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REB CHAIM & THE KEDUSHA WITHIN

This Shabbos we will read Parshas Para, the additional Parsha of the Red Heifer. This Parsha teaches us the many laws that relate to tumas meis, the impurity that comes from the body of a Jew who has died. The Parsha opens with the introductory statement; “This is the Law of the Torah.” The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh asks how are these laws The Laws of the Torah any more than the laws regarding other mitzvos? Just as the Parsha of the korban Pesach opens with “These are the laws of the Pesach”, this Parsha should open with “These are the laws of Tuma”.

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HOW VALUABLE IS MONEY?

As we are currently in the interim between Pesach and Shavuous we find our-selves counting the Omer from day one moving up to day 49 after which we celebrate Shavuous. The idea of counting every day reflects our anticipation for the great day on which HaShem will give us the Torah. Although normally one counts down to the day of great anticipation we count up. The reason for this is parallel to the counting that the chosson and kallah count towards their wedding day. Before the couple counts down to the wedding day there are prerequisites that need to be put in order. They need a venue, a caterer, a band, a florist, a photographer, a videographer and so on. Only after those needs are in order can they begin to count down. So we can actually call the days preceding the countdown as the count up where they collect all the necessary components to make the wedding.

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THE PRESENT OF HIS PRESENCE

The Jewish people reached their apex in this week’s Parsha, Shmini, with the completion and inauguration of the Mishkan. Finally, after all the preparations and building and practice, the first day of Nissan arrived and HaShem’s Presence will fill the Mishkan, the handiwork of our people. At every step of the process, the Torah testifies that it was all done according to the strict rules and instructions and the proper intentions that HaShem instructed Moshe. In spite of their conscientious dedication to all the details, nevertheless, once everything was done and the inaugural offerings were brought, HaShem’s Presence was nowhere to be seen. Our Sages teach that Aaron was shamefaced. He was certain that HaShem had not accepted his offerings and that the sin of the Golden Calf still hung over him. At that point Moshe and Aaron entered the Mishkan and davened to HaShem that He have mercy on them and rest His Presence on the Mishkan. After that prayer the Shechina descended.

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BURNT BY THE SUN

This past Shabbos we read Shir HaShirim in which Shlomo Hamelech depicts the Jewish people as a beautiful woman whose husband sent her away. She finds herself alone among other women who look at her in her desolate state of exile. She tells these other women ‘Although I am blackened, I am truly beautiful. It is the exposure to the sun that blackened me. Once I will retreat into the shade my beauty will shine forth.’ This is King Solomon’s depiction of our depressed state in exile.

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IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT OF THE UNIVERSE

With Pesach behind us, we are in our second week of our ascent from the depravity of Egypt to the heights of spiritual purity of Mount Sinai. In this state we are presented with this week’s Parsha, Shmini. Shmini introduces us to the laws governing which animals are permitted for us to eat and which are not. Regarding non-kosher mammals the Torah writes “These animals are unclean for you” . Regarding non-kosher fish the Torah writes “all fish that do not have fins and scales are detestable to you” regarding the non-kosher birds the Torah writes “The following birds are detestable to you”.