Acharei Mos – Page 4 – Peninim on the Torah

דם יחשב לאיש ההוא דם שפך ונכרת האיש ההוא מקרב עמו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5776

It shall be considered as bloodshed for that man, he has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from the midst of his people. (17:4)

After Noach saved the animals during the Flood, Hashem permitted man to partake of animals for food. If a man slaughters a consecrated animal outside of the Bais Hamikdash, the process is referred to as shchutei chutz, slaughtering “outside”. This act of slaughtering reverts to pre-Noach days and is deemed tantamount to committing bloodshed. There is no death penalty, because the individual did not take a human life; on a cosmic level, however, he did spill blood – which is an offense punishable by Heaven. Horav Ezra Barzal, zl, quotes Rashi who compares this spilling of blood to human killing….

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שלח ביד איש עתי המדברה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5775

And sent it with a designated man to the wilderness. (16:22)

The man who was appointed by the bais din to lead the he-goat to the wilderness was appointed the day before Yom Kippur. Chazal (Talmud Yoma 663) teach that he was accompanied on this journey by the yakirei Yerushalayim, dear ones, distinguished members of Yerushalayim’s elite, who would drop what they were doing – just to accompany the ish iti on this unique journey. Imagine what these men were relinquishing. They could have remained in the Azarah and been spectators, observing the Kohen Gadol perform the Yom Kippur service. This inspirational experience would have impacted their lives forever. Yet, they…

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כמעשה ארץ מצרים אשר ישבתם בה לא תעשו וכמעשה ארץ כנען אשר אני מביא אתכם שמה לא תעשו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5775

Do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice of the land of Canaan to which I bring you. (18:3)

Canaan and Egypt were the two most morally depraved lands in the world. Furthermore, both the area in which the Jewish People lived in Egypt and the area in which they were destined to settle in Canaan were the worst parts of these degenerate countries. The influence of these decadent cultures can be overwhelming. Thus, the Torah warns us to be alert to the dangers which lure the unknowing into an abyss of decadence and immorality. The Ksav Sofer distinguishes between the evil perpetrated by the Egyptians and the degeneracy which was the way of life in Canaan. The Egyptians…

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כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

No one was permitted to enter the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, except for Aharon HaKohen and future Kohanim Gedolim. This would take place once a year, on Yom Kippur. It was in the Kodesh HaKedoshim, from within a Cloud hovering above the Kapores, Ark Cover, that Hashem’s Glory was manifest. Hashem’s Glory is hidden beneath many veils. It is within the innermost area of sanctity and, even then, it is shrouded within a cloud. Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, derives a powerful, inspirational lesson from Hashem’s clandestine Presence. Ki be’anan eiraeh, “For in a Cloud will I appear.” Every time,…

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וכפר הכהן אשר ימשח אתו ואשר ימלא את ידו לכהן תחת אביו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

The Kohen who has been anointed or who has been given the authority to serve in place of his father. (16:32)

The Kohen Gadol’s son is first to succeed him, providing that he is suitable for the position. The Torah underscores the notion that he serves in place of his father. This teaches us, observes Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, that the Kohen Gadol must deeply understand his roots and realize that he is there only b’zchus, in the merit of, his father. If the Kohen Gadol appreciates that his position is an “inheritance,” that he has succeeded in achieving the apex of spiritual leadership due to z’chus avos, the merit of his past lineage, then he is fitting to be Kohen…

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כמעשה ארץ מצרים אשר ישבתם בה וכמעשה ארץ כנען... לא תעשו... ובחוקותיהם לא תלכו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

Do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice of the land of Canaan… and do not follow their traditions. (18:3)

Rashi explains that Klal Yisrael is herein enjoined not to emulate the customs and practices of the nations, such as attending theaters and stadiums to watch the gladiators battle one another. We are being taught here a new perspective on Judaism. There are areas of human endeavor which, although not Biblically or Rabbinically prohibited, are nonetheless inappropriate for the Jew. As we will see in the next parsha, which begins with the words, Kedoshim tiheyu, “You shall be holy,” the Jew has a higher calling: to sanctify himself. It is not enough to perform mitzvos and distance oneself from sin;…

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אחרי מות שני בני אהרן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

Nadav and Avihu were great tzaddikim, righteous and pious persons. Indeed, Hashem attests to their virtue when He says, Bikrovai akadesh, “I will be sanctified through those who are nearest to Me” (Vayikra 10:3). The average person taking a cursory look at this tragedy will, no doubt, have pressing questions that challenge the core of his faith in the Almighty. After all – why? The question screams out at us. Let us posit that, indeed, Nadav and Avihu erred by getting so carried away by their consummate love for Hashem that they just had to go into the Mishkan and…

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אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5773

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

The Midrash states four reasons for the untimely, tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu. Among these is the idea that, Lo natlu eitzah, zeh mi’zeh, “They did not take counsel one from another.” Ish machtaso, “Each man his firepan” (Vayikra 10:1) intimates that each one acted on his own without consulting the other. It was as if each one were to say, “I know what to do; I have no reason to mull it over with anyone else.” Horav Arye Leib Bakst, zl, posits that this is how we should understand the failing of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples, who also died…

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ומאת עדת בני ישראל יקח שני שעירי עזים לחטאת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5773

From the assembly of Bnei Yisrael he shall take two he-goats for a sin-offering. (16:5)

The Torah goes into great detail in describing the ritual of the two he-goats. One goat is “fortunate” to be selected as a korban, offering to Hashem. It is slaughtered by the Kohen Gadol, its blood sprinkled between the Badei HaAron, Poles of the Aron HaKodesh, on the Paroches, Curtain, and the Mizbayach HaZahav, Golden Altar. This represents a fairly impressive “end” to the life of an animal. The other he-goat does not seem to fare as well. It serves as the offering sent into the wilderness, bearing the nation’s sins. It is later flung off a cliff, falling to…

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אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5772

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash says that when Iyov heard about the tragic deaths of the two sons of Aharon HaKohen, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi v’yitar mimkomo; “Even for this, my heart trembles and it leaps from its place” (Iyov 37:1). Iyov had suffered as no other man. He believed that he did not deserve such extreme pain and misery to be visited upon him. He had led a virtuous and pious life, and he had done no wrong, certainly nothing of the caliber to warrant such serious punishment. He claimed that the physical/emotional pain of losing his children and his…

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דם יחשב לאיש ההוא דם שפך ונכרת האיש ההוא מקרב עמו

It shall be considered as bloodshed for that man, he has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from the midst of his people. (17:4)

שלח ביד איש עתי המדברה

And sent it with a designated man to the wilderness. (16:22)

כמעשה ארץ מצרים אשר ישבתם בה לא תעשו וכמעשה ארץ כנען אשר אני מביא אתכם שמה לא תעשו

Do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice of the land of Canaan to which I bring you. (18:3)

כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

וכפר הכהן אשר ימשח אתו ואשר ימלא את ידו לכהן תחת אביו

The Kohen who has been anointed or who has been given the authority to serve in place of his father. (16:32)

כמעשה ארץ מצרים אשר ישבתם בה וכמעשה ארץ כנען... לא תעשו... ובחוקותיהם לא תלכו

Do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice of the land of Canaan… and do not follow their traditions. (18:3)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

ומאת עדת בני ישראל יקח שני שעירי עזים לחטאת

From the assembly of Bnei Yisrael he shall take two he-goats for a sin-offering. (16:5)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

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