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You shall take fine flour and you shall bake it twelve loaves — on the Shabbos day, on the Shabbos day, he shall set in order before Hashem always. (24:5,8)

The twelve loaves of Lechem Hapanim symbolize the twelve tribes.  They simultaneously represent  a prayer for sustenance of the twelve shevatim and  an expression of our gratitude to the Almighty for His sustenance.  From the word “tamid“, “always,” we derive that the Shulchan, Table,  is never to be without its twelve loaves.  Just as the Kohanim were about to remove the past week’s bread in order to eat it, other Kohanim were at the same moment arranging the new weeks Lechem Hapanim on the table.  What is the significance of the coincidence of these two actions?    If a minute…

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Every native in Yisrael shall dwell in booths (23:42)

Every Jew is commanded to dwell in a succah for the prescribed period of seven days.  Indeed, our ancestors went  to great lengths to ensure that they fulfilled the mitzvah of succah according to halachah.  A poignant story occurred concerning  Horav Mordechai M’Nedverne that, while its focus is not actually on Succos,  teaches us a timely lesson.  In Rav Mordechai’s city,  there was an outbreak of cholera, a very contagious plague.  The doctors warned the general populace to exercise extreme care in regard to sanitary conditions.  It just so happened that it was just before the festival of Succos.  Despite…

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For a crown, the oil of his G-d’s annointment is upon him, I am G-d. (21:12)

Bnei Yisrael would come to the Bais Hamikdash to  see the Kohanim performing the avodah, service, accompanied  by the Leviim, chanting their melodies and Psalms.   Only one shevet, tribe, had access to the internal workings of the Bais Hamikdash.  It must have troubled the average Jew that  this unique group of people were selected over everyone to become Hashem’s legion, His faithful servants.  They must have questioned this phenomenon.  What is really the reason that only the Kohanim and Leviim could act as agents for the people to offer korbanos.  What trait rendered them so special? Horav Y.A. Hirshovitz,…

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“You shall sanctify him for the bread of your G-d he offers, he shall be holy unto you.” (21:8)

Horav Elyakim Schlesinger, Shlita, cites the Chazon Ish who once commented regarding a certain Torah scholar. This man had  disagreed with him regarding a halachic matter.  He  said that the scholar was actually an am ha’aretz, illiterate.  The Chazon Ish explained that the degree of one’s erudition is consistent with his ability to appreciate another person’s gadlus, superiority, in Torah learning. One who has himself achieved literacy in Torah, recognizes its profundity.  He will, consequently, defer to another’s academic attainment in Torah.  One who is truly illiterate, and whose arrogance denies him the ability to perceive his own deficits, will…

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Say to the Kohanim,…and tell them (21:1)

Rashi explains that the Torah’s dual injunction,  “Emor V’omarta, emphasizes the significance of “saying.”  This suggests “I’hazhir gedolim al haketanim,” that the older ones should warn and instruct the younger ones.  In a salutary lesson for the Kohanim, the Torah teaches us a valuable lesson. Only by appropriate attention to the education of the children can  our future  be assured.  Ignoring the process of education can have devastating effects. Deviating from the usual interpretation of this pasuk, Chazal assert that in the normative educational process, the older generation should  teach the younger generation.  Woe is the generation in which the…

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