24 May, 2008
A Comment From Reb Z. on The Shavuos Question
I heard a very nice speech yesterday which in a nutshell explained that what we really are celebrating Shavuos is (not the actual matan torah, but) the level that we reached through the avodah over the 49 days of sefirah.. a level which brought us to the possibility of receiving the Torah. Each Jew in his own way can strive to reach that level with the proper focus and work each and every year by realizing that even the seemingly mundane and unholy (working the field)can be raised to a level of kedusha. This can be accomplished by working on ourselves to come to the realization that the benefits we reap from our work in the field (and in business) is all from Hashem and we have no control over it. Once we reach that level we can be vessels ready to receive the Torah properly. This explains why on Pesach we bring the Omer made of barley (animal feed) and on Shavuos we bring the Two Loaves made of Chametz, which symbolizes the Yetzer Hara; we are showing that before we start working on ourselves (Pesach) we are not on the level to bring chametz, but after the days of sefira we are now on a level where we can bring chametz to demostrate that even the our evil inclination can be raised to be used to do acts of kedusha. And indeed the Torah makes no mention of Matan Torah when it mentions Shavuos! This explains why we celebrate Shavuos! COmments are welcome...
22 May, 2008
Parshas Bechukosai
"Im bechukosai talaicho" Rashi explains it to mean, if you toil in torah. Explanation is needed why toiling in torah is expressed as a 'chok'- something done without knowing the reason behind it.
The Or Hachaim starts this weeks Parsha with forty two different ways to explain the first posok. In his first explanation he says that while all learning of torah is important, that's not what the special brochas of the Parsha are for. Rather it's for the learning one does for the sake of learning, the third, forth and fifth time one learns, when he already knows what is being said, but learns it just as it would be his first time. It is this learning that the Torah calls a 'chok' something we do for no apparent reason. When Klal Yisroel's learning is on such an elevated level, then they're zoche to the brochos stated in this weeks Parsha.
The Or Hachaim starts this weeks Parsha with forty two different ways to explain the first posok. In his first explanation he says that while all learning of torah is important, that's not what the special brochas of the Parsha are for. Rather it's for the learning one does for the sake of learning, the third, forth and fifth time one learns, when he already knows what is being said, but learns it just as it would be his first time. It is this learning that the Torah calls a 'chok' something we do for no apparent reason. When Klal Yisroel's learning is on such an elevated level, then they're zoche to the brochos stated in this weeks Parsha.
12 May, 2008
Shevuas- The Question
Yomim Tovim by Jews are not mere days of 'we were threatened, Hashem saved us, lets celebrate!'. Rather we celebrate days that allow us to tap into the nissim that transpired and the siritual levels that were gained through them.
Klal Yisroel were given the Luchas, twice. On Shavuous we were given the first set of Luchas- which Moshe broke the 17th day of Tamuz, the day that Klal Yisroel made the golden calf. The second Luchas was given after Klal Yisroel did Teshuva and were forgiven, on Yom Kippur. There were intrinsic differences between them. The first one was written on stone taken from heaven- had we been zoche we would have had a actual piece from shmayim down in our midst. Being that is was so great it would have made a bigger impression on us. There wouldn't have been any forgetting of torah or any sin. We would have reached the tachlis of creation. All that would have been the case had the luchas come down from Hashem and not been broken. But we sinned and were not ready for that level of serving Hashem, so Moshe broke the Luchas. After eighty days of doing teshuva and begging for forgiveness we were given a new set of tablets. This one was made up of stone from down here on earth, written with the finger of Hashem. It was lacking that spiritual benefit of being straight from Hashem and we were left to toil in the Torah and fight the Yetzar Horah.
The Torah we have today is from the second Luchas the one that humans can relate to, the one we got on Yom Kippur. The Question is- why do we celebrate Shavuous if we can't (seemingly) tap into the levels of Luchas reshonim?
Klal Yisroel were given the Luchas, twice. On Shavuous we were given the first set of Luchas- which Moshe broke the 17th day of Tamuz, the day that Klal Yisroel made the golden calf. The second Luchas was given after Klal Yisroel did Teshuva and were forgiven, on Yom Kippur. There were intrinsic differences between them. The first one was written on stone taken from heaven- had we been zoche we would have had a actual piece from shmayim down in our midst. Being that is was so great it would have made a bigger impression on us. There wouldn't have been any forgetting of torah or any sin. We would have reached the tachlis of creation. All that would have been the case had the luchas come down from Hashem and not been broken. But we sinned and were not ready for that level of serving Hashem, so Moshe broke the Luchas. After eighty days of doing teshuva and begging for forgiveness we were given a new set of tablets. This one was made up of stone from down here on earth, written with the finger of Hashem. It was lacking that spiritual benefit of being straight from Hashem and we were left to toil in the Torah and fight the Yetzar Horah.
The Torah we have today is from the second Luchas the one that humans can relate to, the one we got on Yom Kippur. The Question is- why do we celebrate Shavuous if we can't (seemingly) tap into the levels of Luchas reshonim?
09 May, 2008
Parshas Emor
In Parshas Emor we find a few posukim that talk about the Lechem Haponim that were set on the Shulchan. The Posuk (24;8) says “Beyom hashabbos beyom hashabbos yarchenu lefnai Hashem” loosely translated - Each Shabbos he shall set it before Hashem. What has to be understood is why does the Torah repeat the words “beyom hashabbos”? The Alshich explains this by pointing out that the Lechem Haponim were actually on the Shulchan for eight days. The day they were put on- Shabbos, is day one and taken off the following Shabbos which is day eight- the point of it being eight days is of great significance, but we’ll leave that for now. That is what the meaning behind the writing two times “beyom hashabbos”.
Chazal say (Shabbos 118) that if Klal Yisroel would keep two Shabbosim they would be redeemed. The Sedurai Shel Shabbos in his hakdomah explains that Shabbos lasts until the following Tuesday. The new Shabbos comes in on the Wednesday before. (Hence we end off the Shiur of Wednesday with the first posak of lecha nerannenah). He says that if we really kept Shabbos it would take us through the week up until the next Shabbos. The Gemorah is telling us that is we keep two Shabbosim- meaning we connect the two Shabbosim. If Shabbos lasts us till Tuesday and we are ready for Shabbos Wednesday then our whole week is one big Shabbos and that is what can bring the Geulah. May we suggest that this is the lesson of the Lechem Haponim. It rested in the Mishkan from Shabbos to Shabbos for Eight days thus connecting the two Shabbosim- making it one day “shekoolo Shabbos”.
Chazal say (Shabbos 118) that if Klal Yisroel would keep two Shabbosim they would be redeemed. The Sedurai Shel Shabbos in his hakdomah explains that Shabbos lasts until the following Tuesday. The new Shabbos comes in on the Wednesday before. (Hence we end off the Shiur of Wednesday with the first posak of lecha nerannenah). He says that if we really kept Shabbos it would take us through the week up until the next Shabbos. The Gemorah is telling us that is we keep two Shabbosim- meaning we connect the two Shabbosim. If Shabbos lasts us till Tuesday and we are ready for Shabbos Wednesday then our whole week is one big Shabbos and that is what can bring the Geulah. May we suggest that this is the lesson of the Lechem Haponim. It rested in the Mishkan from Shabbos to Shabbos for Eight days thus connecting the two Shabbosim- making it one day “shekoolo Shabbos”.
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