With this week’s reading of our Parsha, we complete Vayikra/Leviticus, the third book of the Torah. Our Parsha begins with an upbeat message that we will receive great rewards and benefits when we follow the dictates of the Torah. The Torah then warns us of calamities that we will endure if we are not faithful …
Category: Vayikra
May 23
Good Morning :)
We are living in an upside-down world, where personal agendas and hatred skew the truth and distort the realities. Jews are and always have been under the relentless watchful eye of society. The slightest alleged misstep is picked up and reported without credible evidence. That’s the way it is, and we deal with it. When …
May 16
Cold Look!
At the conclusion of our Parsha, the Torah speaks of a disturbing incident where a Jew uttered a curse against G-d. What triggered him to do such an abominable thing? Rashi quotes Reb Brachia who says that the one who cursed had an issue with the command in the Torah immediately preceding this incident. The …
May 09
Running Away!
During our recent trip to Israel, while in Shul, I met Mr. Bollag, an elderly man who is blessed with a youthful sprit and melodious voice. Mr. Bollag is from Zurich and I mentioned to him that during WWII my mother’s family left France and relocated to Switzerland, and that in fact my maternal grandmother …
May 02
Unwritten Book!
Our Portion is called Acharei Mos – ‘After the death,’ because it begins after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died during the inauguration service of the Temple. The Torah then details the elaborate service the Kohain Godol (Aaron) was to perform on Yom Kippur. In general, people seek to understand the …
Apr 11
Completely Covered!
The majority of our Parsha speaks of a spiritually impure blotch called Tzoraas. This blotch is similar to a physical malady and the only ones authorized to determine the nature of these blemishes are the Kohanim ―priests. At times, even after a Kohain examined the blemish it remained unclear if it was the spiritual malady, …
Apr 04
This Is!
In our portion the Torah provides us with identifiable Kashruth signs for animals we are permitted to eat. Animals must have both true cloven hooves and ruminate their food. Fish must have both fins and scales. The Torah names each of the 28 species of fowl that are not kosher. When our leader Moshe was …
Mar 28
It Spreads!
Our entire Parsha speaks of various sacrificial offerings that were performed in the Temple. Although we have not merited the rebuilding of our Temple to personally experience and witness the awe-inspiring service of the Temple, there are many lessons that are derived from the procedures and happenings of the Temple that inject insight and inspiration …
Mar 21
Testimonial!
This Shabbos is called Shabbos Zachor. It gets its title from the Mitzvah that we fulfill by reading the portion of the Torah that tells us to Zachor – remember – the nation of Amalek, who hated G-d and the Jewish nation, and attacked us shortly after we were miraculously freed from Egypt. Every year …