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Emor – 5782
Acharei Mos Kedoshim 5781
JUST THINK ABOUT IT!
The first mitzvah of Kedoshim instructs us ‘to be holy because HaShem your G.D is holy’. The Torah is stating that HaShem’s holiness is the cause for us to be holy. Holiness in this context refers to being removed from the materialism of this world. The notion of HaShem’s holiness is that He is removed from the material world, He exists outside of this universe. To be more accurate, HaShem exists outside the spiritual realms as well; He created those realms just as He created the material world. HaShem is therefore Absolute Holiness. The question we must ask is how can HaShem’s holiness be the reason for us to be holy? HaShem’s holiness is intrinsic and such holiness within the sphere of the human condition is absurd. We understand that the Torah would not instruct us to be creators because HaShem is a creator. Such a mitzvah would be absurd since creation is the exclusive domain of HaShem. In a similar way HaShem’s holiness cannot be the reason for Man to be holy since His holiness is of a totally different nature.
Pesach II – 5782
Vayakheil Pikudei 5781
SHABBOS; KEEPING THE WORLD ALIVE
This week’s Parsha, Vayakheil-Pikudei, opens with HaShem’s instruction to Moshe to instruct his people on keeping the Shabbos. “Six days shall your work be done and the seventh day shall be kodesh to HaShem” The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh asks why the Torah instructs us to work six days, there is no mitzvah to perform work on the week-days. He also notes that the Torah does not say we should work six days but rather that our work should be done on those six days. Why does the Torah not say to work six days?
Continue reading Vayakheil Pikudei 5781Mikeitz – 5781
Vayishlach – 5781
Vayigash – 5781
Ki Sisa 5781
PLACING THE THRONE
This week’s Parsha, Ki Sisa, opens with HaShem instructing Moshe to count the Jewish people. However, instead of counting each person directly, he is instructed to collect a half shekel from each member and then count the shekalim, thereby indicating the number of people. The reason for this unique method is “that there should be no plague when the people are counted.” The implication is that there would be a plague if the people were counted directly. Why? If there is a mitzvah to be counted why should they be subject to a plague?
Continue reading Ki Sisa 5781Terumah / PuЯim 5781
A MODERN DAY MEGILLA STORY
This Purim, before reading the Megillah we will recite the bracha that reflects how HaShem did miracles for us in the days of old in this period of the year. The implication is that even today, thousands of years after the miracle of Purim, in this period of year, HaShem continues to perform miracles to protect us and save us from the evil design of our enemies.
Continue reading Terumah / PuЯim 5781