YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Shmini
One of the root causes of dispute is the complete confidence of each participant that he is correct, without leaving room for the opinion of the other. Upon honest investigation, we can see that the most convincing explanations of one’s approach can serve as a reason for the other side, under altered circumstances.
We will demonstrate this through the Malbim on the beginning of our parasha. Moshe instructed Aharon as follows, before the inauguration of the Mishkan: "Take a calf son of cattle for a sin-offering" (Vayikra 9:2). This is the only mention in Tanach of "calf son of cattle," and it clearly hints at the sin of the Golden Calf. Bnei Yisrael were also to sacrifice at that time se’ir izim (a young goat) for a sin-offering and an unblemished calf and sheep, each a year old, as a burnt-offering (ibid. 3). While the pasuk’s simple reading is that the calf is for a burnt-offering, the Sifra (Shemini 3) reads the pasuk creatively, as the goat also being a sin-offering, for the "matter of the goat," along with the calf coming to atone for the "matter of the calf."
The matter of the goat is clearly a reference to the coverup for the sale of Yosef, where Yosef’s cloak was dipped into the blood of a slaughtered goat (Bereishit 37:31). The Malbim presented three complicated readings and explanations for the connection between the words and ideas and between the two sins that needed atonement. We will discuss one of his explanations.
When the brothers tried to justify their sale of Yosef, they claimed that they knew prophetically that Yerovam, the king who descended from Yosef, was going to cause the people to sin with statues of calves he erected in his seceding kingdom. They saw this as the result of Yaakov’s preferential treatment of Yosef. To prevent this spiritual disaster, they sought to remove Yosef from among the family and prevent the fulfillment of his dreams. However, hundreds of years later, when Bnei Yisrael sinned anyway with a Golden Calf, Heavenly justice convicted them not just on the present sin but retroactively on the treatment of Yosef, whose "justification" proved to be hollow. It was impossible to inaugurate the Mishkan before Aharon, a descendant of Levi, who initiated the betrayal of Yosef, would bring a calf as a sin-offering and the people would bring a calf and a young goat as a sin-offering. The brothers’ legitimatization became reason for further guilt.
We learn from this two principles: 1) Always consider the long-term ramifications of one’s actions. 2) Taking strong steps and forcing them on others can exacerbate the ramifications.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
