The bells which were attached to the bottom hem of the Kohen Gadol’s robe obviously created a noise when he walked. This noise was by design, in order to signal his entry and departure from the Sanctuary. Menachem Tzion renders this pasuk homiletically. All too often, when a congregation /community or school chooses a rabbi / leader, we hear praises about him. His merits are publicly lauded to impress people and, in many cases, to justify his selection. A few years later, when for various reasons he no longer satisfies the whims of the powers that be, rather than…
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The Kohanim, especially the Kohen Gadol, were to wear vestments that reflected the nobility of their station and service. The commentators offer a number of explanations for the terms “glory” and “splendor,” as well as the reasons for demanding that the Bigdei Kehunah be such garments that are similar to those worn by royalty. Let it suffice that the Torah demanded that the vestments worn by the Kohanim were to be unique in their beauty, thereby dignifying the Kohanim and Hashem, Whom they served. Indeed, if a Kohen served in the Bais Hamikdash mechusar begadim, not wearing all of the…
The oil that was used for the Menorah was to be pure, untainted by any olive particles or sediment. The oil that was used for the Menachos, meal-offerings, was derived from crushed, rather than pressed, olives. Hence, this oil was not as pure. The commentators render this disparity homiletically. Horav Shlomo Sofer, zl, cites the fact that the Menorah and its light are symbolic of the Torah and daas Torah, its perspective. When dealing with Torah perspective, we must retain the essence of purity. We make no allowance for alien philosophies. It must be pure – like the oil for…
Hashem commanded Moshe to have direct personal involvement regarding the next three mitzvos: the preparation of the oil; the designation of the Kohanim; the selection of those wise and talented people who would make the Bigdei Kehunah, Priestly vestments, and build the Mishkan. Horav Shabsai Yudelevitz, zl, interprets this pasuk homiletically. He cites an incident in which a student of Rav Yisrael Salanter came to the famous founder of the Mussar movement, stating that he would like to go to Germany to give Mussar, lectures in character refinement and Torah observance, to the people therein the hope that he would…
Regarding Aharon’s encounter with Moshe Rabbeinu, the Midrash cites the pasuk in Tehillim 85, “Chesed v’emes nifgashu, tzedek v’shalom nashuku,” “Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.” Aharon is the symbol of chesed; Moshe represents emes. In the second part of the pasuk, tzedek is the virtue which characterizes Moshe, while Aharon is defined by the virtue of shalom. Horav Elimelech Moller, Shlita, infers from this pasuk that an individual creates his name by his actions and deeds. Thus, when Aharon and Moshe met, it was an encounter of emes and chesed – tzedek and shalom. Moshe…
Perhaps the people who disparaged Moshe, who went out of their way to inform on him to Pharaoh, were no longer a problem, but Pharaoh himself was still alive. He surely was not likely to embrace Moshe with love and friendship. Horav Yonasan Eibeshitz, zl, who suffered greatly from slanderers, asked this question. His response was one to which he could relate only too well. It appears, said Rav Yonasan, that the disparaging comments and slander of Jews such as Dasan and Aviram, were even more dangerous than Pharaoh’s sword. What a truism! Anyone who has been the hapless victim…
The proof that Moshe had the ability to become Klal Yisrael’s leader was his ability to shepherd his father-in-law’s sheep. Chazal relate the remarkable compassion he exhibited towards the tired and thirsty sheep. Hashem said to him, “You have such empathy towards the sheep belonging to human beings. By your life, you will shepherd My sheep, Yisrael.” While this Midrash is well-known, it is important to take a moment and note the stories recounted by the Torah that demonstrate Moshe Rabbeinu’s sense of compassion. Indeed, as Horav Yitzchak Goldwasser, Shlita, points out, there is a specific sequence to the…
Moshe grew into a position of responsibility. He became ready to minister to the needs of his people. Horav Zeev Weinberger, Shlita, feels that Moshe had two distinct goals in mind when he began to serve Klal Yisrael: His first objective was to expunge the evil that the Egyptian environment had engendered. Second, he sought to correct and bring back the Jewish People. The occurrences related in the pesukim on the two days that Moshe “went out” to his brethren demonstrate these two faci. On the first day, Moshe encountered an Egyptian beating a Jew. He immediately “corrected” the problem,…
Rashi attributes Yocheved’s ability to conceal Moshe Rabbeinu at home for three months to the fact that he was born prematurely – six months after conception. Hence, the Egyptians had no reason to search for a baby. When the nine-month period was up, she was forced to hide him in the water. Hashem could have saved Moshe Rabbeinu in any manner that He chose. He arranged for Moshe to be born prematurely, so that he would be home with his mother for three months. Then he was taken away from her, only to be returned to her later on in…
Some situations during the course of one’s life are so compelling that they determine one’s course of action. Indeed, one can reach the point of error even in areas which are usually very clear. Man must elevate himself to the point that he transcends his own vested interests, so that he sees the truth in its reality. We find a number of instances in which people — who under normal circumstances had been clear-thinking individuals — suddenly present themselves in a totally diffferent light. We find that in his dispute with Shmuel HaNavi, regarding carrying out his mission of destroying…