Vayikra – Page 4 – Peninim on the Torah

ויקרא אל משה וידבר ד' אליו מאהל מועד

He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the Ohel Moed. (1:1)

When Moshe Rabbeinu was summoned (Vayikra el Moshe – He called to Moshe), when Hashem wished to teach him a lesson or impart to him a new command, Moshe would reply, “Hineni – here I am, ready and willing to do whatever is asked of me.” Hashem would then inform Moshe of what it was that He wished. The pasuk implies that the call/summons was issued only to Moshe. This is not because Hashem’s voice is low and only Moshe could hear it. The Almighty’s voice can shatter trees; such is its awesome power. Hashem wanted that only Moshe would…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5775

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayikra

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

Rashi explains that the word adam in our pasuk is a reference to Adam HaRishon, the first human being, with a lesson regarding the laws of korbanos, offerings. As Adam did not bring any korbanos from stolen property, since essentially the whole world was his, so, too, may no one serve Hashem with anything that came into his possession in a dishonest manner. The Panim Yafos explains this idea practically. Adam HaRishon was last to be created, following the creation of an entire world with its myriad creations. Adam was fully aware that nothing belonged to him; after all, he…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5775

והפשיט את העלה ונתח אתה לנתחיה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayikra

He shall skin the Elevation/Burnt Offering and cut it into pieces. (1:6)

Arrogance may not be the prime motivation for sin, but a sinner is certainly arrogant. His pretentiousness is the result of an exacerbated self-opinion, which allows him to act injudiciously. A more pronounced sense of self will provoke even greater and more audacious sin, while the sinner thinks that, as a result of his self-perceived greatness, he may act with impunity. One who is humble is careful concerning what he says and how he acts. Hence, his indiscretion is less common and certainly less pronounced. Having said this, the question is: What motivates the arrogance? Every individual knows “himself.” He…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5775

על כל קרבנך תקריב מלח

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayikra

On your every offering shall you offer salt. (2:13)

Salt is the only “food” which (since it is a condiment) does not have its own value. Its worthiness is noted only when it is mixed with other foods, thereby imparting its taste into that food. Horav Yisrael Chortkover, zl, comments that this is why the Torah demands salt to be placed on every korban, as a way of reminding and imbuing us with the notion that there is no value to the Jew who thinks and cares only about himself. A Jew’s true value is manifest when he devotes himself to others. Life is not about living alone, thinking…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5774

ויקרא אל משה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayikra

He called to Moshe. (1:1)

The summons to Moshe Rabbeinu, Vayikra, is spelled with a diminutive aleph, which allows the word to be read as Vayikar, which means “and he chanced upon.” Chazal give the background for the alternate spelling. When Hashem called Moshe, it was not a subtle sound which only he could hear. The sound of Hashem calling Moshe was resounding, traveling all the way from within the Holy of Holies to the outside of the Tent. Yet, no one else heard – not even Aharon HaKohen. It was the same sound that Klal Yisrael heard at Har Sinai when Hashem gave the…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5774

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayikra

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

The service of offering Korbanos, sacrifices to Hashem, was given to Klal Yisrael. It is a holy service designated for a holy people. Korbanos, however, are not designated solely for the Jewish People. Anyone – regardless of faith – may bring a korban. Indeed, we read in Parashas Emor (Vayikra 22:18), “Speak to Aharon and his sons and to all of Bnei Yisrael and say to them: Any man of the House of Yisrael and of the geirim, proselytes among Yisrael, who will bring his offering for any of their vows or their free-will offerings that they will bring to…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5774

ואם זבח שלמים קרבנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayikra

And if a Korban Shelamim is his offering. (3:1)

The Korban Shelamim is defined as a Peace-offering. The word shelamim is derived from shalem, implying a state of completeness, of perfection, when used in connection with a human being. Shalem denotes that the person is in such a state that he does not feel a flaw in any part of his life. He feels complete. He lacks for nothing. Understandably, shalem is a relative concept, since it primarily describes an object in relation to all of its parts, or a person in relation to the circumstances and surroundings in which he lives. Horav S. R. Hirsch, zl, observes that…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5774

ונפש כי תחטא ושמעה קול אלה והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לא יגיד ונשא עונו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayikra

If a person will sin: if he accepted a demand for an oath, and he is a witness – either he saw or he knew. (5:1)

I recently came across a story related by a father, telling about a traumatic experience that he and his family had undergone with one of their teenage sons. A young boy, fifteen years old, had slowly begun to drift away from his attachment to Torah. At first, it was gravitation to the frivolities of the outside world. He continued with his usual good middos, character traits, never offending another student, always showing respect for his rebbeim, his good natured smile always manifest on his face. Yet, this was not enough to maintain his tenure in the yeshivah where he was…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5773

ויקרא אל משה וידבר ד' אליו מאהל מועד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayikra

He called to Moshe. (1:1)

The Baal HaTurim notes that, in this verse, the summons to Moshe, Vayikra is spelled with a diminutive aleph. From afar, it appears as vayikar, not Vayikra. In his great humility, Moshe Rabbeinu wanted to describe the way in which Hashem appeared to him in much the same manner as He appeared to Bilaam. G-d’s prophecy to Bilaam is introduced as vayikar, without the aleph. This word connotes chance and spiritual contamination. Hashem, however, instructed Moshe not to ignore the aleph. Our quintessential leader had great difficulty accepting this. He acquiesced, of course, and wrote the aleph – but in…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5773

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayikra

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

In the Talmud Chullin 60a, Chazal teach that the bull offered by Adam HaRishon as a korban, sacrifice, was quite unique. Its horns appeared before its hooves. They derive this from the pasuk in Tehillim 69:32, V’sitav l’Hashem mishor par makrin mafris, “It shall be more pleasing than a yearling bull with horns, with hooves.” Apparently, the primordial bull, first shor to be created, was fashioned fully grown from the earth, with it rising from the earth the way it stands. Thus, its horns materialized prior to its hooves. Indeed, as the Talmud continues, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, “All…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5775 ->

ויקרא אל משה וידבר ד' אליו מאהל מועד

He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the Ohel Moed. (1:1)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

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

והפשיט את העלה ונתח אתה לנתחיה

He shall skin the Elevation/Burnt Offering and cut it into pieces. (1:6)

על כל קרבנך תקריב מלח

On your every offering shall you offer salt. (2:13)

ויקרא אל משה

He called to Moshe. (1:1)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

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

ואם זבח שלמים קרבנו

And if a Korban Shelamim is his offering. (3:1)

ונפש כי תחטא ושמעה קול אלה והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לא יגיד ונשא עונו

If a person will sin: if he accepted a demand for an oath, and he is a witness – either he saw or he knew. (5:1)

ויקרא אל משה וידבר ד' אליו מאהל מועד

He called to Moshe. (1:1)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד'

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

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!