Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Acharey Mot – Kedoshim "YOU ARE NOT TO WITHHOLD (PROPERTY) FROM YOU NEIGHBOR, YOU ARE NOT TO COMMIT ROBBERY. YOU ARE NOT TO KEEP OVERNIGHT THE WAGES OF A HIRED-HAND WITH YOU UNTIL MORNING." (VAYIKRA 19:13) "You are not to keep overnight" – In Those Days – at this Time. The withholding of wages has a demoralizing effect upon both employer and employee. The employer loses his awareness of sin. Often we hear explanations and rationalizations of withholding of wages, as though the employer has the...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Tazria-Metzora (link to original page) Parshat Tazria-Metzora "This is the Instruction for the one who has an affliction of tzaraat, whose hand cannot reach (means) for his purification." (Vayikra 14:32) Metzora – Motzie Shem Ra (slanderer) The tongue has been compared to an arrow. Why? Should one draw the sword with his hand to kill another, he can plead and appeal for mercy. The murderer can change his mind and return the sword to its scabbard. But once an arrow has departed the bow, even should the archer to desire...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Smini Moshe said to Aharon: It is what God spoke, saying: Through those permitted-near to me, I will be proven holy, before all the people, I will be accorded honor! Aharon was silent. (Vayikra 10:3) "Now Nadav and Avihu died before the presence of God" – the demise of Nadav and Avihu is recorded in a number of places. This teaches that the Omnipresent was saddened, for the children of Aharon were dear. (Bemidbar Rabba, Parasha 2) "Aharon was silent" – There is nothing more...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Seventh Day of Passover WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT, JACOB'S HOUSEHOLD FROM A PEOPLE OF ALIEN TONGUE" (Psalms 114:1) The Redemption from Egypt – Then, Now, and in the Future "And to recount all your wonders." – Said Rav Avin: This refers to Hallel, which relates to the past and to the future; it touches upon current generations and upon the days of the Messiah, and upon the days of Gog and Magog. "When Israel went out of Egypt" – in the past; "Not for...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat tzav – pesach (link to original page) Parshat Tzav – Passover The priest is to clothe himself in his wide-raiment of linen, with breeches of linen he is to clothe himself, over his "flesh"; he is to set aside the ashes from which the fire has consumed the offering-up on the slaughter site, and is to put them beside the slaughter-site. (Vayikra 6:3) The Holy Service Requires Humility Said Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, son of Rabbi Shalom: The conduct of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not like the conduct of...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Lech Lecha "Now the Sons of Aharon the priest are to put fire upon the slaughter-site and are to arrange wood upon the fire. (Vayikra 1:7) All wood is acceptable for the altar kindling except grape-vine and olive. Why? Because their produce is highly-praised. From this we learn, that thanks to the merit of offspring, their forbears are honored. (Tanchuma, Vayikra 1) THE FLAME OF TORAH LIGHTS, WARMS, AND RESTRAINS "Now the Sons of Aharon the priest are to put fire upon the slaughter-site" – even...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Vayakhel-Pekuday (link to original page) Parshat Vayakhel-Pekuday "Thus was completed all the service (of construction) for the Dwelling, the Tent of Appointment. The Children of Israel made according to all the God had commanded Moshe, thus they made." (Shemot 39:32) "Thus was completed all the service for the Dwelling" – In Gematriya (mathematical equivalent of) "On the twenty-fifth of Kislev was it finished" . . . "Thus was completed" – it can be said that now was completed the construction of the entire world. (Baal Haturim, ibid., ibid.) Regarding Devotion and...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Ki Tissa- Para "This is what they are to give, everyone that goes through the counting: half a shekel" Said Rabbi Abba bar Aha: It is impossible to determine the nature of this people; they are asked to contribute for the calf and they do so, they are asked to contribute to the Mishkan and they comply. (Yerushalmi, Shekalim 1:1) The Half and the Complete The symbol with which everyone expresses personal commitment to giving and doing is the Machatsit Hashekel — the half-shekel....
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Tetzaveh – Purim That which is written above, "That its sound may be heard whenever he comes into the Holy-Shrine . . . so that he does not die," is, in my opinion, the rationale for the mitzvah of the bells. There is no need for them as part of the garment, and it is not the custom of prominent men to wear them. Therefore He said that the He commanded their attachment in order that their ring may be heard in the sanctuary. Thus he...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Truma Zachor (link to original page) Parshat Truma Shabbat Zachor "And this is the contribution that you are to take from them . . ." – to the exception of one who contributes that which is not his. (Yerushalmi, Terumot 1:1) GIVING – EQUALLY AND HUMBLY Here is another explanation why the first two contributions (terumot) are ordered specifically in God's name, whereas the third is not. Wherever we find humility and submission among mortals, there we find the secret might of Holy One, who dwells among the oppressed and...