Sruly Schnair

והנותר מבשר הזבח ביום השלישי באש ישרף

Sruly Schnair In Tzav, 5783

What is left over from the flesh of the feast-offering shall be burned in the fire on the third day. (7:17)

We are enjoined to burn the nosar, left-over meat of a korban, after the time limit for its consumption has passed. The simple reason for the burning of nosar, is that after a few days, the meat begins to spoil and emit a putrid odor. It is no longer edible and people will be disgusted by it. Hashem does not want kodoshim, consecrated meat of a korban, to be a source of repulsion. Thus, He commands us to rid ourselves of this meat through the most effective means. (This is actually a rationale given by the Sefer HaChinuch for the…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5783

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayikra

When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

The underlying concept of korbanos, ritual offerings, is shrouded in deep, esoteric wisdom. The early commentators – such as Rambam, Ramban, Ibn Ezra – each presents his individual approach and opinion concerning the efficacy and purpose of korbanos. For our purposes, I will cite from the Ramban’s commentary to the beginning of the parshah: “Since the actions of humans are consummated through thought, speech and action, Hashem commanded that, when a person sins, he shall bring an offering. He shall place his hands on it, corresponding to the action component of his sin. Then he shall confess his sin, verbalizing…

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אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayikra

When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

Korbanos are a medium for bringing one closer to Hashem. Hence, (we use) the term korban, which is connected to karov, near. The various korbanos comprised one aspect of the person’s atonement process. Once he recognizes and acknowledges his sin, states it and acts remorseful, he is now able to commence the journey toward penance and forgiveness. As part of the teshuvah process, he offers a korban which is sacrificed on the Mizbayach, Altar, with the understanding that, what takes place concerning the animal, really should have happened to him. The realization of the chasm created by his lapse in…

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אשר נשיא יחטא ועשה אחת מכל מצות ד' אלקיו אשר לא תעשנה בשגגה

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayikra

When a ruler sins and commits one from among all the commandments of Hashem that may not be done – unintentionally. (4:22)

The other pesukim (addressing private and communal sin) begin with the logical v’im, if (someone sins). Concerning the Nasi, the Torah begins with the word asher, which means when (a Nasi sins). Why, concerning everyone else, it is “if” and regarding the Nasi, it is “when”? It is almost as if the Torah is implying that, for the Nasi, sin is inevitable. It is only a question of when it will occur. Rashi quotes the Sifra that teaches that the word asher alludes to ashrei, fortunate, implying that a generation whose leader sins and seeks atonement for his error is…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5783

והנשיאם הביאו את אבני השהם ואת אבני המלואים לאפוד ולחשן

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayakhel

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and stones for the settings for the eiphod and the Choshen. (35:27)

Rashi notes that, concerning the Chanukas HaMizbayach, dedication of the Altar, the Nesiim were the first to bring their donations. With regard to the donations for the Mishkan, however, they waited, saying, “We will donate whatever is needed to complete the Mishkan once the people have given their part.” They waited too long, underestimating the zeal with which the nation came forth to donate. Thus, all that was left for them to donate was the setting stones. As a ramification of their waiting too long, a letter (yud) is missing from their name. Chazal give a number of reasons for…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5783

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אותם להביא לכל המלאכה ... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayakhel

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

Upon reading the pasuk, one is struck by its redundancy. What is the difference between kol ishv’ishah, every man and woman, and Bnei Yisrael? Are they not one and the same? The Chida, zl explains this with a pertinent analogy. Often a shul has an appeal on Shabbos for badly needed funds to support an important project. In the heat of the announcement, people tend to get carried away and, wanting to “keep up with the Joneses,’” pledge more than they would normally give. At first, the donor is very proud of himself. After all, everyone else, even the wealthy…

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ויעש בצלאל את הארון עצי שיטים ... ויצפהו זהב טהור מבית ומחוץ

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayakhel

Betzalel made the Aron of Shittim/Acacia wood … He covered it with gold within and without. (37:1,2)

The Aron Hakodesh represents Torah and its disseminators. Torah is the lifeblood of our people. Thus, the Aron received special status within the framework of the Mishkan. It was a box constructed of wood, which was covered inside and outside with gold. All one saw was the gold. While the Torah scholar receives enormous esteem (or should) from the ha’mon am, general community, the wood is a reminder to him not to allow the accolades to make him lose sight of his inner essence. Humility should prevail over external praise. Rabbeinu Chananel views the arrangement of gold on wood as…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5783

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Pekudei

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

Horav Tzadok, zl, m’Lublin indicates that the name of the structure where the Shechinah reposed changed from the wilderness, where it was the Mishkan, to Bais Hamikdash, the permanent Temple in Yerushalayim. The varied names are indicative of their individual roles vis-à-vis the people. The Mishkan was a temporary structure, since it accompanied the nation on its journey through the wilderness. It was as temporary as the encampment. When they moved, it moved. The Mishkan was referred to as Mishkan Ha’Eidus, the Testimony, referring to the Torah. The Mishkan was notably the receptacle that received the Torah, for which it…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5783

וישכימו ממחרת ויעלו עולות ויגישו שלמים וישב העם לאכל ושתו ויקומו לצחק

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ki Sisa

The next day they rose early, offered up burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to make merry. (32:6)

Horav Yaakov Galinsky, zl, posits that this pasuk offers us a window into the mindset of the idol worshippers. At first, it begins with burnt offerings, which are wholly burnt and offered up to the higher being whom they claim to worship. This step is filled with idealism. After all, the entire animal is offered up, indicating the participants’ desire to give up their money and their lives on the altar of idealism. They still think that something will happen; their idol will speak to them. This step does not last very long, because nothing happens – no response from…

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אנא חטא העם הזה חטאה גדולה

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ki Sisa

The people have committed a grievous sin. (32:31)

One would think that Moshe Rabbeinu, who is presently interceding on behalf of Bnei Yisrael, would attempt to decrease the seriousness of their sin, not magnify it. Horav Yechezkel, zl, m’Kuzmir (Maamer Yechezkel) explains that the first step on the road to teshuvah, repentance, is hakoras ha’chet, recognizing and acknowledging that one has sinned. One who puts his head in the ground in an attempt to ignore his misdeed, or rationalizes his actions with a list of excuses to absolve – and even justify – his wrongdoing, will not repent. Even if he makes a feeble attempt at teshuvah, it…

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והנותר מבשר הזבח ביום השלישי באש ישרף

What is left over from the flesh of the feast-offering shall be burned in the fire on the third day. (7:17)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

אשר נשיא יחטא ועשה אחת מכל מצות ד' אלקיו אשר לא תעשנה בשגגה

When a ruler sins and commits one from among all the commandments of Hashem that may not be done – unintentionally. (4:22)

והנשיאם הביאו את אבני השהם ואת אבני המלואים לאפוד ולחשן

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and stones for the settings for the eiphod and the Choshen. (35:27)

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אותם להביא לכל המלאכה ... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

ויעש בצלאל את הארון עצי שיטים ... ויצפהו זהב טהור מבית ומחוץ

Betzalel made the Aron of Shittim/Acacia wood … He covered it with gold within and without. (37:1,2)

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

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

וישכימו ממחרת ויעלו עולות ויגישו שלמים וישב העם לאכל ושתו ויקומו לצחק

The next day they rose early, offered up burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to make merry. (32:6)

אנא חטא העם הזה חטאה גדולה

The people have committed a grievous sin. (32:31)

YEARS

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