The Essence of Torah: Chesed
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Medrash Rus, רות רבה ב:טו, says, “אמר רב זעירא, (this מגילה scroll has no mention of what is prohibited, what is permitted…) it is written to teach us the ‘great reward for those who are involved in kindness.’” Another Medrash, ילקוט רות תקצ”ד, teaches: we read מגילת רות […]
Parshas Bamidbar
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum וידבר ה’ אל משה…באחד לחדש השני בשנה השנית…שאו את ראש וכו’ (פרק א פסוק א-ב) Sefer Bamidbar opens in the second year of Bnai Yisroel’s journey in the desert with a command from Hashem to count the Jewish nation. In the continuing פסוקים it becomes clear that the purpose […]
The Vital Importance of Structure
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The רמב”ם, Maimonides, in הלכות כלי מקדש, Laws of the Vessels of the Sanctuary, states the following: “The Levites’ service was to guard the Temple. Among the Levites, there were gate-keepers who would open the gates of the Temple and close its doors. And there were singers who would […]
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum אם בחקתי תלכו… (פרק כו פסוק ג) The Torah promises that if a person follows the חק, decree, of Hashem, then they will merit a life of blessing. Rashi explains that the חק referred to is toiling in Torah. The Chasam Sofer explains where Rashi saw this in the […]
The Gravity of Self-Worth
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In ויקרא פרק כ”ה, Leviticus 25:35,39, the Torah begins וכי ימוך אחיך, “If your brother becomes impoverished… you shall strengthen him (35)… you shall not treat him as a slave but as a resident… (39)”. The Medrash Rabba 34:10 comments, More than what the בעל הבית, the “philanthropist” does […]
Parshas Emor
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum כי תבאו אל הארץ…וקצרתם את קצירה…ובקצרכם את קציר ארצכם (פרק כג פסוק י-כג) In the Torah’s description of the ימים טובים we find the מצוה that takes place on the second day of פסח. Being the beginning of the harvest season, the Torah commands that the first barley harvest […]
Yomim Tovim: Reinforcing Appreciation
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier When one focuses on the dynamic of the שלש רגלים, it is natural for one to view פסח, Passover as the festival in which we celebrate the birth of the Jewish nation, שבועות, Shavuos as the time we received the Torah and סוכות, Sukkos as the commemoration of Hashem’s […]
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 […]
