Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume 12 Number 9 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Rewarding Reward – Parshat Bechukotai Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles Summary by Channie Koplowitz-Stein Parshat Bechukotai begins with promises that established.” It is only because there is a if we keep Hashem’s decrees, He will provide covenant between Bnei Yisroel and Hashem in Rabbi Roberts explains that there is no for all of our physical needs, from sustenance place that there also exists a “covenant” of dichotomy between the physical and spiritual to freedom from fear. But haven’t we always natural law. The existence of the world, then, is worlds. Torah learning and prayer must form been taught that true reward will be given in directly tied to our keeping Hashem’s decrees. the basis of everything we do, for the elements the Next World? of all knowledge are contained therein. As we The world reached that idyllic state again when proceed with whatever path we have chosen, In regard to the opening verse, “If you go in we were redeemed from Egypt and when we we must then pray that Hashem will help us my decrees,” the Midrash records a puzzling stood at the foot of Mount Sinai. All of succeed. King David certainly did go about the statement made by King David. “Every day I Hashem’s laws became chukim, done business of state. But before his busy day, he planned to go to certain places, but my feet because they were Hashem’s will, whether or would spend the hours from midnight until led me to shul and to a house of learning.” not we understood the rationale behind them. morning studying Torah, praying for Divine Certainly, King David also continuously took Had we not sinned with the golden calf, the guidance to act correctly. care of the business of ruling Israel. What is natural world would again have remained in this verse telling us? sync with man’s needs. Rabbi Frand notes that the secular portrayal of happiness is always fleeting because it is Rav Reiss, citing the Rambam. Shem Rav Reiss continues with the ideas of the Sfas based on meeting physical desires. The MiShmuel and the Sefas Emes, posits that Emes that each of us is in fact a micro world. Jewish perspective is pursuing “shleimut,” the benefits for keeping the mitzvot are not Thus, to the extent that we live an upright life, harmony and balance. When we feel more rewards at all but are rather the preferred the world within us and around us will respond complete as a result of living our lives natural order of the world. Our actions and the accordingly. Therefore, the verses at the according to His will and achieving a way the world functions are completely beginning of this parsha do not constitute a closeness with Hashem, we come to appreci- intertwined. Immediately after creation, reward for following Hashem’s commandments ate all we have and can then achieve true everything, including Adam, was in full but are rather the natural result of doing so. happiness. balance. Then Adam disobeyed Hashem which affected not only man but all of nature. The Netivot Shalom further elucidates this Rav Pam cites the Rambam that these Yes, Adam, Eve, and the snake were concept. He explains that just as the universe material benefits are not rewards but rather punished. But the earth was also cursed. The is comprised of three spheres, so is the human Hashem’s way of facilitating our continued equilibrium that Hashem destined for the being. The celestial sphere corresponds to the dedication to Torah. Our mission then is to world was shattered. upper segment of man, his brain and intellect. create within us a true mikdosh me’at so that The center sphere corresponds to the center our souls will feel comfortable in our physical In the same way, what we do affects not just of man, his heart and emotions. Finally, the bodies. By making Hashem our focus and ourselves, but the whole world. In fact, our lower realms of creation correspond to our examining everything within our lives through sages juxtapose the chukot of this parsha with physical body and desires. When the this prism, we can begin the process of the same term in Jeremiah, “If not for My microcosm that is each of us is in harmony recreating the elusive harmony between covenant day and night the decrees, chukot, with Hashem’s desires, then the macrocosm of ourselves and the world. of heaven and earth I would not have the universe is also brought into alignment. The Torah Hashkafa Regarding The Corona Virus Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller We are in living in the midst of a greater plan. looked at the world with intelligence and people who are alone and in need and helping We don’t see the beginning or the end nor are recognized that it was a system in which elderly people in isolation get what they need. we meant to. Part of the reality is that the big everyone had a place. Minimally, we might all questions can’t be answered. So, why this think on this level. This isn’t something that’s The Avot didn’t just go where their minds took person was stricken and not that one, why this just a shot out of the dark. It’s part of a greater them but rather where their souls took them. country is so much more effective then destiny. Avraham signified chesed (kindness). Chesed another, how long it will all last, are questions doesn’t just mean doing favors for people but that don’t have answers. But do we know, it’s The Gemara says every possible illness has a finding the good inside yourself and giving it part of a larger plan that Hashem has for all of cure in nature. Perhaps the virus is there for us expression. Being a kind person, keeping a us on a collective level. to respond and to figure out our place, who we smile on your face, and exuding optimism, should be as a moral person at this time. This because in the end everything is under The Rambam says that Adam, Noach, includes taking all of the precautions seriously Hashem’s control, attunes you to the Avraham Chanoch and Iyov were unique in that they so that we don’t affect other people. It includes in you. Yitzchak also went beyond what his caring for others such as making calls to Continued on page 2

visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume 12 Number 9 Brought to you by Naaleh.com The Torah Hashkafa Regarding The Corona Virus Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Continued from page 1 mind told him. He reached out to Hashem world. make my relationships better, my Yitzchak self through tefilla. There are four main types of Today all we have is tefilah. These days, most to make my prayers better, and my Yaakov self sacrifices, an olah, a shelomim, a chatas, and of us have more time to pray. We have to talk to learn and deepen my faith. an asham. All of them are related to taking to Hashem and give ourselves over to Him. some aspect of yourself and drawing it closer We can use our own words or the siddur, but The third higher level is delineated by the to Hashem. In the case of a chatas or asham, talk we must, because a person’s essential self Chovot Halevovot. The collective message of a part of you became more distant. In the is their speech. the Jewish people is that we are a goy kodesh case of an oleh or shelamim, it’s finding an umamlechet kohanim, a holy and exemplary address for the part of you that needs to be Yaakov signified truth. It’s an opportune time people. The root word of kohen is kan which more whole. A korbon was about taking the now to seek the truth. Whatever we want to means a base. We’re meant to be the stable animal self in you and saying, “I rely on you say when this is over, at least we should be base that can say with firm faith, “Wherever Hashem to take it and heal it.” It was drawing able to say- “I didn’t waste these days. It was a this takes us, we’re with you Hashem.” down energy from above that affected the precious time. I drew upon my Avraham self to

Shir Shel Yom: Yom Chamishi Part IV Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Leah Kohn A chassid once wrote a letter to the Beis give up on us even if we don’t go in the right was so overpowering that He had to hide it Yisrael asking how he could attain the lofty direction. He will have to redirect us and it will away for the tzadikim in the World To Come. spiritual goals he had set for himself. He be with difficulties. But there’s much more On the fourth day, He made some of the light wanted to master Torah, attain fear of assistance from Above when we choose good. suitable for human use. Through learning heaven… The Rebbe replied–“Who is David Hamelech tells us, Hashem sustains the Torah, the Jewish people reveal more and preventing you? Even the sky’s not the limit. nation, “B’chelev chita,” according to nature. more of this light until the time of Mashiach Open up your mouth, become a vessel that But Bnei Yisrael are not bound by nature, when we will be able to sustain the original can absorb, and Hashem will fill all your “M’tzur devash asbiecha- From the rock, I will great light. spiritual desires.” extract honey and sustain you.” This refers to the Jewish children that were left in the fields The Jewish people became the vessel that Hashem can say yes or no to our physical of Egypt and were miraculously sustained by contains the light of Hashem. With it, they can requests based on His understanding of milk and honey flowing from a rock. bring the world to its purpose. The other what’s best for us. But requests for spirituality nations will not able to take the light, being that will always be answered, maybe not exactly If we look at this chapter as a whole, it’s a call they made the choices they made. At the time how we want it, but He will help us to fill our from Hashem at a time when we are not doing of Mashiach, when Hashem will reveal himself, mouths with Torah, prayer, and the ability to His will. He ingrains in us that He loves us, that they will be burned. This will be the nekama connect to Him. He didn’t give up on us, that we will eventually (revenge) they earned. Nekama doesn’t mean attain the greatness he intended for us to getting even. It will be the reality they alone Unfortunately, there were times in history reach. made for themselves. when we didn’t listen to Hashem. Chazal say, “B’derech she’adam rotze l’eileich moilichin What is the connection between this psalm On Thursday, Hashem created the animals oto-In the way a person wants to go, Hashem and Thursday? Rav Tzadok Hakohen explains who are very physical although they do have leads him.” When a person chooses good, that the first four days correspond to the Avot some spiritual life force in them. The very fact Hashem walks with him. However, when he and Moshe. Moshe gave us the Torah so that that the light of Hashem can exist in something chooses bad, “Potchin lo”- Hashem doesn’t we could reach a level of clarity that would that is so earthly, is the greatest praise to stop him, but He isn’t with him. And obviously enable us to bring the world to its purpose. Hashem. there are consequences. Hashem will never The first day, Hashem created a great light that

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