Holy Service With a Smile
“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2) The generally accepted meaning of being “holy” is to separate oneself, as it seems from the Ramban at first glance. The following question is asked, “If [...]
Awe-Full
“Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aharon, when they came near before the Lord, and died.” (Vayikra 16:1) There are many different explanations offered as to what exactly were the sins of the sons of Aharon. The Yismach Moshe (Moshe Teitelbaum, 1759 –1841), offers [...]
The Next Step
Next year in Jerusalem (the Hagadah) On Seder night we split “Hallel” into two parts. The first part is said during magid and the second part is said after birkas hamazon. What is the reason that we say Hallel in two parts instead of saying it all together?! The Levush [...]
Have a Great Shabbos!
“The custom is that at Mincha (on the Shabbos before Pesach) we read the Haggadah from Avadim Hayinu until Lichaper…” (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 430:1) This Shabbos is called “Shabbos Hagadol”, as it refers to that special Shabbos that preceded the Exodus from Egypt. On that day, Klal Yisrael were [...]
Preparation with Purpose
“…If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days…” (Vayikra 12:2) RASHI: IF A WOMAN HAVE CONCEIVED SEED — R. Simlai said: Even as the formation of man took place after that of every cattle, beast and fowl when the world [...]
Good Mourning
“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 [...]
Giftwrap It
“…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 [...]
Know Your Place
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, [...]
Getting it Right
“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 Day of Rest
“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 [...]
We Are In it Together
“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 [...]
Preparation
“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. [...]
Divine Dwelling Place
“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 [...]
Value Added When Taxed
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 [...]
Use Your Brains!
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.” [...]
A Taste of Shabbos
When the sixth day came, what they had gathered [was a] double [portion of] bread, two omers for each individual. (Shemos 16:22) RASHI: THEY COLLECTED DOUBLE BREAD…A Midrashic explanation is that משנה in לחם משנה signifies מְשֻׁנָּה (meaning) different, changed — that day it was changed for the better as regards [...]
Right-On Time!
“You must be vigilant regarding the matzos” (Shemos 12:17) RASHI: AND You SHALL WATCH THE UNLEAVENED BREAD …Rabbi Josiah said: Do not read “את המַּצּוֹת”, the unleavened bread, but את הַמִּצְוֹת “[you shall watch] the commandments” — just as we may not cause the unleavened bread to become leavened by [...]
This Land is (Y)our Land
“…I will bring you out…, and I will save you…, I will redeem you…, I will take you…” (Shemos 6:6-8) The Passover Seder has many things which come in sets of four: Four questions, four sons, four cups of wine, etc. These four cups correspond to the four expressions of [...]