Category: Vayikra

Escalate!

Daf Yomi, is a page of Talmud that is studied daily by tens of thousands of people around the world. On the page studied this past Shabbos is a statement made by Elijah the Prophet. “On Yom Kippur, the Satan, who prosecutes on High, is silenced and has no power to indict the Jewish people.” …

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Sunshine!

Last week, while studying a composition written by the Shem Mishmuel – Reb Shmuel of Sochachov – I came across an idea that broadened and deepened my understanding of Torah and I wish to share it with you. Each of the twelve lunar months has a name. For example, our current month is called Iyar. …

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Mixtures!

This week we read two portions of the Torah, the second portion is called Kedoshim – holy ones. G-d instructs us to be holy – to separate ourselves from sinning. If the definition of holiness were left to the individual to decide there would be no conformity in families and communities. Everyone would choose his …

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Think Over!

The two Portions we read this Shabbos almost exclusively concern the laws of Tzoraas. Tzoraas are certain discolorations that appear on one’s skin, garment or house. Only after being appraised by a Kohain could it be determined if it was a Tzoraas malady. If it was indeed Tzoraas, the person was quarantined until the Tzoraas …

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The Healer!

We are currently in the midst of the daily Omer count, which began the second night of Pesach and will end 49 days later, bridging the holiday of Pesach with the Holiday of Shavuos, which is on the fiftieth day. The connection between Passover, which marks our Exodus, and Shavuos, when we received the Torah, …

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Alive!

The Torah mandates that we observe the Seventh day of Pesach as a holiday. Thus, for us in the Diaspora, we observe the last two days of Pesach on Saturday and Sunday. The first and last days of Pesach serve as bookends to the freedom of the Jews from the Egyptians. The beginning of Pesach …

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Booster!

This week we begin reading the third book of the Torah. It is called Vayikra, which means, “and He called.” G-d called to Moshe and instructed him regarding the laws of the various categories of sacrifices and offerings which were brought in the Temple. This Book is commonly known as Leviticus, since the Kohanim and …

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