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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5786

הודיעני נא את דרכך

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Ki Sisa

Make Your ways known to me. (33:13)

Moshe Rabbeinu requested that the ways in which Hashem conducts the world be revealed to him.  Chazal (Berachos 7A) explain that he had a specific question which was pressing him, a question that has stumped every human: “Why is it that the righteous (will at times) suffer and the wicked (will at times) prosper?”  Veritably, this is a question that only plagues mortals.  Those whose neshamos have departed this world are privy to a supernal light which illuminates all that troubles us in this world.  Thus, they have no questions.  Hashem replied to Moshe, Lo Yiraani adam v’chai, “No human…

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Home -> 5786 -> Tetzaveh

ומלאת בו מלאת אבן ארבעה טורים אבן... והטור הרביעי תרשיש, ושהם, וישפה

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5786

You shall make vestments of sanctity for Aharon, your brother, for glory and splendor. (28:2)

Lashon Kodesh contains layers of nuance whereby various words translated similarly actually present subtle differences. In Sheimos HaNirdafin, Horav Shlomo Wertheimer, zl, devotes an entire sefer to distinguishing between these synonyms.  With regard to friendship, the Torah breaks it down to three primary terms:  chaver; rei’a; and yedid.  Each expresses a different dimension of human connection which gives us an insight into the true meaning of friendship. The most common term is chaver, which is a friend by chibur, attachment.  This means that the relationship is not one of emotion, but rather, of commitment.  A chavrusa is a study partner…

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Home -> 5786 -> Tetzaveh

ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5786

You shall fill it with stone mounting, four rows of stone … and the fourth row, tarshish, shoham and yashfeh. (28:17, 20)

You shall make bigdei kodesh, vestments of sanctity.  Were they used for sanctity or did they become holy when Aharon wore them to perform the Priestly service, or did the artisans craft them with the intention of making them holy?  Perhaps it was their designation for the Kohen Gadol who would perform the Divine Service in the Sanctuary that lent holiness to these vestments.  Clothing on its own is not intrinsically holy. When it is worn by a saintly person in the course of his performing a holy function, however, it transforms from garment to holy vestment.  Once the garments…

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Home -> 5786 -> Tetzaveh

ונועדתי שמה לבני ישראל ... ושכנתי בתוך בני ישראל

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5786

I shall set My meeting there with Bnei Yisrael … I shall rest My Presence among Bnei Yisrael. (29:43,45)

Midrash Rabbah (Shemos 33) “quotes” Hashem as saying, “I sold/gave you My Torah – I sold Myself with it.”  This may be compared to a king who had one single daughter whom he loved very much.  Another king betrothed her and now asked permission to take his new wife to his country.  The father replied, “She is my only daughter. On the one hand, I cannot divest myself of her. On the other hand, she is your wife and must follow her husband.  I ask only that, wherever you set up your home, you construct a small room for me,…

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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

Let them take for Me a portion from every man whose heart motivates him… They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them. (25:2,9)

Parashas Terumah focuses on the construction of the Mishkan, the Sanctuary in which the Shechinah, Divine Presence, would repose among Klal Yisrael.  One question requires elucidation.  The parshah is unquestionably all about the construction of a holy place for the Shechinah – the Mishkan.  Why, then, is the parshah called Terumah, contribution, and not Mishkan, Sanctuary? Perhaps the Torah seeks to convey a profound message: Holiness is not merely found in the structure itself, but in the willingness and predisposition of the people to give of themselves to create it.  While the MIshkan was designated as the place where the…

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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

Let them take for Me a portion from every man whose heart motivates him. (25:2)

The opening command of our Parshah represents the first appeal for funds.  Moshe Rabbeinu made the appeal, but he was doing so at the behest of Hashem.  Perhaps, this is something we should consider when someone asks us to open our wallets to support a worthy cause:  Whoever is making the request is acting on behalf of an institution or a chesed that has Hashem’s henpeck, seal of approval.  Otherwise, he should not be soliciting our funds. Parashas Terumah may begin with the first fund-raising campaign, but it is far more than a construction appeal.  It represents the Torah’s foundational…

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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ועשית את הקרשים למשכן עצי שטים עמדים

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

You shall make the planks of the Mishkan of atzei shittim, acacia wood, standing erect. (26:15)

The Mishkan’s walls were comprised of huge planks of acacia wood.  Rashi wonders why the Torah refers to the kerashim, planks, as ha’kerashim, the planks, with the hay ha’yediah, definite article, as though these were planks with which we were familiar (at the time).  He quotes Midrash Tanchuma (91) that, indeed, these were no ordinary planks.  They were the product of trees that Avraham Avinu originally planted. Yaakov Avinu was fully aware that he was descending into the Egyptian galus, exile.  He also knew that one day his descendants would be liberated, receive the Torah, followed by Hashem’s command that…

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Home -> 5786 -> Mishpatim

ורצע אדניו את אזנו במרצע ועבדו לעלם

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5786

And the master shall bore through his ear with the awl, and he shall serve him forever. (21:6)

Chazal (Kiddushin 22b) explain why the ear is the organ of the body that is pierced:  “It is the ear that heard on Har Sinai that Bnei Yisrael should be servants (only) to Me, and this man went and acquired a (new) master for himself.” The obvious question is: if the purpose of the piercing is to reprimand the eved, bondsman, for continuing his servitude, why was it not pierced when he originally sold himself to pay for his ill-begotten debts?  Why wait until the end of his tenure?  Furthermore, why is the master the one who bores the ear?…

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Home -> 5786 -> Mishpatim

ורפא ירפא

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5786

He shall provide for healing. (21:18)

Horav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zl, asks why the closing b’rachah, Bircas Refa’einu, the blessing for healing, is Rofeh cholei Amo Yisrael; Hashem heals the Jewish people.  Does He not heal everyone?  If Hashem does not “agree” to the patient being healed, he will not be healed.  He explains, based upon a story that occurred when the Gaon, zl, m’Vilna, refused to turn to doctors for assistance in healing.  He was a firm believer (following Ramban, commentary to Vayikra 20:11) that one who fears and places his trust only in Hashem will be healed by the Divine Himself.  Nonetheless, during his…

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Home -> 5786 -> Mishpatim

כי תראה חמור שנאך רבץ תחת משאו וחדלת מעזב לו – עזב תעזב עמו

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5786

If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden, would you refrain from helping him? You shall help repeatedly with him. (23:5)

“Someone you hate.”  Jews are not supposed to hate.  V’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha; “Love your fellow as yourself” is a cornerstone of our faith.  Obviously, this is not the common hatred based on envy and other social flaws.  This must be a hate that falls under the rubric of permissibility, such as a fellow Jew who persistently commits sinful behavior – despite being warned and admonished repeatedly to desist from his spiritually egregious activities.  Until that time that he listens and repents, he may be the focus of our disdain and even loathing.  Such a person harms not only himself, but…

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