Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha
“And all of the House of Israel shall cry for the conflagration that Hashem has sent.” (Vayikra 10:6) Aharon’s two sons died after bringing an offering to Hashem, which they thought was the right thing to do. It is truly sorrowful when someone thinks he is doing something right, yet is actually doing something so [...]
“…This is the Torah of the elevation offering: It is the elevation offering…” (Vayikra 6:2) I saw a fantastic question about the opening verse of this week’s parsha. The Torah tells us, “zos toras ha’olah” – these are the laws of the olah offering – and it goes on to teach us about the terumas [...]
Hashem called to Moshe, Hashem Spoke… From here we learn that any Talmid Chacham that doesn’t have the ability to differentiate, a carcass is better than him. (Vayikra Raba 1:15) Did you ever notice that people who have all the answers often don’t know much about the subject? For example, everyone understands that we must [...]
“And Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehuda, made all that the Lord commanded Moshe.” (Shemos 38:22) Both the Gemara (Berachos 55a) and the Midrash relate a fascinating conversation, though there are differences between the versions (see the commentary of the Tzeda Lederech). The Midrash (cited by Rashi) [...]
“You must not kindle a fire in all your dwelling places on the day of Shabbos.” (Shemos 35:3) Perhaps the most trying time of the week is Friday afternoon close to sunset, especially close to Shabbos candle lighting time. People are anxious and tense, for Shabbos is coming and everything must be completed – OR [...]
“Another matter, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Why are You angry at them? Not that they engaged in idol worship, for You did not command them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Did I not say in the second commandment: “You shall not have [other gods before Me]”?’ [...]
“Speak to all who are wise in heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, and have them make Aharon’s garments, to sanctify him to serve Me [as kohein].” (Shemos 28:3) There are two aspects to doing mitzvos - the actual performance of the mitzvah, and the preparations. From a halachic perspective, the [...]
“They shall make a Sanctuary for Me, and I will [then] dwell in their midst.” (Shemos 25:8) Where did the cedar beams (for the Mishkan) come from? Yaakov our patriarch planted them at the time he descended to Egypt. He told his children: My sons, ultimately you will be redeemed from this place, and the [...]
If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and then slaughters or sells it, he must pay five oxen for each ox, and four sheep for each sheep. (Shemos 21:37) The Torah teaches us that if one steals and is caught, he pays at least double. If one went another step and either slaughtered [...]
When Moses ascended on High to receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He, “Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman doing here among us?” The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them, “He came to receive the Torah.” The angels said before Him, [...]
