Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha
“…(Bo moom) that has a blemish…(moom bo) he has a blemish” (Vayikra 21:17,21) People are well aware that the Chofetz Chaim lived to a ripe old age (well into his 90’s) and that he held a birthday celebration on his 80th birthday. When asked why he was celebrating, he explained that because he had been [...]
Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them, “You shall be holy: for I the Lord your G-d am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2) Why was it necessary to gather klal Yisrael together just to hear this statement? What makes this parsha so important that it had to be said specifically [...]
This is analogous to a noblewoman who entered the king’s palace. When she saw the whips hanging, she was afraid. The king said to her: ‘Fear not, those are for the slaves and the maidservants, but you will eat, drink, and rejoice.’ When Israel heard the Torah portion dealing with tzara’as, they were afraid. Moses [...]
Do not drink intoxicating wine, you and your sons with you, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, lest you die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations (Vayikra 10:9) Chazal use a parable to explain how we know why Aharon’s sons were killed: A king observed that his watchman had unlocked the [...]
“And thou shalt relate to thy son on that day, saying, this is done because of that which the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” (Shemos 13:8) The gemara in Chagigah (Jerusalem Talmud Chagigah 2:1) tells us about the mother of Acher. While she was pregnant with him, she passed by [...]
“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, On the tenth day of this month that every man shall take a lamb, in accordance with the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house.” (Vayikra 12:3) The source of Shabbos Hagadol is the time when the Bnei Yisroel officially started preparing for the Korbon [...]
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any of you bring an offering to the Lord, from the cattle, from the herd, and from the flock, your sacrifice should be brought from.” (Vayikra 1:2) Shmoneh Esrei is in place of the sacrifice (korban), and therefore one must be careful that it [...]
“And the rulers brought shoham stones, and stones to be set, for the efod, and for the breastplate” (Shemos 35:27) Chazal teach us that the word Nesi’im (וְהַנְּשִׂאִם) is written without a yud because the Nesi’im were lax and did not act with zerizus (alacrity) in bringing their donations for the Mishkan. The medrash relates [...]
“See, I have called by name Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehuda: and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Shemos 31:2-3) Chazal tell us that when Betzalel constructed the Tabernacle [...]
And it shall be upon Aharon when he comes to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he not die. (Shemos 28:35) In his book From Volozhin to Yerushalayim (1933), author Meir Bar-Ilan asked the gedolim of [...]
