. Alon Hershko, director of internal medicine department at Hadassah University Hospital — Ein Kerem. Hershko diagnosed the prime minister with intestinal inflammation resulting from eating spoiled food. Netanyahu’s condition was declared good after further testing, says his office, adding that he is receiving intravenous fluids following dehydration that resulted from the illness. “In accordance with his doctors’ instructions, the prime minister will rest at home for the next three days and will conduct state affairs from there,” says the PMO.
Did the Prime Minister have bad chulent during the week?
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The 32,000 Virgins; What Became of Them?
In another religion, there are claims of 70 virgins awaiting martyrs. And while that remains a myth because there is no mention of them in the Quran, one thing is certain: In this week’s parsha, the heylige Toirah specifically does mention virgins. How many? 32,000 of them! You read that correctly, 32,000 virgins. Well, blow me down and more on them soon.
Back in summer camp, the big news, besides how and when color war might break out, was the appointment of the general for each team. Camp owners and head counselors likely discussed this topic for weeks; it was a big deal to be appointed color war general.
In last week’s parsha, Pinchas, the vigilante, who acted with zeal by killing Zimri and Kosbi because they were fornicating in public, was rewarded with the peace price. This week, he is further rewarded and, in our parsha, the front half of the summer double header, General Pinchas will lead the Yiddin to war against the Midianites. The RBSO had declared war against the Midianites in last week’s parsha, but for whatever reason, the action, the real war, takes place in Parshas Matos.
In the heylige Toirah, war booty is referred to as “sholol.” In Migilas Esther, we find the word “bizah” instead, but both refer to the spoils of war taken by the victorious side. Booty includes animals, valuables, captives, etc. The heylige Ois has previously covered this topic -one of his favorites- but is back with mamish brand-new insights and information. Yes, it’s all new for 2025 and quite explosive. Let’s get right to it but first this.
Sefer Bamidbar ends with yet another mid-summer double header, and this week we will read Parshas Matos and Masaye. Get ready for a rather long laining on Shabbis which coincides with Shabbis Rosh Chodesh as we begin the perilous nine days. So happens that war booty gets lots of coverage in the parsha. Forty -six pisukim describe the instructions, the war booty and what took place when the Yiddin did not follow orders. They didn’t follow orders!? What else is new? Mamish days and weeks before crossing over the Jordan under the tutelage of Yehoshua and still they could not get their act together. Were they ready for prime time? Seemingly not but as mentioned in the past, the RBSO decided it was time, their behavior notwithstanding. The bottom line: If you find yourself in the right place at the right time, good things can happen.
Let us set the table. After the incident of Baal Peor which caused the RBSO to kill 24,000 participants, the RBSO commands Moishe to take vengeance on the Midianites. Who fought? 12,000 soldiers — 1,000 from each sheyvet (tribe). This group was on the front lines where the action took place. Pinchas led the campaign with sacred vessels and trumpets. Seemingly, he blew them away. He was the general.
Others stayed behind to daven and guard the camp and as you know from past postings, charedim over in Israel -those opposed to serving in the army- interpret this as a model for modern Torah study vs. army service. Shoin! Pinchas led the people to war -more about his specific role a bit later- and the Yiddin mamish schmeissed the Midianites, killing all males, a number of their kings, Bilam too, and returned home with lots of booty. Amazingly, they didn’t lose one of their own fighters. The bottom line: It’s good to have the RBSO at your side during war.
Their booty included women and children, livestock -sheep, cattle, donkeys- and other goods -gold, silver, garments, etc. What’s pshat lots? The heylige Toirah provides very specific numbers; let’s look at them. The booty included:
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- 675,000 sheep
- 72,000 cattle
- 61,000 donkeys
- 32,000 Midianite women (virgins)
Let us remember the 32,000 virgins, we shall revisit with them soon. As to the heylige Toirah’s instructions on the splitting of booty, let us read the pisukim as they appear in the parsha (Bamidbar 31:25-30).
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָ אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
And Hashem spoke to Moishe, saying:
שָׂא אֶת רֵאשׁ כְּלַל הַשְּׁבִי הַנִּשְׁבָּה מֵאָדָם וּבְהֵמָה אַתָּה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאשֵׁי אֲבֹת הָעֵדָה׃
Take a count of the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you and Elozor the Koihen and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the congregation.
וַחֲצֵה אֶת הַמַּלְקוֹחַ בֵּין תֹּפְשֵׂי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַיֹּצְאִים לַצָּבָא וּבֵין כָּל הָעֵדָה׃
And divide the booty between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.
וַהֲרֵם מֶכֶס לַיהוָ מֵאֵת אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַיֹּצְאִים לַצָּבָא אֶחָד נֶפֶשׁ מֵחֲמֵשׁ הַמֵּאוֹת מִן הָאָדָם וּמִן הַבָּקָר וּמִן הַחֲמֹרִים וּמִן הַצֹּאן׃
And you shall take a tribute for Hashem from the men of war who went out to battle: one soul out of five hundred, from the people, and from the cattle, and from the donkeys, and from the sheep.
מִמַּחֲצִיתָם תִּקָּחוּ וּנְתַתָּה לֶאֱלָעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן תְּרוּמַת יְהוָ׃
From their half you shall take it, and you shall give it to Elozor the Koihen, a portion (offering) for Hashem.
וּמִמֶּחֱצָה בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּקַּח אֶחָד אָחוּז מִן הַחֲמִשִּׁים מִן הָאָדָם מִן הַבָּקָר מִן הַחֲמֹרִים וּמִן הַצֹּאן מִכָּל הַבְּהֵמָה וּנְתַתָּם לַלְוִיִּם שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָ׃
And from the half of the children of Israel you shall take one portion out of fifty, from the people, from the cattle, from the donkeys, and from the sheep, from all the animals, and you shall give them to the Levites who guard the charge of Hashem’s Mishkan (Tabernacle).
Let’s chazir (review): The RBSO commanded Moishe to count and divide the spoils of war (animals and captives). What happened next: The booty was split -mamish as the heylige Toirah instructed, word for word. The total spoils were massive—hundreds of thousands of animals, and thousands of women who had not known a man, virgins mamish. The booty was split into two equal parts: one-half went to the soldiers who fought in the war. The other half went to the rest of the Israelites. From the soldiers’ portion, a tax (“מֶכֶס”) of 1 in 500 was given to Hashem, and this was handed over to Elozor the Koihen. This is referred to as “Terumas Hashem” — a “gift” or “offering” to the RBSO.
What? 1 in 500 was given to Hashem? To the RBSO? What does that mean? What’s pshat? Does the RBSO (Hashem) need virgins? How many? Excellent questions? Wrong religion! That phrase is epes confusing: How can Hashem “receive” half of the Midianite virgin girls? What does “for the RBSO” mean? Obviously, the RBSO doesn’t literally receive girls, animals, or gold.
Ober raboyseyee, let’s get real! Pshat must be azoy: In reality, none of the booty literally went to the RBSO in the metaphysical sense, but the phrase refers to a symbolic and sacred tribute: From the soldiers’ half, 1 in every 500 of each category (sheep, cattle, donkeys, and people) was designated for Hashem, and handed to the Kohanim, who were the RBSO’s representatives. In this way, giving “to Hashem” meant setting aside part of the bounty to support the spiritual leadership (Kohanim and Leviim), acknowledging that the victory came from the RBSO. How virgins support spiritual leadership and help the koihanim, ver veyst? One can easily understand how the koihanim or Liviyim would be uplifted, if you chap, in every other way, but spiritually?
As to Elozor, he was the koihen Godol (High Priest), having replaced his father Aharoin, who died in Parshas Chukas. The bottom line: As we read above, “for the RBSO” means they were given to Elozor the Koihen and let us read that posik as well:
“…וּתְנָתָהּ לֶאֱלָעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן תְּרוּמַת ה’”
“…and give it to Elozor the Koihen as a portion for the RBSO.”
The bottom line: That booty was Kohanic property dedicated to the RBSO’s service or Kohanic use. This is exactly how we refer to terumah and korbanos “laHashem” even though they are handled by Kohanim.
Shoin, now that we resolved that the 32 virgin girls were not given to the RBSO but were instead given to Elozor, the next shaylo is this: What happened to the 32 girls given to Elozor? In fact, what happened to the other virgins? Were they virgins for life? The bottom line: The heylige Toirah is silent on what happened to them -and all the others- ober, lest you think that only a chazerish mind like the Ois would ask these questions, you would be surprised to learn that others had the same questions and thoughts: What happened to these young virgins? What became of all 32,000 Midianite virgin girls who were spared after the war is not described in detail in the pisukim, in fact, not a word is mentioned. Ober, a few answers are proffered. Here’s what we know.
The heylige Toirah (Bamidbar 31:35) says this: “And the number of women who had not known a man by lying with him was 32,000.” And in posik 40, it says, azoy:
וַיְהִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ בַּאֲדָם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אָלֶף וּמִן הַחֲצִים שֶׁנֵּתָנוּ לַה׳ שְׁנֵים וּשְׁלֹשִׁים נָפֶשׁ:
“And the human beings were sixteen thousand, and the portion for Hashem — from them — was thirty-two persons.”
Let us do the math one more time: Out of the booty captured, meaning of the 32,000 virgins, Moishe divides half among the soldiers and half among the rest of the nation. From the soldiers’ half, a tribute is taken for Hashem — and given to Elozor the Koihen. Now we have 16,000 virgin women and 1/500 of them — 32 people — were set aside for Hashem. Were they set aside as would any other korban for Hashem? Were the virgins then sacrificed? Say it’s not so and taka it isn’t! Obviously not because we all know that in our religion, human korbonis (human sacrifices) are strictly verboten. Our zeyda’s Avrohom and Yitzchok would testify to that. What became of them?
Shoin, I see you’re all confused, let’s start over. The Ois asked what happened to the 32 and 32,000 virgins? Such potential; what became of them? As it turns out, because the heylige Toirah went silent on what befell all the virgins, creative license was given to various exegetes and here’s a sampling of what they told us happened.
Says Rashi (on v. 40): “נתנו לכהן לשמשו ולעשות מלאכתו”
They were given to the Koihen to become servants or attendants in the Mishkan — performing mundane labor such as drawing water, chopping wood, assisting the Leviyim, etc. That was easy and quick but we still don’t know much about what was ahead for them. Did they convert? Go to Beis Yakov? Seminary? Shono Aleph? Get married? Lose their virginity?
Let’s read this next pshat. According to some important thinkers, these virgins were dedicated to the service of Hashem through assisting the Kohanim and Levi’im just like the Nesinim. The who? The Nisiim? No! Read that again, like the NISINIM! Have you ever heard of the NISINIM? Let’s find out who they were. Did you ever -despite all your years in yeshiva- hear of the Nesinim (הַנְּתִינִים)? The Ois did not! Then again, he did play hooky quite often or was suspended from class occasionally. It is entirely possible that this topic was covered. Anyway…as it turns out, the Nesinim (הַנְּתִינִים) are real people, mamish referenced in multiple places in Tanach, specifically so in the books of Ezra and Nechemiah. Let’s check it out as found in Ezra 2:43–58 and Nechemiah 7:46–60 where both pisukim list the Nesinim by name among those who returned from the Babylonian exile:
נְתִינִים וּבְנֵי עַבְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה…
“The Nesinim and the descendants of Solomon’s servants…” They are listed separately from Kohanim and Levi’im — indicating a distinct social and religious status. In Ezra 8:20, the posik gives us a clear description of their role:
וּמִן הַנְּתִינִים אֲשֶׁר נָתַן דָּוִיד וְהַשָּׂרִים לַעֲבֹדַת הַלְוִיִּם…
“And from the Nesinim, whom Dovid and the officers had assigned to assist the Leviyim…”
The bottom line: The Nisinim were seemingly a formal group instituted (or restructured) by Dovid HaMelech assigned to help the Leviyim, not to replace them. Ok, nice but where did they come from? Sources (including Rashi and the heylige Gemora (Yevomis 79a) say the Nesinim were originally Givonim — descendants of the Canaanite tribe that tricked Yehoshua into making a treaty. Those details for another day. Yehoshua condemned them to permanent servitude: “Wood choppers and water carriers for the House of my G-d.” (Yehoshua 9:27). Dovid HaMelech later formalized their status as temple servants. This explains the name. Says the Medrish Tanchuma (Matos 4): that the 32 individual virgins were linked to future Temple service.
“וְנָתְנוּ אוֹתָם לַה’ — שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּם לִהְיוֹת חֹטְבֵי עֵצִים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם.”
“ואלו הנשמות, כלומר הנשים האלה, נמסרו לעבודת בית המקדש להיות מהם נתינים.”
These souls—that is, these women—were designated for the service of the Temple, and from them came the Nesinim.
But check this out this vilde (wild) view: The Nesinim were the Midianite girls from our parsha, the very missing virgins: We found them! Some exegetes -the Chizkuni, and possibly the Abarbanel- identify the 32 girls “given to Hashem” in Parshas Mattos as the precursors to the Nesinim. Though not the same as the Givonim, their function was similar: Not Jewish yet attached to the Mikdash service who did physical/menial labor (drawing water, chopping wood, etc.). Says the Ramban (Bamidbar 31:40), that these virgins went on to become among those called “the Nisinim.” OMG, blow me down, and now you know!
Did they convert “a la the non-Jewish nanny” who is grada very Jewish now? Although not stated explicitly in the pisukim, several commentaries suggest that the girls had to undergo giur (conversion), or at least some process of assimilation and acceptance of mitzvis. Were they permanent servants or slaves? Possibly, some remained servants (known as shifchos) and did not convert. As an aside, non-converted captives could be used as shifchos (servants), but, if they chose that option, they could not marry into the nation and were expected to adopt some degree of virgin values. On the other hand, halachically, there were laws protecting their dignity and treatment (see Hilchos Avodim).
Let us review: Ideally – so our sages tell us- the virgins either converted and integrated, or served, until they chose conversion, or were eventually released. On the other hand, the Ramban and Abarbanel both say these girls eventually converted and married into the Jewish people after a proper halachic process. The bottom line: At first, they were taken as servants or captives. Later, they were allowed to convert, and could become wives if they so choose.
If any of this is what went down and that taka the Midianite virgins wound up in temple service, the transformation of impurity (Midian) into service of holiness would have been mamish complete and of course very ironic.
One day you’re a shiksa virgin, the next day, you have a job in the Beis Hamikdash working alongside the RBSO’s handpicked messengers for the Temple service. Gishmak! The very people who came from a nation that sought to corrupt the Yiddin through immorality were now reoriented toward spiritual purpose. Gishmak! As an aside, if you davka want to know how virginity was determined, specifically how those in the army knew to let those who were still intact, remain alive, shoin, that topic was previously covered by the Ois and you can read all about it in the archives at www.Oisvorfer.com
Let us close with a word on General Pinchas. His mandate was to kill “all” the Midianites. All, included women and children. Ober, is that what happened? Not! The Yiddin retuned with the women and children alive and well. What happened next? Moishe got very angry -furious- and expressed his disgust at the officers. Let us read about his anger. The psukim (31:14-16) state:
“And Moishe was angry with the officers… and said to them: Have you allowed all the women to live? Behold — these were the ones who caused the Children of Israel — through the counsel of Bilaam — to act treacherously against Hashem in the matter of Peor…”
They had spared the Midianite women—the very ones who caused the Yiddin to sin. Moishe ordered the execution of all male children and adult women who had relations with men, sparing only virgin girls.
And the question is this: Why was Moishe only angry at the officers? Why not at Pinchas, he, the general of the war? The bottom line: The RBSO loved Pinchas. And for that reason alone, Moishe could not admonish him. Pinchas was connected. Ober, was he not the general and should he not have been blamed? Shoin, as cleanup -this time of his reputation- was needed in Aisle 5, our sages exonerated him by telling us that Pinchas went to war as but the spiritual emissary, and not its military commander. On the battlefield he held a titular position only. Says Rashi (31:6) that Pinchas went with the “holy vessels and the trumpets” — indicating he served more as the spiritual representative (like a Koihen Mashuach Milchomo) rather than as the military decision-maker. Therefore, the actual leadership decisions — like whom to kill or capture — were left to the officers (Sarei Hatzava), and they were the ones accountable for sparing the women. Pinchas may have personally fulfilled the mission correctly, but as a spiritual leader or koihen, he didn’t have full military authority to enforce which captives to take or spare. He had already proven his bona fides while using his own spear. The heylige medrish and others suggest that Pinchas had already proven his zeal in the episode of Zimri and Kozbi (Bamidbar 25), where he executed judgment on the spot without waiting for instruction. That act gave him a status of unquestionable loyalty and righteousness, and thus, Moishe gave him the benefit of the doubt here. Blaming Pinchas would have diluted his integrity. The bottom line: We don’t mess with people the RBSO likes.
Chazak, chazak, vinischazake!
A gittin Shabbis and a gittin Choidesh!
The Heylige Oisvorfer Ruv
Yitz Grossman
