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 […]
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 […]