Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim
Print PDF By Rabbi Shoime Lindenbaum דבר אל אהרן אחיך ואל יבא בכל עת אל הקדש…בזאת יבא אהרן אל הקדש (פרק טז פסוק ב-ג) As an introduction to the Yom Kippur service in the משכן, Hashem says that Aharon cannot frequent the קדש הקדשים (Holy of Holies), and only with the described service can he […]
Protecting our Nobility
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Talmud, Tractate Shabbos 89a, questions as to why הר סיני, the mountain on which משה רבינו, Moshe Rabeinu received the Torah, where Hashem spoke to us, has its given name? The answer is that the nations of the world who didn’t accept the Torah from then on despised […]
Parshas Tazria-Metzora
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum אדם כי יהיה בעור בשרו וכו’ והובא אל אהרן הכהן (פרק יג פסוק ב) The Torah tells us that all decisions regarding a person’s status as a מצורע (leper) can only be determined by a כהן. R’ Moshe Feinstein explains that the כהנים are the spiritual leaders and guides […]
Parshas Tazria-Metzora: Self-Introspection
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In מס’ ערכין טז it lists the seven causes of the affliction of the metaphysical (according to many it also has physical ramifications) state of leprosy. The order is as follows: 1) לשון הרע, disparaging another; 2) murder; 3) false vow; 4) illicit sexual behavior; 5) arrogance; 6) theft; […]
Parshas Tzav | Shabbos Hagadol
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum אש תמיד תוקד על המזבח לא תכבה (פרק ו פסוק ו) Rashi tells us that the reason why we refer to the fire on the מזבח (altar) as an אש תמיד (constant fire) is to reference the fire of the מנורה that was always lit and to teach us […]
Dayenu
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier A major theme of the Haggadah is to express our true, “well thought out”, profound, expansive appreciation of Hashem’s benefactions to Klal Yisroel. We specifically quote four verses from פרשת כי תבא, Deuteronomy 26:5-8 in which we are taught the true manner of undiluted, selfless appreciation and acknowledgement. In […]
Parshas Vayikra
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum ויקרא אל משה וידבר ה’ אליו מאהל מועד (פרק א פסוק א) The פרשה begins by saying that Hashem called to Moshe and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. רבינו בחיי points out that although Hashem had told Moshe that He will speak to him from the […]
Parshas Vayikra: Lessons of Sensitivity
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In this week’s פרשה, which introduces us to the mitzvah of קרבנות, sacrifices; the בעל הטורים (1269-1340) points to many lessons of מידות, sensitivity, that the Torah is teaching us. ספר ויקרא, the book of Leviticus, begins with the word ויקרא, but in contradistinction to the rest of the […]
Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum ראו קרא ה’ בשם בצלאל וכו’ (פרק לה פסוק ל) Moshe announces that Klal Yisroel themselves can see that Hashem appointed Betzalel as the master architect of the משכן. R’ Moshe Feinstein asks, how were they able to see this? He answers that when Hashem bestows a person with […]
Two Essential Themes of Shabbos
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The נביא ירמיה, prophet Jeremiah, (17:19-26) admonishes כלל ישראל, the Jewish people, especially the inhabitants of Jerusalem including the monarchs, to observe the Shabbos. In a lengthy castigation, he repeatedly implores them to observe the prohibition of carrying objects form a public domain into a private domain (and vice […]
