Five Reasons for Torah Sacrifices

"ON KVETCHES & PROPORTIONS"- Haftarah of Vayikra

Jews have an understandable tendency to Kvetch, but Yishayahu teaches us in the Haftara of Vayikra that in the process of ge'ula, we must learn to appreciate and focus on the positive and not complain so much. We should not tell G-d how to run His redemption, and in fact, we can understand the complaints about 3 AM sirens to shlep down 3 flights to the shelter with a child on each arm and a third on your shoulders on an average of once a night, but don't forget that just 2 weeks ago it used to be several times a night (and thank G-d we have shelters!). For decades the worst scenario imagined in Israel was a full-scale war with Iran, our largest, most sophisticated enemy with the most oil, Russian aid and nuclear plans. Well, that day is here, and we must profusely thank G-d and the IDF for pre-empting them with unprecedented intelligence, and professionalism to take out their entire leadership, anti-aircraft missiles and blow up their boats, planes and launchers pitifully uncontested. Our complaining shouldn't hide the glory of the G-d-sent victory, which COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY EASIER (except were more Jews willing to share the burden).

Parashat Hashavua: Re“calling” Moshe

The Sacrificial Service: Coming Close

Parashat Hashavua: Who Called Out to Whom?

Mikdash and Jewish State Go Together – part I

The Dimensions of Sin

The Secret Love

...There are things that must be kept in Sod (Secret), and if someone reveals them, he thus abuses and wastes their greatness. One who has no secrets is one who is shallow and external - but 'Israel was redeemed from Egypt in the merit of not having revealed their inner secrets' (Midrash Tehillim 114,1)...

Sacrifice

Even though we live in a time when such animal sacrifices are not possible, one of the main lessons which is pertinent to us is that all forgiveness for wrongdoing requires true "sacrifice" on the part of the perpetrator of the sin.

Why Couldn't Moshe Enter the Mishkan??

The Zohar brilliantly asks: "Why was Moshe able to stand before the Divine Presence on Mt. Sinai, but not down on earth?"

What Do We Sacrifice?

We would expect to read: “when one of you offers a sacrifice.” Instead, what it says is “when one offers a sacrifice of you.” The essence of sacrifice, said Rabbi Shneur Zalman, is that we offer ourselves.

Do Jews Have Horns?

Michaelangelo may have been the greatest sculptor who ever lived, but his knowledge of Jewish anatomy was a bit off.

The Leader Sinned

The very possibility to demand of a king to acknowledge his sin is a great novelty. All the more so, we would never expect that there would be someone with permission to rebuke the king or to demand of him to admit that he sinned.

Kabbalistic Twist on Vayikra

Israel National Torah

Why is the first letter Aleph in Vayikra small? the Zohar explains this issue.

Tying The Knot

The Book of Vayikra begins a series of complex laws about the service of the Holy Temple, but even though the laws of the Torah are precise, they require individual creativity.

The Sins of a Leader

Leaders make mistakes. That is inevitable. So, strikingly, our parsha of Vayikra implies. The real issue is leaders respond to their mistakes.

Moshe's Private Revelation

Moshe hears the voice of the Lord as God calls to him. However, it is not the same experience that it was at Mount Sinai. it is a private revelation exclusive to Moshe. The great heavenly voice is not heard outside the precincts of the Tabernacle itself.

A Soul who Sinned against … Hashem?

most the entire Sefer Vayikra and, deals with mitzvot between man and Hashem. The p’sukim in the end of the Parshah, in contrast, deal with matters between man and his fellow man, and the Torah still calls it a ma’al baHashem. In addition

The HIgh Priest and the Collective

we discern quite clearly that God also judges the Jewish People as a whole and by their collective merits.

Are There No Offerings Today?