Parashas Vayikra - 247 Mitzvos in only One Sefer!

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We begin a new volume in Chumash this week called Sefer Vayikra. The Rambam says there are 247 (out of 613) mitzvos (commandments) found in this volume. There is a custom among schools for younger children to start learning Chumash with this volume. People always ask the classic question: “Wouldn’t it make more sense to start with Bereshis? That is when everything was created! Besides, starting kids off learning about korbanos (sacrifices) is too hard for them to grasp!”

This is true. Sacrifices are hard to comprehend at a young age. However, as we mentioned above, this volume in Chumash is a very essential part of Judaism. It has a lot of basic laws (important for young kids to learn) such as: Love others as you love yourself, don’t speak bad of other people (gossip), don’t avenge or bear a grudge, etc... (That was only four out of hundreds!)

[Another answer is brought by the Midrash: Sefer Vayikra is filled with laws pertaining Kohanim (Priests) and their obligation to serve Hashem in a status of purity and holiness. Therefore, it seems fit for children to learn Vayikra first, since they are young and pure. (Some people have a hard time understanding this Midrash.)]

Focusing on the first answer given, there's more to Torah than just learning it - one also needs to have proper character traits. The Torah goes to great lengths to teach us different ways we can become better people, whether saying it straight out or not. An example can be found by the parasha of korbanos.

“He shall bring me an offering… If his hands can’t get hold of a sheep, he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons…If his hands can’t get hold of two turtledoves or young pigeons, he shall bring fine flour…” [1] The Evan Ezra explains: “If his hands can’t get hold of…” means “One who doesn’t have it in his possessions...” meaning: a poor person. [2]

We can see from these pesukim that Hashem is sensitive to those who can’t afford to give an offering to Him. He therefore says everyone can give according to his or her own financial abilities. Hashem values a poor man’s gift of flour as much as if he offered his life. Hashem proclaims, “The flour he gave Me could have been the only flour he had left in his house, using it to sustain his family; instead he offered it to Me. His offering is considered as precious to Me as if he had sacrificed his very life. [3]

We were created beh’tzelem Elokim (in the image of Hashem) and we are supposed to emulate Him. All these laws the Torah gives us are for us to use and practice. They are supposed to make us into better people. It’s hard to get out of a bad habit if we’ve lived with it for a long time. Some people can’t stop telling lies, where others can't stop stealing. I personally know someone who cannot stop talking bad about others. It’s sad, but it’s a “habit” they’ve had since they were little.

The younger you train your kids to be kind and considerate, the easier it is when they become older. They wouldn’t have to be reminded of what to say or what “not” to say. A child’s “hero” or “role-model” is their mom or dad. They try emulating “mommy” or “daddy” in many aspects. It is up to us to teach our kids what is wrong and what is right. A lot has to do with what they pick up at home.

A lesson I learned from this week’s Parasha: It is important to be a good role-model, whether for our kids, or other people who look up to us. Our kids, for example, are always going to try to emulate us. The best thing we can do is emulate our Father in Heaven, Hashem. An example (among thousands), is the sensitivity we should have towards others. It is a very important character trait. By being sensitive, we can refrain for many sins like: Damaging people’s property or making someone feel bad through hurtful words, etc… Sensitivity should come naturally to a Jew. It is up to us to “train” our young-ones at an early age, and I think there is no better place to start than Sefer Vayikra.


Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso


[1] Vayikra 5:6-12
[2] Vayikra 5:7
[3] Midrash HaGadol 2:1

Parasha VaYakhel/Pekudei - Fulfilling mitzvos which don't apply to us.

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This Shabbos we will be reading Parasha VaYakhel and Parasha Pekudei. The parasha starts off with Moshe gathering the Jews to teach them the laws of Shabbos. After that, we begin speaking about the Mishkan (again). The way it's built, the items contributed, instructions and dimensions, etc...

I found myself reading this parasha thinking, "Again? We just learned this in Parashas Teruma (two weeks ago), Ki Sisa (last week) etc... Why is it being repeated many times?"

The reason why the Torah repeats these detailed instructions numerous times is to stress the importance of the Mishkan. A lot of people are locked into the mindset of: "It's not like these laws apply to us anyways". However, Chazal say: We are promised great reward for learning the topics which deal with the Mishkan. Additionally, when one learns the sections relevant to the Mishkan, it's as if one actually helped build it. Similarly, one who learns the laws pertaining to sacrifices to Hashem, it is as if he actually offers sacrifices to Him.

I was speaking to a friend yesterday, and he told me the following story: "I was sitting on the bus, and there was an elderly man standing. I offered the man the seat, but he refused. I told him, 'You are making me lose out on a mitzvah', then the man automatically sat." I told my friend, "Even if the man remained standing, you still got the mitzvah of offering him your seat because you were sincere." There's a similar Gemara that says: One who wants to do a mitzvah but but is unable to (against his will), it's counted as if he did it. [1]

There's a question asked: How are we commanded to keep all 613 mitzvos if a lot of them don't apply to us (ie: Kohanim (Priests) blessing the Jews or bringing sacrifices, etc...)? One answer is: You don't need to be a Kohen to get the mitzvah of avodas hamikdash (working in the Beis HaMikdash). You can still get reward for those mitzvos which don't apply to us. Wanting a Cohen to duchan (bless) and concentrating on his bracha is considered as if you performed the mitzvah of duchaning. [2]

An eye-opening lesson I got from this week's Parashas: The importance of the Mishkan and it's vessels. The Mishkan was a direct connection between Hashem and us. Since we don't have it with us now, we aren't able to offer sacrifices to Hashem, yet the possibilities of fulfilling the mitzvos (of sacrifices) are not impossible. It can still be done.

B'ezras Hashem, we should all have the realization that just because we aren't able to perform all 613 mitzvahs doesn't mean they can not be fulfilled. We should hope to fulfill the mitzvos in the optimal way, with the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.

Thanks for reading,

Nisso

[1] Kiddushin 40a

[2] Midrash Plia

Parashas Ki Sisa - Accepting answers to the questions we ask!

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This week's parasha speaks of the famous 'sin of the golden calf.'

After receiving the Torah, Moshe stayed in Heaven, learning the Torah directly from Hashem. Before ascending, he promised the Jews he would return in forty days. After forty days had passed, the Jews started to worry. They asked, "Where can he be? Why didn't he come down yet? Is he dead?!"

They miscalculated Moshe's arrival by several hours, thinking he died. To convince them of his death, Satan showed frightening images of Moshe's physical body being suspended between the Heavens and the Earth. (It really was his body, because he didn't physically ascend, only spiritually.) Satan also conjured up an image of Moshe's coffin. [1]

There was a group called the 'Airev rav,' who persuaded everyone of the need for a replacement for Moshe. They approached Chur (Miriam's son) with this proposition, but he was opposed to the idea. They stoned him to death. [2] Next they approached the Seventy Elders, demanding a new leader, but they refused as well. (There are different opinions to whether they were also slain.) Finally Aharon was asked, and he replied, "okay," hoping to delay their plan. Aharon instructed everyone to get their wife's gold to form it. He thought that maybe the women would decline to give their jewelry, saving more time for Moshe to descend. In fact, the women didn't give anything towards the calf. (I am surprised they weren't slain as well.)

Aharon approved to make the golden calf totally for the sake of the Jews. He had pure intentions and was 100% against the making of a replacement. He knew Moshe was bound to come back soon. After all, Moshe did promise. Aharon only approved to stall for time.

The Ramban points out that the Jews never had intentions of making the Golden Calf to replace Hashem, rather to replace Moshe. They needed someone to guide them through the desert - via the Golden Calf, as Hashem guided them via Moshe.

[I might have a reason as to why the Jews saw fit to make a Golden Calf in order to replace Moshe. We learned in Parashas Va'eira [3], Hashem said to Moshe, "See I have made you a god to Pharoh." I asked myself, "Why did it say "a god" as opposed to "like a god"? (I could be wrong, and totally off, but it seems legit to me.) Maybe the reason why the Jews conjured up this Golden Calf was because they needed a 'security blanket'. Moshe was their security blanket because they saw all the things Hashem did to Pharoh via Moshe. So they thought, "We need to get back our security blanket! It isn't going to replace Hashem, but only Moshe. We still believe that Hashem is our One and only G-d. And so maybe this posuk alludes the source of their idea to make a new guide.]

A lesson I got from this week's parasha: Sometimes we think we are making the right decisions when in fact a Rabbi or a professional guidance counselor should be consulted. Even though the Airev rav consulted the Rabbis, they didn't accept their answers, slaying them instead. There's no point in asking if you aren't willing to accept the answers given. There are people who jump from one rabbi to another hoping to get the answer they are looking for when in fact it is wrong. Pirkei Avos says to stick to one rabbi, otherwise you will be filled with doubts.

We should all make the proper decisions in life, and Hashem should give us all the clarity we need in order to not stumble like we did with the sin of the Golden Calf.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso


[1] Shemos Rabba 41:10
[2] Bamidbar Rabba 15:17
[3] Shemos 7:1

Parashas Tetzaveh - The merit of a good heart

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Parashas Tetzaveh - The merit of a good heart

Parashas Tetzaveh is a continuation from last week's parasha, Teruma. Hashem gave various instructions regarding the building of the Mishkan and it's vessels. The parasha starts off with the commandment that olive oil should be contributed for the Menorah. Following that, Moshe was commanded to make Aaron's priestly garments. Like last week, there were specific instructions and dimensions of how it should be made.

The garments consisted of: A turban, head-plate, breastplate, belt, apron, breeches (pants), robe, and long undergarment.

The article I want to focus on this week is the breastplate, also known as the Choshen Mishpat. It was woven in a pattern which contained four rows and three columns of gold settings. Into each setting, precious gems were inserted, totaling to twelve. The Choshen Mishphat contained something called, "The Urim 'lights' and Tumim 'perfections'. It had all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet on it, because its main purpose was to be consulted for answers.

The Urim and Tumim could only be consulted by a king, the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court), or a public official in the interest of the entire community. Both the High Priest and the questioner would face the ark. The one asking would then make his inquiry in such a low voice, that no one else but he could hear it.

The High Priest would meditate on the stones of the breastplate, and the letters containing the answer would stand out. With his Divine Inspiration, the High Priest would then be able to combine the letters to spell out the answer. (Don't get this confused with the 'Ouija Board,' a concept the non-Jews took from us. The Ouija board is used to "communicate with spirits," nothing like the Urim v'Tumim.)

The posuk says, "Aharon will carry the names of Bnei Yisroel... over his heart... Place in the breastplate the Urim and Tumim, and they will be over Aharon's heart... Aharon will carry the judgment of Bnei Yisroel over his heart, before Hashem always." [1]

I wondered, "Why was the word 'Lev' (heart) repeated numerous times?"

There's a mishna in avos that says, "Look at which is the correct and straight path, and stick to it. Rav Elazar says, "That path is: A 'lev tov' (good heart)." [2] Bartanura (commentator on mishna) says the reason is because the heart is what motivates a person's inner power to continue spouting out good deeds.

Aharon was known as someone who always had a lev tov. When he'd see two people in a quarrel, he would do everything in his power to befriend them. He was a 'ohev shalom v'rodef shalom' (lover of peace and pursuer of peace) [3] If he knew of someone who sinned, he would walk up to them as if they were worth a million dollars. The sinner would think to himself, "How is it possible he thinks so highly of me? I am a sinner! I must live up to his expectations." It ultimately led him to doing teshuva (repentance).

This responsibility of carrying the Choshem Mishpat (along with the job of being High Priest) was fit for Aharon. Carrying the names of Bnei Yisroel in his heart was nothing new. In Parashas Tetzaveh he now carries their names over (as well as in) his heart. He always thought about other people, looking to help. He was granted the privilege of wearing it over his heart as a reward for the happiness he felt (in his heart) when he heard his younger brother, Moshe, had been chosen as the leader to redeem the Jews. [4]

A lesson I learned from this week's parasha is the importance and benefit of having a good heart: always looking to help our fellow Jews, continuously having them in our hearts. Aharon not only preached it, but practiced it as well. Aharon had a huge zchus (merit) of carrying the Choshen Mishpat over his heart for the goodness of his heart he had already shown.

B'ezras Hashem, we should always be considerate and help our fellow Jews. One of our biggest goals is to emulate someone we admire. Aharon is that role-model we should live up to.

Good Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] 28:29&30
[2] Avos 2:9
[3] Avos 1:12
[4] Shemos Rabba 3:22