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The son of an Israelite woman – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name and blasphemed… the name of his mother was Shlomis daughter of Divri. (24:10,11)

The Torah relates the story of a Jew who committed the heinous sin of blaspheming the Name of Hashem.  The Torah records this person’s mother’s name as  Shlomis bas Divri.  Rashi attributes the name Shlomis to her tendency to greet everyone, striking up a conversation with everyone she meets.  The name Divri also implies that she was a dabronis, talked very much with everyone.  Apparently, her proclivity to talk excessively led to all forms of sinful speech and behavior.  The Chasam Sofer questions Rashi’s statement.  It would seem that Rashi was giving us a reason why this woman gave birth…

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The Kohen who is exalted above his brethren – upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured. (21:10)

The Kohen Gadol “stands” above the other Kohanim as a result  of certain qualities with which he has been vested.  Chazal enumerate five areas in which he was “greater” than the others.  One of these was strength.  The Kohen Gadol was exceptionally strong.  This is indicated by Aharon Hakohen’s ability to consecrate twenty-two thousand Leviim – in one day.  This process involved physically raising each one  and moving them back and forth, up and down.  The magnitude of this task is evident when one realizes that this was all performed in the space of one day! Let us analyze this…

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Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them, Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person. (21:1)

The various commentators address the Torah’s redundancy in its enjoinment to the Kohanim regarding the laws of tumah, ritual contamination.  Rashi cites Chazal who say that the Torah is emphasizing the need for the gedolim, adults, to warn the ketanim, children.  In a homiletic rendering of the pasuk, the Chasam Sofer focuses upon what has regrettably become common practice: We take an interest only in the “gedolim,” while we ignore the “ketanim“.  For example,  when a member of the community passes away, we make an effort to provide everything for the “niftar ha’gadol,” the distinguished deceased. We prepare a “great”…

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Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them: Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person among his people. (21:1)

Why is it necessary to have two “amiros,” sayings?  Rashi cites Chazal in the Talmud Yevamos 114a who say that the Torah is emphasizing the need for “the gedolim to warn the ketanim.” The Kohanim, scholars and teachers of the people, were to convey this teaching to others who were not necessarily obligated by  this mitzvah.  The adult Kohanim were cautioned  to make sure that their children not become contaminated.  The Midrash says that the word gedolim is a reference to the “beings,” angels in Heaven Above, for whom one amirah, admonishment, suffices.  The tachtonim, human beings who walk the…

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