Parsha Perspectives OZER ALPORT
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PARSHAS NASO SIVAN 5768 7 JUNE 2008 Parsha Perspectives OZER ALPORT asked him why he was willing to part with such an irreplaceable and holy והקטירם הכהן המזבחה לחם אשה ניחח כל חלב לד‘ (3:16) family heirloom when he could have “The Kohen shall cause them to go up in smoke on the Altar, the food of easily attained a simple set of kosher tefillin. Rabbi Alter responded by the fire for a satisfying aroma, all the choice parts of Hashem.” quoting the words of Maimonides, who teaches that we must be willing to ast week we ended the book of Exodus, which revolved around the Exodus give up our most precious possessions from Egypt, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the construction for the sake of Hashem’s mitzvot. of the Tabernacle. This week, we begin the book of Leviticus, which deals L After studying the inspiring stories of largely with the laws pertaining to the Tabernacle and the Kohanim (Priests) who our forefathers in the book of Genesis served therein. and of their salvation from Egypt in the book of Exodus, many people find it Parshas Vayikra introduces us to a of the Gerrer Chassidim. He was once difficult to relate to the esoteric subjects number of the various Korbanos approached by one of his followers, discussed in the book of Leviticus. (sacrifices) which were offered in the who lamented that he had lost his Although Maimonides rules that Tabernacle and their pertinent laws. One tefillin. As tefillin are quite expensive, this concept of using our choicest of the sacrifices is the Korban Shelamim the man was also worried that it would possessions applies to all mitzvot, (Peace-Offering). In discussing the take him quite some time to save up perhaps one of the reasons it is taught laws of a goat which is brought as the money to purchase a new pair. in reference to the Peace Offering is to a Peace Offering, the Torah requires Much to this man’s relief, Rabbi Alter remind us that these sections of the the Kohen to burn all of its choicest immediately took out a pair of tefillin Torah can be equally applicable to our parts on the Altar in the Tabernacle. to loan to the man until he was able daily lives. Just as we wear our nicest to locate his lost tefillin or buy a new clothing to a wedding and set the table Interestingly, Maimonides writes that set. After giving them to the man, Rabbi with our finest china when hosting this requirement wasn’t specific to the Alter asked him to take extra precaution important guests, so too does the Torah Korban Shelamim. He derives from our in protecting them. He explained that he teach us that this approach should carry verse that for the performance of every had inherited this pair of tefillin from his over to matters of the soul, as we proudly mitzvah - from the selection of which saintly father, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, use our most precious possessions animal to offer as a sacrifice, to the food who was known as the S’fas Emes and to serve Hashem and do His mitzvot. and clothing donated to the poor - a had served as the previous Gerrer Rebbe. person should use his finest possessions. After he left, ecstatic about the change Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Alter in his fortune and his merit to use (1866-1948), known as the Imrei the tefillin of the S’fas Emes, one of Emes, served as the Rebbe (leader) the close disciples of the Imrei Emes Talking Points naso RABBI ELAZAR MEISELS 1. ASK AND YE’ SHALL Metzoraim, and Zavim etc. What sin caused that in matters of kedushah [sanctity], one these illnesses to surface once again? cannot delegate, or utilize shortcuts. To RECEIVE employ the help of oxen in carrying the “And G-d spoke to Moses and to Aharon, • They spoke negatively toward their leaders less sacred items of the Tabernacle was saying; ‘Take the count of the sons of and accused them of criminal behavior entirely appropriate. Their status did not Kehos…’” 4:1,2 • They cast aspersions upon the Holy Ark demand more than that. For carrying the and claimed that it was lethal to those who Ark, however, which symbolized the Holy Parshas Nasso is the largest of all the serviced it Torah itself, and the other exceedingly portions in the Torah, containing 176 verses. • The sin of the Golden Calf caused an sacred vessels, one could not expect It also features a larger number of midrashic outbreak of Tzaraas– Medrash Rabbah, Vayikra assistance to lighten the load. This lesson interpretations, and discussions in the Zohar, 18 here is that one who wishes to ascend in more than any other Parshah. matters of holiness and carry the banner Yet another medrash [Devarim 7:4] of purity, must be prepared to do all the Chiddushei HaRim (Rabbi Yitzchak Meir maintains that the sin that brought these heavy lifting himself. In these areas of life, Rothenberg, (1799-1866) explains that this dastardly illnesses upon them, was their nothing ever comes easy. Torah is acquired prolific and disproportionate amount of verses and disrespectful and ungrateful attitude toward only by one who gives his very last breath commentary contains a deep symbolism related the Mannah which sustained them. In for it. Shortcuts and time-saving tricks are to this time of year. Parshas Nasso is traditionally order to ease their plight in the unsanitary inexpedient means of developing our read in the weeks immediately following the conditions in the desert, Hashem sent down spiritual selves. holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the Mannah that was fully absorbed in the body giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and a renewal of and produced no waste matter. Ordinarily, our commitment to its study and practice. When this would be recognized as a tremendous we accept upon ourselves the monumental task blessing and kindness to a people stranded of Torah study, we are in return, granted the gift in the desert with inadequate facilities. of inordinate quantities of Torah, far beyond Instead, the people grumbled incessantly what we would imagine ourselves capable of about how dangerous it was, and how they absorbing. Parshas Nasso, with its vast amounts feared that they’d perish from bloating. of Torah, is a symbol of that newfound aptitude. For failing to appreciate their munificent gifts, they were visited with true illnesses This page is dedicated to and written 2. NO BLOATING that isolated them from the masses and for the 6,000 Partners in Torah mentors. ALLOWED lessened their potential to damage the We welcome you to join their ranks by morale of the nation. calling 800-STUDY-4-2. Please send your “Instruct the Children of Israel and they comments, questions, and suggestions shall send forth from the encampment 3. NO OX TO GrIND to [email protected] any person afflicted with Tzaraas, any person contaminated with Zav, anyone “Moses took the wagons and the oxen and CONTACT INFO FOR PARTNERS IN contaminated by a dead body” 5:2 gave them to the Levites…He did not give TOraH MENTOR ADVISORS*: any to the sons of Kehos because the sacred Rabbi Elazar Meisels ~ Any Person Afflicted With Tzaraas… work was [incumbent] upon them, which they 212-810-2602 Contaminated With Zav – Rabbi Shimon had to carry on their shoulders.” 7:6-9 (Sunday & Tuesday 8:00 - 11:00 pm) bar Yochai taught: When the Children of Israel [email protected] Because The Sacred Work Was On stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and declared their Rabbi Pinchos Jung ~ allegiance to G-d and His word, they were Them – The carrying of sacred objects - the 845-425-6533 healed of every illness and blemish and there ark, table, etc. Therefore, “they had to carry (leave message) stood not among them a Metzora (someone them on their shoulders.” - Rashi afflicted with tzaraas) or Zav.It was only once *Kindly reserve use of our advisors they sinned that there was among them Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk explained other wordly questions rabbi leiby burnham There is a relevant Talmudic statement that ear Rabbi, is very instructive; My uncle Sol recently passed away. Ever since his funeral, The following was a familiar lesson in the I find myself thinking about life after death. What happens mouth of Rav: The World to Come is not D like this world. In the World to Come there to the soul exactly? What is the Jewish perspective on the next world? is no eating, no drinking, no propagation, I know that we believe in it, because the Yizkor prayers talk about no business, no jealousy, no hatred, and no competition. Rather it is the righteous sitting people who have “Gone to his/her world,” but what exactly is that with their crowns on their heads, and de- light in the Radiance of the Divine Presence. world like? (Berachot 17A) David K. This indicates to us that in the Next World, all the forms of pleasure we are accus- Dear David, knowledge). The reality that it is often so tomed to in this world will not be present, hard to see G-d in this world is our very rai- as it is a world devoid of the physical. The Questions about what will happen in the son d’être, as it gives us our free will, which crowns on people’s heads are their spiritual next world are challenging to answer as enables us to grow.