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Home -> 5785 -> Shelach

כלם אנשים ראשי בני ישראל המה

Sruly Schnair
In Shelach, 5785

They were all distinguished men, heads of Bnei Yisrael, were they. (13:4)

Parshiyos Shelach and Korach reveal Jewish leaders who fell from greatness to infamy. The Torah’s portrayal of the downfall of these leaders teaches us that no one is immune to failure, and even the most spiritually elevated must always be vigilant. One must scrutinize every change in behavior, in attitude, however minute, before it becomes a blatant flaw. Our parshah begins with the story of the meraglim, Nesiim, princes of the tribes, handpicked by Moshe Rabbeinu. Yet, their fear and self-destructive perception of Eretz Yisrael led to their personal downfalls, causing an entire generation to lose its opportunity to enter…

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Home -> Behar -> 5785

ושבתה הארץ שבת לד'

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Behar

The Land shall observe a Shabbos rest for Hashem. (25:2)

The Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 84) offers three reasons by which to understand the mitzvah of Shemittah: first, to teach the Jew to maintain his emunah, faith in Hashem, second, to imbue him with the middah, character trait, of vatranus, yielding/selflessness/forbearance; third, to have bitachon, trust in Hashem, that He will “come through” and provide for his needs. [I underscore “needs” as opposed to “wants.” A Jew has what he needs. Wanting is a different class. Hashem provides for our needs. He determines our needs.] In other words, a Jew is to be faithful to the Almighty and to trust in…

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Home -> 5785 -> Emor

לא יקרחה קרחה בראשם ופאת זקנם לא יגלחו ובבשרם לא ישרטו שרטת קדשים יהיו לאלקיהם

Sruly Schnair
In Emor, 5785

They shall not make a bald spot on their heads, and they shall not shave an edge of their beard; and in their flesh, they shall not cut a gash… They shall be holy to their G-d. (21:5-6)

Horav Yehoshua Leib Diskin, zl, explains the continuity of these pesukim. The pagan priests of that day would mark their bodies to show their distinction from the average pagan. They cut their hair differently and made markings in their skin for all to see that they were priests. They did this because, in their basic rectitude and moral compass, no distinction existed between them and the average devotee who viewed them as spiritually elevated. Their lifestyle was as morally profligate as that of other idol worshippers. Thus, in order to garner respect from the populace, they required creative physical signs…

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Home -> 5785 -> Kedoshim

ואמרת אליהם קדושים תהיו כי קדוש אני אלקיכם

Sruly Schnair
In Kedoshim, 5785

And say to them: “You shall be holy, for holy am I, Hashem, Your G-d. (19:2)

Hashem exhorts us to be holy, to sanctify ourselves. In other words, “being good” is insufficient. One must strive to be holy. How does one achieve holiness? Indeed, how does one define holiness in the Heavenly vernacular? Rashi explains kedoshim tehiyu as perushim tehiyu, abstinence from immorality, distancing oneself from morally profligate behavior. Ramban maintains that instruction to be holy is not limited to any specific observance or discipline; rather, it is an enjoinment to live a life of moderation. Just because an activity is permitted, one does not have license to overindulge. Such a person is called a naval…

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Home -> 5785 -> Metzora

כי תבאו אל ארץ כנען…ונתתי נגע צרעת בבית ארץ אחזתכם…והנה הנגע בקירת הבית…וצוה הכהן וחלצו את האבנים אשר בהן הנגע הנגע

Sruly Schnair
In Metzora, 5785

When you arrive in the land of Canaan… and I will place a tzaraas affliction upon a house in the land of your possession… and behold, the affliction is in the walls of the house… the kohen shall command and they shall remove the stones that contain the affliction (14:34,37,40)

Chazal (Vayikra Rabbah 17:6) teach that, when the Canaanim heard Klal Yisrael was on their way to take their Heavenly-designated land, they hid their jewelry and precious metals inside the walls of their homes to prevent the Jews from finding them. Thus, when the house is demolished due to the plague, that is on it, the hidden jewelry will be discovered. Obviously, we can say a lot concerning Hashem’s manner of rewarding the Jews. Surely, He must have a better, simpler way of giving them the gold and silver than having them dismantle their homes due to a plague. Let…

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Home -> 5785 -> Shemini

ויאמר משה אל אהרן קרב אל המזבח ועשה את חטאתך ואת עולתך

Sruly Schnair
In Shemini, 5785

Moshe said to Aharon: Come near to the Altar and perform the service of your sin-offering and your elevation-offering. (9:7)

Chazal (Toras Kohanim) teach that Moshe Rabbeinu had to coerce Aharon to participate in the holy service. Apparently, he was reluctant to approach the Mizbayach, Altar, because he saw the image of an eigal, calf, on top of the Mizbayach. The calf brought to mind his participation in the sin of the Golden Calf. As a result, he was self-conscious concerning coming forward and taking his rightful position at the Mizbayach. Moshe Rabbeinu noticed Aharon’s hesitancy and said, “Why are you embarrassed to go forward and serve? Indeed, l’kach nivcharta, it is specifically because of your extraordinary humility that you…

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Home -> 5785 -> Tzav

ופשט את בגדיו ולבש בגדים אחרים

Sruly Schnair
In Tzav, 5785

He shall remove his garments and he shall wear other garments. (6:4)

Rashi explains, “This is not an obligation, but rather, proper conduct, so that he not soil, through taking out the ashes, garments in which he serves constantly, garments in which he has cooked a pot for his master…” Therefore, he shall don garments inferior to the ones which he wears when he serves in the Sanctuary. A similar idea is to be found with regard to the clothing we wear on Shabbos. Shulchan Orach Chaim (262:2): “One should try to have for himself nice clothes for Shabbos.” The Mishnah Berurah adds that this is part of honoring Shabbos. This applies…

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Home -> 5785 -> Tzav

והכהן המשיח תחתיו מבניו יעשה אותה חק עולם

Sruly Schnair
In Tzav, 5785

The Kohen from among his sons who is anointed in his place shall perform it, it is an eternal decree from Hashem. (615)

The Kohen Gadol offers a minchas chavitin, meal offering, repeatedly baked every day of his tenure. This is his inaugural korban on the day that he becomes Kohen Gadol and continues throughout the period that he serves. It is almost as if every day is a new day of service; as if he is inaugurated anew every day. Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, explains that the Kohen Gadol must be infused with the knowledge that his position is a Heavenly gift that Hashem renews daily, which He can, just as easily, take away. (Hashem can strike him with a mum, physical…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5785

קחו מאתכם תרומה לד' כל נדיב לבו יביאה את תרומת ד' זהב וכסף ונחושת

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayakhel

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem; everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem: gold, silver, copper. (35:5)

Chazal (Shemos Rabbah 49:2) teach that zahav, gold, kesef, silver; and nechoshes, copper – all allude to the Avos, three Patriarchs. The connotation of the pasuk (based upon Chazal’s interpretation) is that the Shechinah rests His Divine Presence in the Mishkan in the merit of the three Avos. Gold alludes to Avraham, whose faith was put to a test when he was flung into a furnace – a process which is used to refine gold. Silver represents Yitzchak, who was purified when he was bound upon the Altar. Unlike gold, which is heated in a furnace to test its quality,…

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Home -> 5785 -> Tetzaveh

וכפר אהרן על קרנתיו אחת בשנה ... קודש קדשים הוא לדי

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5785

Aharon will cleanse its thorns once a year … it is holy of holies to Hashem. (30:10)

Rashi explains that the Mizbayach, Altar, is a Kodesh Kodoshim, Holy of Holies Its sanctity is supreme, designated for this service exclusively.  We derive from Rashi that the Mizbayach HaKetores, Incense Altar, is considered Kodesh Kodoshim, since no other service (the application of blood on the horns of the Mizbayach on Yom Kippur) was performed on it.  (The daily Ketores, Incense, was also offered on it.)  In his commentary to the pasuk, the Malbim posits that the focus of Kodesh Kodoshim is not the Mizbayach, but Aharon HaKohen.  Thus, the Torah is informing us that Aharon Hakohen performed the service…

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