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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5774

ורדפו מכם חמשה מאה ומאה מכם רבבה ירדופו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Bechukosai

Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand. (26:8)

Rashi notes the discrepancy in the ratio of five to one hundred. If five Jews can pursue one hundred, which is a ratio of one to twenty, then a hundred Jews should pursue two thousand – not more. Yet, the Torah states that one hundred will pursue ten thousand. This teaches that when more people are united in serving Hashem, the effectiveness of their actions increase exponentially. The same Reuven and Shimon who had earlier been pursuing one hundred are now able to achieve much more. They have not changed, but their power has, because they are part of a…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5774

ונתן את הערכך ביום ההוא קדש לד' וכל ערכך יהיה בשקל הקדש

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Bechukosai

And he shall pay the evaluation of that day, it is holy to Hashem. (27: 23)

Every valuation shall be in the sacred shekel. (27:25) In the Talmud Arachin 24a, Chazal state, Ein l’hekdesh ela mekomo u’sheato, “Hekdesh has only its place and time.” This means that, if a man makes an erech – vow, but lacks the means to pay for it, the gizbar of Hekdesh, the Sanctuary’s treasurer, must assess his possessions to establish the amount that the donor can really afford. The assessment of value is commensurate with the place and time in which the vow occurred. For example, if the donor possesses a slave who is worth twenty dinarim, but when he…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5774

וכל מעשר בקר וצאן כל אשר יעבר תחת השבט העשירי יהיה קדש לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Bechukosai

Any tithe of cattle or flock, any that passes under the staff, the tenth of one shall be holy to Hashem. (27:32)

Every tenth animal of those born during the current season must be consecrated as an offering to Hashem. This is Maaser beheimah, the tithe of cattle or flock. All of the animals are put into a large corral and allowed to leave individually. Every tenth animal is marked with a dab of paint to distinguish it from the other animals. Horav Eliezer Gordon, zl, founding Rosh Yeshivah of Telshe, visited Kiev in order to solicit funds for his growing yeshivah. He came to the home of one of the wealthiest men in Russia and presented his case on behalf of…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5773

ואם בחוקתי תמאסו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Bechukosai

But if you disdain My decrees. (26:15)

There are forty-nine kelalos, curses, in the Tochechah, Admonition, of Sefer Vayikra. In the Talmud Megillah 31b, Chazal teach that the entire Admonition must be read in one Aliyah. The reading should not be interrupted for an Aliyah break to call another person up to the Torah. The sages derive this from a pasuk in Mishlei 3:11, Mussar Hashem beni al timaas, “Hashem’s reproach, my son, do not disdain.” In order for one to derive the full benefit of the lesson which is being taught, it is necessary that the lesson not be interrupted. Then the listener can grasp the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5773

וכל ערכך יהיה בשקל הקדש

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Bechukosai

Every valuation shall be in the sacred shekel. (27:25)

Voluntary contributions to the Sanctuary were a significant source of funding for the maintenance of the Temple. One would think that the laws concerning such valuations would be placed earlier in Sefer Vayikra, which deals with the Temple offerings. Horav S.R. Hirsh, zl, explains that these gifts were excluded by design, lest one think that his contributions replaced mitzvah performance. Voluntary contributions do not atone for laxity in mitzvah observance. The above pasuk teaches us that every evaluation is to be measured in Shekel ha’Kodesh, sacred shekel. Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, renders this pasuk homiletically to teach us a valuable…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5772

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5772, Bechukosai

“If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments… then I will provide your rains in their time…you will eat your bread to satiety…I will provide peace in the land.” (26:3-6)

The Torah provides the recipe for success, material abundance, and peace: connect with the Torah. We are faced with problems, vexing situations, challenges to overcome. Where do we turn for the answer? How do we get out of the quicksand of life’s challenges? “If you will follow My decrees” – “Im bechukosai teileichu” – connect with the Torah. It is the wellspring, the source of life and sustenance. In it you will find the answer. It will provide the solution to your problems. Horav Yaakov Galinski, Shlita, once spoke to a group of not yet observant Jews and gave the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5772

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5772, Bechukosai

“If you consider My decrees loathsome.” (26:15)

Rashi explains that this pasuk refers to one who hates the sages that have expounded the ordinances, who denigrates Torah scholars, ridiculing them, humiliating them, despising them. The reason for this unwarranted hatred is simple: they represent everything he seeks to destroy. The Torah scholar demonstrates that Torah is viable; it refines and develops an individual into the consummate example of what a human being should be. The individual who blatantly takes it upon himself to impugn the authority and honor of a venerable Torah sage will answer to Hashem. In the sefer, Likutei Imrei Avos, cited by Horav Yitchak…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them. (26:3)

The opening words of the pasuk – Im bechukosai teilechu, “If you will follow My decrees” – are not addressing the subject of mitzvah observance, since the words that immediately follow are, v’es mitzvosai tishmeru, “and observe My commandments.” Rashi’s observation is well-known: Apparently, Im bechukosai teileichu teaches that one must be amal, exert himself and toil in Torah. In other words, Torah study that is simple “learning,” is insufficient to protect a person. In order to fulfill Hashem’s mandate concerning Torah study, he must labor when he studies and learn with fervor, passion and enthusiasm. This is a nice…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Bechukosai

Then they will confess their sin and the sin of their forefathers for the treachery with which they betrayed Me. (26:40)

We can understand saying Viduy, confessing one’s own sins, but why must we repent for the sins of our parents?  We have  a hard enough  time  dealing with  our  own issues – let alone those of our forebears. Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, explains that this reasoning would be justified in the event that we were not to be responsible for the sins of our parents. However, when our actions, cause our parents to sin, it is an entirely different story. Children, young and old, make excessive demands on their parents which can lead to parents doing things which are inappropriate,…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, Bechukosai

“If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments… then I will provide your rains in their time…you will eat your bread to satiety…I will provide peace in the land.” (26:3-6)

The Torah provides the recipe for success, material abundance, and peace: connect with the Torah. We are faced with problems, vexing situations, challenges to overcome. Where do we turn for the answer? How do we get out of the quicksand of life’s challenges? “If you will follow My decrees” – “Im bechukosai teileichu” – connect with the Torah. It is the wellspring, the source of life and sustenance. In it you will find the answer. It will provide the solution to your problems. Horav Yaakov Galinski, Shlita, once spoke to a group of not yet observant Jews and gave the…

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