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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

“And these shall be impure to you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel and the mouse, and the tortoise according to its variety.” (11:29)

There is an intriguing Midrash that comments on the word “v’zeh,” “and these,” with which our pasuk begins. Chazal tell us Hashem showed   Moshe   Rabbeinu  four  things  with   His  finger because Moshe was puzzled by them. He showed him how the shemen ha’mishchah, oil of anointing, was made. Second, He showed Moshe the work of the Menorah. Third, He showed him the creeping things that are ritually impure. Also, He showed him the moon, so that Moshe would know when the new month was to be sanctified. In each case the word “zeh,” this, was used to indicate a special emphasis…

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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

ואת אלה תשקצו מן העוף לא יאכלו... ואת החסידה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

“These shall you abominate from among the birds, they may not be eaten…the chasidah.” (11:13,19)

What a beautiful name – chasidah! Rashi says that the chasidah truly was a bird that performed chesed, kindness – with members of its own specie. This is not an admirable trait. We Jews do not believe in selective, discriminatory, chesed. Rashi’s use of the word chavrosehah, its “friends”, seems to lend itself to a deeper thought. The term chaver/chibur means connection. When two people are connected with each other, they are considered chaveirim. The connection is of an equal and positive nature. There is something in common between the two. A reyah is a stronger form of friendship. In any…

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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

Moshe said to Aharon: “Come near to the Mizbayach…and provide atonement for yourself and for the people.” (9:7)

Aharon HaKohen was selected to represent Klal Yisrael to provide atonement for himself and the people. Why was Aharon chosen to represent Klal Yisrael? What unique quality did he manifest that made him worthy of being Kohen Gadol? The Targum Yonasan cited by Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, in his sefer, Aleinu Le’Shabeiach, on Parashas Ki Sisa writes that Moshe Rabbeinu, in his hesped, eulogy, for Aharon HaKohen cried out, “Woe is me for you, Aharon, my brother, were the pillar of prayer of Klal Yisrael.” The Netziv, z.l., questions Moshe’s description of Aharon as Klal Yisrael’s “pillar of prayer.” Was not…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5762

“If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering.” (7:12)

Parashas Vayikra addresses all of the basic information regarding the korbanos. Parashas Tzav elaborates on the korbanos and the various  halachos  which  concern  the  Kohanim  in  executing  the avodas ha’korbanos, service of the sacrifices. It is interesting to note that only one korban – the Korban Todah, Thanksgiving offering, is totally omitted from Parashas Vayikra and mentioned for the first time in Parashas Tzav. Why is it mentioned for the first time in Parashas Tzav, which is addressed to the Kohanim? Horav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., distinguishes between two levels of gratitude. He cites the Talmud in Berachos 7b which states…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5762

“Command Aharon.” (6:2)

In general, the Torah introduces the commandments regarding the korbanos with the less emphatic term, amarta, say (1:2), or daber, speak (4:2). Regarding the Korban Olah, Elevation/Burnt offering,  the command is emphasized with the word tzav, command. Chazal explain that the Kohanim are being urged to be especially zealous in performing this service and to reiterate its significance to future generations. Rabbi Shimon adds that this exhortation is expressly applicable to commandments that involve a chisaron kis, monetary loss, such as the Korban Olah, which is entirely burnt on the Altar, leaving nothing for the Kohanim. The concept of chisaron kis…

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Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

נפש כי תחטא ומעלה מעל בד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayikra

“If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem.” (5:21)

How does one relate to his non-observant brethren? While there are certainly various approaches and responses to this question,  Horav Meir Shapiro, z.l., the famous Lubliner Rav and founder of the Daf HaYomi , study of one blatt, page, of Talmud daily, gave the following response. A businessman once lent a large sum of money to his friend, who later went bankrupt. There was no way he could pay back the loan. In such a situation, the lender is willing to take anything that he can, regardless of its value or significance. Whatever he is able to put his hands  on…

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Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

אשר נשיא יחטא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayikra

“When a nasi/ ruler sins.” (4:22)

In the Talmud Horiyos 10b, Chazal make an intriguing statement. They say that the word asher alludes to ashrei, fortunate. This implies that the generation whose leader seeks atonement, even for his inadvertent sins, is truly a fortunate one, for he will repent his intentional sins. We must understand the good fortune in having a ruler that sins – because he becomes a model of someone who repents his sins. Horav Elimelech, z.l., m’Lishensk, gives the following explanation: Klal Yisrael is comprised of tzaddikim, righteous, pious Jews, and also peshutei ha’am, common, simple Jews. Due to the vast spiritual dichotomy between…

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Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד' מן הבהמה מן הבקר ומן הצאן תקריבו את קרבנכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayikra

“When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering.” (1:2)

If Reuven slaps Shimon across the face for no reason, Shimon’s  physical pain will not be as great as his emotional pain. Being slapped for no apparent reason is truly an emotional trauma. On the other hand, if Shimon had first struck Reuven with a powerful blow, and then Reuven reciprocated – Shimon would not be that upset. He would understand that he deserves what he has received. Horav Baruch, z.l., m’Kosov applies this analogy towards  explaining the concept of mesiras nefesh al Kiddush Hashem, dedication to the point of self-sacrifice for the purpose of sanctifying Hashem’s Name. If a person…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5762

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Pekudei

“These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of Testimony.” (38:21)

Lecha Hashem ha’gedulah…, “Yours, Hashem, is the greatness, the strength, the splendor, the triumph, and the glory, even everything  in  Heaven  and  earth”  (Divrei  HaYamim  I,  29:11).  In  Midrash Tanchuma, Chazal suggest that this pasuk – which we recite daily in the Va’yivarech David prayer – alludes to the fact that the building of the Mishkan had a profound relationship with the creation of Heaven and earth. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., renders a penetrating interpretation of this  Midrash, which we take the liberty of citing. On the First Day of Creation, Hashem created Shomayim va’aretz, “Heaven and earth.” This creation…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5762

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Pekudei

“These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of Testimony.” (38:21)

The word Mishkan is mentioned twice. Why? Rashi explains that the word Mishkan – which is spelled mem, shin, kof, nun – can also be read as mashkone, which  means collateral. This alludes to the Bais HaMikdash which was twice taken from us as collateral. The sins of Klal Yisrael should have brought about their destruction. Instead, Hashem took out His wrath on the wood and stones of the Bais HaMikdash. They were Klal Yisrael’s collateral. A young student once asked HoRav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., the following question, “If the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash parallels the taking of…

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