Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayikra The Sacrifice Symbolizes The Way One Approaches God Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Come and see how God is considerate of Israel's possessions – He said to them: If one is obliged to bring an offering, if the offering is to be an olah – a burnt offering – let him bring from his cattle – "If his burnt offering is a burnt offering from the herd (Vayikra 1:3); and should he not find from the herd, let him...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayikra AND IF HIS MEANS DO NOT SUFFICE FOR TWO TURTLEDOVES OR TWO PIGEONS, HE SHALL BRING AS HIS OFFERING FOR THAT OF WHICH HE IS GUILTY A TENTH OF AN EPHA OF CHOICE FLOUR FOR A SIN OFFERING; HE SHALL NOT ADD OIL TO IT OR LAY FRANKINCENSE ON IT FOR IT IS A SIN OFFERING.   Said Rabbi Yehuda: Beloved is a mitzvah performed at its proper time, for he immediately brings a tenth of a epha, and we do not wait until he...

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 Vayikra – Purim (link to original page) Parshat Vayikra- Zachor- Purim PURIM'S UNACCEPTABLE MASK By Mordekhai Beck The desire for revenge is compelling yet just as equally circular, endless and invariably self-defeating. In the Bible, its roots lead us back to Cain's slaughter of Abel. Although the rabbis offer at least three reasons for this first fratricide — economic competition, ideology and sexual jealousy(Bereshit Rabba 22) — in the final resort, nothing really justified it, the reasons coming as an afterthought because we — the readers — cannot accept that such...