Greatness: Superiority or Perfection?
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier A world-renowned scientist has discovered many medicines that have helped many; but he hasn’t actualized his complete potential. There is a sanitation worker who is well-known to judiciously ensure that not one piece of litter is left on the street. Who should one admire? The Torah teaches us […]
Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אחרי מות שני בני אהרן (פרק טז פסוק א) The Torah introduces the עבודת יום כיפור, the Yom Kippur service, and stresses that it should be told to אהרן after the death of his two sons. The ירושלמי explains the relevance, that just as יום כיפור is a […]
Growth is Gradual
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In פרשת קדושים we are introduced to a system of actions and behavior that creates the actualization of a person developing into a צלם אלוקים, one who is the model of Hashem’s design of emulating Him. This in itself is a profoundly important idea. To attain spiritual growth necessitates […]
Parshas Tazria-Metzora
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum טמא הוא טמא יטמאנו הכהן בראשו נגעו (פרק יג פסוק מד) The Torah describes all different types of צרעת (leprosy) and the הלכות that pertain to each one. One type is on the body of a מצורע (leper) while another is on their head- either from the front […]
Self-Introspection
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In מס’ ערכין טז· ע 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) […]
Selfless Dedication
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In the beginning of this week’s portion, פרשת שמיני, we are taught the dedication of the משכן, Tabernacle – which Klal Yisroel had anxiously waited for more than three months. Specific sacrifices were told by Hashem that had to be offered to consecrate the משכן. In פסוק ד’, […]
Parshas Tzav | Pesach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אם על תודה יקריבנו (פרק ז פסוק יב) One of the sacrifices that we are taught about in this Parsha is the קרבן תודה- the thanksgiving offering. This was offered when one experienced a considerable salvation, such as leaving jail or being healed from a dire illness. […]
Parshas Vayikra
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum כי כל שאר וכל דבש לא תקטירו…קרבן ראשית תקריבו אתם (פרק ב פסוק יא-יב) The Torah tells us that we may not add any sourdough, any chometz, or any sweetness, such as through fruit, to any offering. The only exceptions are the “ראשית”- the beginning offerings, that is, the […]
Bonding with Hashem
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier רמב”ן, Nachmanides, in his preface to ספר ויקרא, Leviticus, teaches that the main theme of ספר שמות, Exodus, is to relate the development of the Jewish people from being a nation enslaved and assimilated into a people who were gifted with the epitome of successful personal development – realized […]
Parshas Pekudei
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אלה פקודי המשכן (פרק לח פסוק כא) The Parsha begins with a counting of all the materials that were donated to the building of the Mishkan and a description of how they were used in its construction. R’ Moshe Feinstein says that the Torah specifically detailed this listing of […]