All posts by rabbidiskind

Tzav 5781

Tzav

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FROM RAGS TO RICHES

This Saturday night immediately after Shabbos Jews across the world will be sitting down with their family and friends at the Seder table. One of the mitzvos we will perform is the mitzvah of Magid in which we will discuss our exodus from Egypt.

There are many mitzvos that require speaking and reciting such as prayer, reading of Hallel, reading the Megillah and others. One can fulfill their obligation when reciting the necessary reading in Hebrew even if they do not understand the translation of what they heard or read. The mitzvah of Magid, however, is distinct from these other recitations. Magid must be done in the common language. If one does not understand Hebrew, they must read the translation.

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Tzav 5779

Tzav

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REPLACING BAD FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD!

There is a running theme throughout the Megillah; everything is turned around from very bad to very good. The cursed Haman is replaced by the blessed Mordechai. The wicked Vashti is replaced by the blessed Esther When we think of being saved from a tragedy through a miracle we thank HaShem for neutralizing the bad situation and resolving it without any consequences. The notion that the evil itself turns to good is noteworthy. It is also noteworthy how much significance our Sages ascribe to Purim. They teach us that once the Geula will come, the other holidays will become less significant but Purim will lose none of her significance. What is it about Purim that stands out?

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Tzav 5777

Tzav

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THE NEXT DIMENSION

As we approach the most beautiful holiday of Pesach I would like to focus my attention to its preparation and will therefore pass over the weekly Parsha of Tzav. On the night of the Seder our Sages instruct us that every person must vie w himself as if he himself left Egypt on that night. A strange mitzvah! Did I leave Egypt tonight? It occurred 3,300 years ago and I have no way to even think what it meant to leave Egypt.

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Vayikra 5782

Vayikra

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DRAWING CLOSER

The Book of Vayikra is the Book that introduces us to the karbanos. Rav Sam-son Raphael Hirsch explains how the common translations of korban misrepresent what the korban actually is. Before we begin, what is a korban? A korban is an animal, bird or flour that is brought to the Beis HaMikdosh for the sake of offering it up on the mizbeiach, the Altar. The most common translation for korban is sacrifice. This word implies giving up something of value for a greater cause; whether it be life and money and receiving nothing in return. The other common translation is offering. This word implies a gift of value to the recipient as one offers an offering to the recipient. An offering is a form of gift for the benefit of the recipient. Both of these translations corrupt the under-standing of what a korban actually is.

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Vayikra 5781

Vayikra

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GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR,
YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE

In this week’s Parsha, Vayikrah, the Torah introduces the various korbanos (offerings) that were brought in the Mishkan. The first animal offering is the bull, the second is the sheep and goats and the third animal is the bird offering. The first paragraph begins, “If from the bull is his offering…” and the second paragraph begins, “If from the sheep is his offering”. The third paragraph begins slightly differently, “If from the birds is his offering to HaShem…”

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Vayikra 5779

Vayikra

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INTEGRITY & FIDELITY; OUR SECRET WEAPON

This week, in addition to the regular Parsha of Vayikra, we will read a second Parsha, Parshas Zachor. Parshas Zachor instructs us to remember that Amalek attacked us when we left Egypt. They had no interest in attacking us other than to demonstrate that G.D’s people are just as mortal and human like every other nation. In reality, however, we know that as HaShem’s people, we are not mortal. The nation of Israel is eternal, we will outlive history itself.

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Pikudei 5782

Pekudei

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THE PICTURE AND THE PUZZLE

With the Ukrainian Russian conflict on everyone’s mind how can we not address this issue in TableTalk? I am certainly not a person whose opinion regarding this conflict has much value. I do, however, have much sentiment invested in the conflict.

With Parshas Pikudei we will conclude the second Book of Shemos. The very last few verses jump ahead, chronologically, because they reflect an event that will not take place until the third Parsha of the next Book of Vayikra. Those last verses tell us how Moshe erected the Mishkan upon its completion in the beginning of their second year of leaving Egypt. The reason for this jump is because it is only with this momentous event that our people achieve their mission and it is this mission that marks the second Book.

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Pikudei 5779

Pekudei

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DON’T JUST GO TO SLEEP

We finally reach the grand finale of the building of the Mishkan at the conclusion of this week’ Parsha, Pikudei. When all the components of the Mishkan were put together and the vessels in their appropriate places, ‘The cloud covered the Mishkan and HaShem’s Honor filled the Mishkan’. The Presence of HaShem finally had Her residence in this world; in the midst of HaShem’s chosen people. With this picture, the Book of our exodus concludes. We have arrived at our destiny. We are the carriers of HaShem’s Presence throughout world geography and throughout world history. We are now ready to be launched.

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