Friday, April 27, 2018

Dvar Torah & Podcast for Parshas Emor


       Due to the eighth day of Pesach falling out on Shabbos, Eretz Yisrael and CHU"L will be one parsha off for the next several weeks. Since we are based in Eretz Yisrael, we will be following their schedule. Please click here for the dvar Torah and Podcast for this week's Parsha being read in CHU"L (Acharei Mos-Kedoshim).




       Sefer Vayikra is known as “Toras Kohanim”, as it deals with many of the different laws concerning the Kohanim and their service in the Beis Hamikdash. Parshas Emor follows this theme by examining some of the requirements and restrictions in being part of the Kohen family. These were established in order to maintain the purity of the holiest sect of the Jewish people. However, there is a story, albeit a tragic one on the surface, which shows the holiness present within all members of Bnei Yisrael.
       At the end of the parsha, the pasuk tells us of a fight between two people, a Jew and the son of the Jewish women. The second man ended up publicly cursing the name of Hashem, an offense punishable by death. Hashem commands the Bnei Yisrael, through Moshe, to kill the offender, and they comply eagerly to fulfill the word of Hashem. This is seen clearly as the parsha ends with the phrase, “וּבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עָשׂ֔וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה“And the children of Yisrael did as Hashem commanded Moshe” (Vayikra 24:23).
       By examining the pasuk in its entirety, however, we can question why it was necessary to say this phrase at all. The first half of the pasuk reads, “וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁה֘ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ אֶת־הַֽמְקַלֵּ֗ל אֶל־מִחוּץ֙ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אָ֑בֶן“And Moshe spoke to the Bnei Yisrael. And they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him” (ibid). Hashem told Bnei Yisrael to take him out and stone him and that’s exactly what they did; why does the pasuk have to follow that up by saying that they did exactly what Hashem told them? Can’t we tell that’s what happened?
       The Ohr HaChaim gives several answers to this question. He explains that this whole story started as a fight between two men. You could assume that the nation was siding with the first guy and was only too happy to go along with Hashem’s command to get rid of the second. The pasuk points out to us that this was not true; they only went along with this because it was a direct commandment from Hashem, without any thoughts of revenge. The second answer he brings is that while it wasn’t possible for each and every person to physically take part in removing this person from the camp, they all had intent to perform the mitzvah of fulfilling the commandment of Hashem, and therefore they all received credit for it. So the pasuk first mentions the people who physically took part in the mitzvah and then includes everyone else in its fulfillment.
       Perhaps the story of an entire nation willingly participating in the killing of an individual isn’t the greatest example to share of how eager we are to follow the word of Hashem. However, this was not an out of control mob thirsty for blood. The pasuk (12) clearly states that they placed him in holding until it was determined what to do with him. They were ready to accept whatever verdict they were told. Only once they knew what was required did they take him out and kill him. This whole story is a testament to the desire of the nation to do only that which Hashem commanded them to, and to do so with the purest of intentions. In this way, they were all from the holiest sect of the nation, just like Kohanim.
Shabbat Shalom!






Click here to listen this this week's Podcast (Also available on Apple Podcasts) 

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AIMeM

Friday, April 20, 2018

No New Dvar Torah this Week

Due to amazing and fantastic circumstances, there will be no new Dvar Torah this week. Please click here to read and listen to last year's Dvar Torah for Parshas Acharei mos-Kedoshim.
Due to the eighth day of Pesach falling out on Shabbos, Eretz Yisrael and CHU"L will be one parsha off for the next several weeks. Since we are based in Eretz Yisrael, we will be following their schedule. Please click here for the dvar Torah and Podcast for this week's Parsha being read in CHU"L (Tazria-Metzora).

Shabbat Shalom!





For any questions, comments, or to subscribe to our email list, please email us at AIMeMTorah@gmail.com.

Please Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @aimemtorah

Don't forget to check out hashkafahandbook.com to learn about my book,Reality Check. And Like it on Facebook.

Don't forget to check out the Dvar Torah on parshasheets.com!

Check out our other AIMeMTorah project, Nation's Wisdom!



AIMeM

Friday, April 13, 2018

Dvar Torah & Podcast for Parshas Tazria-Metzora

Due to the eighth day of Pesach falling out on Shabbos, Eretz Yisrael and CHU"L will be one parsha off for the next several weeks. Since we are based in Eretz Yisrael, we will be following their schedule. Please click here for the dvar Torah and Podcast for this week's Parsha being read in CHU"L (Shemini).

       Parshas Tazria-Metzora is best known for the laws of tzara’as, lesions which appear on your skin as a result of speaking Lashon Hara. However, there are other types of tzara’as which appear on your house or clothing. Tzara’as on a house is a particularly interesting idea.
       The pasuk reads, “כִּ֤י תָבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֑ה וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ נֶ֣גַע צָרַ֔עַת בְּבֵ֖ית אֶ֥רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶֽם“When you come to the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as a possession, and I place a lesion of tzara’as upon a house in the land of your possession.” (Vayikra 14:34). If these lesions are indeed tzara’as, you may end up having to destroy the entire house! However, as we have explained in a previous Dvar Torah, Rashi tells us that this is in fact might be a blessing in disguise. When the Bnei Yisrael were approaching Eretz Yisrael, the people living there at the time hid their possessions in the walls of their houses. Years later, after breaking down the walls of his house because of tzara’as, a Jew was liable to find a treasure trove inside his walls! In fact, this still happens nowadays in Eretz Yisrael when they dig up old foundations of houses built before the establishment of the State of Israel.
       The Kli Yakar focuses on the language of the pasuk and comes up with several questions. First of all, why does the pasuk specify that these laws apply only in Eretz Yisrael? Could tzara’as on the house not occur in the desert? Other forms of tzara’as certainly did. Secondly, why does Hashem mention here that He is giving us the land as a possession? While this phrase is found several times throughout the Torah, there is always a reason behind it. Finally, why does the pasuk end with the phrase “upon a house in the land of your possession”; why can’t it just say “in your houses”?
       The answer lies in the reason why tzara’as appears specifically on a house. As we explained, tzara’as appears on your body due to speaking Lashon Hara, the reason it appears on your house due to stinginess, or an inappropriate desire for money. Our possessions are given to us by Hashem for the purpose of supporting ourselves and our families, as well as to help others in need.
       This is especially true in Eretz Yisrael where Hashem drove out the nations living there, without us even having to fight a battle. There it is most apparent that our land is a gift from Him. If you don’t recognize your purpose in having this property even then, you will receive a clear message in the form of tzara’as. Therefore, the pasuk writes specifically about Eretz Yisrael and what should be our viewpoint.

Shabbat Shalom!





Click here to listen this this week's Podcast (Also available on Apple Podcasts) 

For any questions, comments, or to subscribe to our email list, please email us at AIMeMTorah@gmail.com.

Please Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @aimemtorah

Don't forget to check out hashkafahandbook.com to learn about my book,Reality Check. And Like it on Facebook.

Don't forget to check out the Dvar Torah on parshasheets.com!

Check out our other AIMeMTorah project, Nation's Wisdom!



AIMeM