BEHAR- holiness in food. Holiness in relationships; those permitted and those not. Holiness in time; Shabbat and holidays. Now we are introduced to the holiness of the land of .

ALIYA-BY-ALIYA There are 2 aspects to the holiness of the SEDRA SUMMARY . First, it is the land of the Jewish nation. We have unique laws of Reuven kindness in agriculture; leaving parts for Tradburks the poor, giving support to the Kohanim and Director of Leviim. These laws only apply in our land, RCA Israel Region where we build our unique Jewish society.

st 1 aliya ( 25:1-18) : And second, our land is where G-d has The Land of Israel has its invited us to be close to Him. We are closest th Shabbat. Work 6 years, the 7 is to Him in His home, in the Mikdash. And a Shabbat to G-d. What grows on its own is in , His city. But the holiness of available to be used. Yovel: 7 cycles of 7 proximity to Him seeps outward from th years is followed by Yovel, the 50 year, the Jerusalem to the entire land. Hence, the Jubilee year. It is holy; pronounce liberty land is holy both in our standing close to the throughout the land. Slaves go free; land King. And in it being our unique homeland, returns to its original owner. When selling the place where we live according to our your land, do not abuse the buyer knowing unique laws, reflecting Jewish philosophy. the land will return to you in the 50th year. Sell it commensurate with the years the Shmita tells us that we need realize that buyer will have until Yovel. Keeping these all the earth is His. It has its Shabbat – by th laws will allow you to be secure in the land. refraining from work on the 7 year, we affirm that the land is ours but temporarily. The theme of holiness is expanded yet again. We are but sojourners on this land; it is His. We have had holiness in the Mikdash, our Slaves go free in Yovel; for we are all His approach to Him in His home. We have had servants.

Keren Malki empowers 2nd aliya (25:19-28) Don’t be families of children with special needs in concerned that you will not have Israel to choose home enough to eat if you rest the land; care. Donations are I will provide. Let the land not be tax-approved in Israel, US and UK. permanently sold; for the land is Mine, you Honoring the memory of but sojourners on it. If one becomes needy and sells his field, redeem it. The seller הי”ד Malka Chana Roth kerenmalki.org 1985-2001, killed in the may also redeem it according to the years 02-567-0602 Sbarro bombing. left until it returns to him in Yovel.

8 TIDBITS / BEHAR BECHUKOTAI 5781 discussing how to continue to operate the Zula when the teenagers aren’t always After introducing our limited ownership interested in compiling with corona in the land of Israel, the Torah switches to guidelines, such as not properly wearing our responsibilities to one another. When their masks.How Due ma to nCorona,y cr thean Zulaes is people are in trouble, help them out. The operating outside its usual location on sale of a field cannot end well. It’s losing a can you count? job. In an agrarian society, what will this Yaffo Street since we cannot be inside. former landowner do for a living? This The cold in Yerushalayim was frigid, and is the beginning of a downward spiral. my hands remained in my pockets while I shuffled my body to try and stay warm. Redeem his field; get it back for him, so he Ashkelon’s population is expanding from can make a living. This is as the Yet,18 a0 ,0few00 tmeterso 450,0 0in0 !front Don’ tof b eme lef tour out Zula! states; the highest form of tzedaka is giving counselors wereNow is tstrumminghe time to get intheir on th eguitars “ground floor” and take advantage of a person a job. Redeeming the field is and sitting tcalmlyhe many nasew they prope rlistenedties that th rtoivin gthe Ashkelon is offering. Just call , returning his way of making a living to him. youth unburdenwho wit hthemselves. over 45 years o fThey experi enwerece, seeingDav idthe wpotentialill help guid e inyo u theseto the b ekidsst pos siandble 3rd aliya (25:29-38) A house in a Zwebner property to satisfy your personal needs. watering them with acceptance and love city may also be redeemed if sold, because they know that they will be the but only within the first year. futureL I V blossomingE O P P O SleadersI T E ofT HtheE JewishS E A After that, the sale is permanent. Homes in people. 0 5 4 4 - 3 3 2 6 2 1 open towns are considered like fields; they davidz@A shkelonProperties.com 36 DAY may be redeemed and they return in Yovel. The towns of the Leviim, even if walled, are always able to be redeemed and they too DECLUTTER CHALLENGE return in Yovel. When one is in need, help Avi him. Do not charge interest; give him life. I Join the 36 day challenge for $1 a Executive Director, OU Israel am G-d who took you out of Egypt to give day + 7 bonus days to get ready you this land and to be your G-d. Save a Life - Gain yours for Pesach. Daily challenge email, video, how tos, & support group. The Talmud points out that the progression 1 of 78,424 Finally declutter of stories the Torah presents here is from EFRAT AND get organized!! bad to worse. A forced sale of a field due to www.efrat.org.il 02-5454500 poverty. Then the sale of a home. Then the JOIN TODAY! need for a loan. And in the next aliya, sold www.balaganbegone.com/36 as a slave. The cheapest tsedaka is the first Hotline option avaliable one; getting the field back, avoiding this whole collapse. STARTS FEB 14, 2021 4th aliya (25:39-26:9) If one is sold to you as a slave, do not oppress him. Treat him as a worker. He רפואה שלמה goes free in the Yovel year. For you are My יהודה מאיר בן יקירה servants. Slaves purchased from the

OU ISRAEL CENTER 9 OU ISRAEL CENTER 5 surrounding nations are as property that But if you do not do My mitzvoth, I too will passes to future generations. If a Jew is sold not pay attention to you. You will be to a non-Jew, a relative shall redeem him, subjected to illness, to enemies, to drought. for the Jewish people are servants to Me, If you persist in ignoring Me, I will persist My servants that I redeemed from Egypt. in ignoring you, leaving you vulnerable to (Bechukotai) And if you will do all my war, pestilence, famine. Your holy places mitzvoth you will have bounty, peace, will be vanquished, your cities destroyed; unusual success against your enemies. I you will be scattered around the world. will turn to you, multiply you and fulfill My Then the land will have the rest of its covenant with you. Shmita. You will be panicked in your exile, afraid of a driven leaf. You will admit your Parshat Bechukotai, though short, is failings; I will remember my promises to powerful. Following an entire book of you. Even in your dispersion, I will not holiness, the stakes are laid out. The pursuit allow you to be destroyed. of holiness in the land that is holy is a high stakes endeavor. The achievement brings Failure to live up to the demands of this wonderful blessing; food, peace, health. holy place brings desolation and exile. For us, who enjoy walking in this holy The desolation of the land of Israel without place, the blessings are abundant. Though the Jewish people is legendary. Chilling. we know from history, so is the …. opposite. The Jewish diaspora, Jewish history, is predicted here; who needs a description of 5th aliya (26:10-46) And I will be its fulfillment? Jewish suffering in exile was in your midst; I, your G-d, You, taken by other religions to be a sign of the my people. I will remove the rejection of the Jew. The return to the land yokes from you and you will walk proudly. of Israel, so unexpected, so unprecedented, and so dynamic is a powerful refutation of that. If the exile was Divine displeasure with our dismissive attitude to Him, the return to the land can only be Divine ברוך דיין האמת Yachad Israel sends heartfelt condolences pleasure in bringing us close. And a charge to the family of for us; to never be dismissive of Him, but to Yedidya Fridman z"l engage, to search, to reach. What privileged times we, the undeserving, are fortunate to A dear and loving Yachad member - a be a part of. And how vigilant we need be to very special, caring person whose happy not again be dismissive of Him in His land. presence always lit up the room. At Yachad Israel we had the z'chut to be 6th aliya (27:1-15) When you part of his community and group of make a vow of your value to G-d, friends. He will be forever missed and in there are set values for different our hearts ages and stations. This value is given to the Mikdash. If you pledge an animal, it is given המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

10 TORAH TIDBITS / BEHAR BECHUKOTAI 5781 butbut youyou couldcould possiblypossibly dodo them.them. ForFor whenwhen and should not be switched. A pledge of a itit comescomes toto communicationscommunications fromfrom G-d,G-d, youyou home may be given or redeemed. areare unique,unique, irreplaceable,irreplaceable, suisui generis,generis, oneone “It“It sounded too good ofofFollowing aa kind.kind. the chilling section of the curses, toto be true – a superb sea-view the book of Vayikra ends with a full chapter ThisThis exchangeexchange presentspresents aa fundamentalfundamental apartment in Anglo-populated of laws of vows. Generosity inspires apartment in Anglo-populated principle of the Torah: that G-d speaks principlecontributions of the to Torah:the Mikdash. that G-d That’s speaks a AshkelonAshkelon for only 15% down to Moshe in a way that He does not, nor togood Moshe thing. in aThe way religious that He centredoes not, of northe –– isis actually a reality.” willwill HeHe inin thethe futurefuture everever dodo againagain withwith Jewish people needs contributions. But this said another happy client anyoneanyonesection else.else.is not WhenWhen only about MosheMoshe what sayssays is thatthat given; peoplepeople but comecome toto himhim seekingseeking G-d,G-d, whatwhat hehe meansmeans also what is not. When I pledge my value, OOwwnniinngg yyoouurr own aparrttmentt does not jjust allow is:is:is ImyI havehave intent accessaccess to become toto G-d.G-d. aHeHe monk, speaksspeaks giving toto me.me. up yyoouu ffrreeeeddoom,, butt offfferrss monettary saviings, and (Speaking(Speaking toto G-dG-d isn’tisn’t thethe trick;trick; thethe tricktrick isis aann iinnccrreeaassee iin yyourr iinvvessttmentt vallue. my life to serve in the Mikdash? The Torah AAnngglloo--ppooppuullaatteed,, ssunnyy Asshkellon iis tthe answer! whenwhen HeHe answersanswers back.)back.) Similarly,Similarly, whenwhen does not endorse that. Pay money; keep IItt’’ss vveerryy aaffffoorrddablle –– ffrrom $500,,000 wiith jjust a 15% MosheMoshe sayssays thatthat hehe teachesteaches G-d’sG-d’s law,law, whatwhat ddooTruewwnn ppaa wholesaleryymeenntt,, morrttgag fromess ava iithellablle diamondas well as b ank your station in life. The Torah imposes the gguboursauaarraanntteeees swith.. RReentta overll iinccom 25e o yearsfftten iin experienceexcess of 3.5%. hehe meansmeans isis thatthat G-dG-d communicatescommunicates thosethose interpretation of vows of people and their member diamond dealers club lawslawsvalue toto to himhim be andmonetaryand toto nono oneonegifts; else.else. but not Temple Engagement Rings Stud Earrings LL II VV EE OO PP PP O S II ∙TT E T H E S E A ThisThisslaves. couldcould If you veryvery pledge wellwell bebe an thethe animal? primeprime purposepurposeFine, let Pendants ∙ Tennis Bracelets

that become a sacrifice. But not you. Or any 050-573-90610 5 4 4 - [email protected] 3 2 6 2 1 ofof thisthis YitroYitro story.story. For,For, inin thethe veryvery nextnext ddavaviidz@A shkellonProperties.com story,story,around thethe you. givinggiving A home ofof too;thethe theTorah,Torah, Torah thethe does veryvery not www.JeffMorDiamondJewelry.com want the Mikdash to acquire vast holdings. samesame themetheme ofof Moshe’sMoshe’s uniquenessuniqueness asas thethe Homes are for people; the Mikdash is to be oneone toto whomwhom G-dG-d speaksspeaks isis central.central. splendid, grand, and inspiring. But it is not to become33rd rda aliyaaliyavast financial (18:24-27)(18:24-27) empire. MosheMoshe heard. heard. HeHe chosechose judges,judges, withwith onlyonly thethe 7th aliya (27:16-34) If a field is MarSeaMarSea Modest Swim & Casualwear Marci Rapp mostmost difficult difficult casescases broughtbrought to to www.MarSeaModest.netwww.MarSeaModest.net (NIS) pledged, it’s worth until Yovel is 050-424-8359 him.him. MosheMoshe sentsent YitroYitro home.home. www.MarSeaModest.comwww.MarSeaModest.com ($USD) calculated. That value is given to ItItthe takestakes Mikdash anan tohonesthonest redeem leaderleaderthe field. toto If acceptitaccept is not suggestionssuggestionsredeemed, totoit improve.improve.remains MosheMoshewith the displaysdisplays Mikdash hishis honestyhonestyeven after andand Yovel. humilityhumility Property –– ifif thethe which suggestionsuggestion becomes isis good,good,owned embraceembrace by the it.it. Mikdash JustJust asas YitroYitro may acceptedaccepted not be thethere- THE BEST DESIGN, ENGINEERING newsnewsdeemed. ofof thethe ExodusExodus andand affirmedaffirmed OneOne G-d,G-d, THE BEST DESIGN, ENGINEERING ANDAND INSTALLATION OF AIR soso too,too, MosheMoshe admitsadmits hehe couldcould improveimprove hishis SYSTEMS. Fields are the quintessential means of CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING SYSTEMS. system.system. TwoTwo menmen ofof honestyhonesty andand humility.humility. livelihood. If you wanted the Mikdash to JUSTJUST ASKASK ANYANY OFOF OUROUR THOUSANDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS. be a financial44thth aliyaaliya empire, (19:1-6)(19:1-6) fields TheThe would peoplepeople be the THOUSANDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS. place to start.campedcamped But inthein thethe Torah’s SinaiSinai default desertdesert oppoisoppo that-- a donationsitesite of athethe field mountain.mountain. ought to beMosheMoshe redeemed. asas-- cendedcendedFields are thethe for mountain.mountain. the people G-dG-d to maketoldtold him:him: a living; telltell JLEMJLEM 02-628-828202-628-8282 II TLV 03-720-8000 thenot people. for the IfMikdash. you will listen to Me, keep My the people. If you will listen to Me, keep My tzviair.comtzviair.com

OUOU ISRAEL ISRAEL CENTER CENTER 11 7 BEHAR ALIYA-BY-ALIYA The book of Vayikra, the book of man’s of hope and salvation: “Heal me, O God, SEDRA SUMMARY approach to G-d, ends with a sober balance. thenBECHUKOTAI shall I be healed; help me, then I shall While we approach G-d, dedicate our lives be helped, for You are my praise!” [P> X:Y (Z)] and [S> X:Y (Z)] indicate to Him, reach for Him, and He for us, the start of a parsha p’tucha or s’tuma. X:Y is Torah protects us from going too far, from STATS Perek:Pasuk of the Parsha’s beginning; divesting of our assets, ridding ourselves of (Z) is the number of p’sukim in the our homes and becoming a Temple slave, BEHAR BECHUK B&B of 54 sedras in Torah 32nd 33rd - parsha. giving our all to the Mikdash. Our challenge of 10 in Vayikra 9th 10th - is to be holy in our homes and our fields Lines 99 131 230 Numbers in [square brackets] are the while reaching for the Divine. Rank (Among The 54) 50th 47th - Mitzva-count of Sefer HaChinuch AND Parshiyot 7 5 12 Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvot. A=ASEI; P’tuchot 1 3 4 L=LAV (prohibition). X:Y is the perek & HAFTORAH S’tumot 6 2 8 BEHAR/BECHUKOTAI P’sukim 57 78 135 pasuk from which the mitzva comes. YIRMIYAHU 16:19-17:14 Rank (Torah/Vayikra) 50/10 46/7 - Words 737 1013 1750 KOHEN F I R S T A L I YA Rank (Torah/Vayikra) 50/10 47/7 - The theme found in the Letters 2817 3992 6809 13+5 P'SUKIM - 25:1-18 of blessings and curses is echoed in the Rank (Torah/Vayikra) 50/10 47/7 - haftorah which discusses the punishment [P> 25:1 (7)] One of the most famous to those who disregard God’s will and the MITZVOT sedra openers in the Torah: "And G-d reward to those who follow His will. spoke to Moshe AT HAR SINAI saying..." BEHAR BECHUK B%B The courageous prophet Yirmiyahu scolds Mitzvot (pos/prohib) 7+17 7+5 14+22 The unusual nature of the pasuk is the people and warns them of the disaster Although with "only" 24 mitzvot, B'har does based on the rare additional words if they maintain their idolatrous practices. not seem toMy be inappreciation the major league to of mitzva in the otherwise very familiar pasuk: Nothing less than exile from the Holy Land sedras, the fact is that there are only 7 sedras And G-d spoke to Moshe saying (which withRabbi more Tradburks mitzvot thanfor hisB'har. very There clear are will come as the result of not having faith in 46 sedras with fewer. Yet there are only 4 occurs 69 times). The mitzvot that God and commitment to the mitzvot. sedrasexplanations smaller than of B'harthe weekly and 49 longer. parsha- Even follow deal with Sh'mita, the Sabbatical B'chukotai'sit helps me 12 putsalot itand tied I (with appreciate Va'etchanan) it year. A basic element of our belief is Moreover, there is the positive outgrowth for 15th place. that the whole Torah was revealed by of obedience and loyalty to the Torah: very much - Lila Stein G-d to Moshe (and by him to us) at Sinai “Blessed is the man who trusts in God; to (and not just the Ten Commandments, whom God will be his trust. For he shall be Mazal tov to as many people - Jews and non-Jews - like a tree planted by the water, and which Dr Daniel & Sara Berelowitz claim). Why then mention the location spreads its roots out into a stream, so it will of this particular set of commands? not be affected when heat comes, and its and Shlomo & Rivky leaves shall be green, and in the year of Wertenteil of Rechovot Note too, that the Torah identifies drought will not be anxious, neither shall and families location of G-d's speaking to Moshe, five it cease from bearing .” on the marriage of other times: Thrice B'MIDBAR SINAI and twice B'ARVOT MO'AV. But this time is The haftorah concludes with a declaration Talya and Dovid 6 TORAH TIDBITS / BEHAR BECHUKOTAI 5780 12 TORAH TIDBITS / BEHAR BECHUKOTAI 5781