Monthly Archives: November 2023

Acharei Mos Kedoshim 5783

Acharei Mos, Kedoshim

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LOOK INTO THE MIRROR FIRST

The verse states “Do not hate your brother in your heart, rather, you should reprimand him and do not carry on him any wrongdoing.” The Talmud teaches us that although we may hate one who fails to accept the Torah, nevertheless, we must not hold that hatred in the heart. We must reprimand him.

What is the intent of “do not carry on him any wrongdoing”? Rebbe Tarfon says (Erchichin 16b) “I wonder if there is anyone nowadays who can give a successful ‘tochacha’.” He explains, this is because if the one giving the tochacha tells the wrongdoer that he is doing wrong, the recipient will turn around and tell the reprimander that he is doing greater wrong in the same area or in some other area. The recipient will therefore pay no attention to the words of the reprimander.

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Kedoshim 5782

Kedoshim

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INDEPENDENCE DAY IS APPROACHING

Every seven years when we had the Beis HaMikdosh, and in the near future as well, may it so be the Will of HaShem, the entire nation of Israel, every member of every family converged on the Temple Mount and witnessed the following scene. In the middle of the courtyard if the Mikdosh the King of Israel, a descendant of Kings Dovid and Shlomo would read aloud in a voice that was clear and loud, articulate and heard by all, selected parts of the Torah. Naturally, it were those parts of the Torah that were relevant for every member of our nation to hear. The Parsha we will read this week, Kedoshim, was one of those selected Parshios.

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Acharei Mos 5782

Acharei Mos

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CELEBRATING JEWISH NATIONALISM

The Av Harachamim prayer said before Musaf on Shabbos remembers the thousands of martyrs who were murdered al Kiddush HaShem by the Crusades. These Kedoshim accepted the sword of the Crusades rather than accepting their cross.

This prayer, in which we ask HaShem to remember these tzaddikim, is recited every Shabbos before Musaf. On those Shabbosim when we are m’kadesh the chodesh, this prayer is omitted. However, during the Omer it is said even on those Shabbosim. The reason for this is because these tragic events occurred predominantly during the Omer period. In earlier times there were also special Yotzros that were added to Shabbos shacharis commemorating the murder of those kedoshim.

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Kedoshim 5779

Kedoshim

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NO PLUMBING NECESSARY

Adapted from a talk from Rabbi Lopiansky.

In this week’s Parsha, Kedoshim, HaShem tells us that He separated us from all the other nations and made us His. The Ramban, in explaining the nature of how we are different, opens for us a window from which we get a magnificent view of the greatness of the Jewish people.

The Ramban lays down the following principle. Every land on Earth has its unique source of energy. This source finds itself in the realm of astrology. Each astrological source has its own higher source in the spiritual realm in the form of an angel. Hence, every land on Earth has its own angel through which HaShem sends energy to it. These forces of energy are referred to as ‘elohim’ or as ‘elohim acheirim’’. This is true with England, Germany, America and every other land with one exception. The Land of Israel has no astrological source and has no spiritual source. Eretz Yisroel receives her energy directly from HaShem Itself!

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Acharei Mos 5779

Acharei Mos

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STAY WITHIN LIMITS

This week’s Parsha, Acharei Mos, references the death of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, who died while bringing an unrequested offering. In explaining the cause for this death the Midrash describes it; “they died because they added love to love”. The love that the Midrash refers to is their love for HaShem. The implication is that there is good love which comes in its proper measure and then there is extra love that goes beyond the limit. What is the limitation within which love is acceptable. Let us rephrase the question as follows. What is the container that holds love and when there is no more room in that container, further love must be restrained?

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Acharei Mos Kedoshim 5778

Acharei Mos, Kedoshim

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IT BELONGS IN THE KNAPSACK

This week’s Parsha, Acharei Mos – Kedoshim, instructs us not to insult the convert to Judaism by pointing out how he served idols in the past. The Torah reminds us that we, too, have a history of idolators when we lived in Egypt. Our Sages explain that a blemish that you have do not point it out in someone else.

The implication seems to be that if you have a blemish don’t insult someone else with that blemish because the insulted person can turn around and throw it back to you. But is this what the Torah means? This reason seems self-serving. Perhaps there is a deeper message.

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