Parshat Shemini
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Emor Kohanim – Agents of God Or Man?
Emor Kohanim – Agents of God or Man? -Rabbi Moshe Pinchuk- Parahsat Emor is rife with questions. The Talmud lists eight passages that were related to Moshe upon the consecration of the Tabernacle, on the first of the month of Nissan. The appropriate place for these passages is in the parasha of Shemini, which opens with the dedication of the Tabernacle: “Eight sections were given forth on the day on which the Tabernacle was set up. They are: the section of the priests, the section of the Levites, the section of the ritually unclean, the section of the sending of the ritually unclean [out of the camp], the section commencing ‘After the death’…” Several of these passages are set forth in this week’s parasha, Emor: A. The section of the priests (kohanim): Rashi makes the following comment: “The section of the priests – “Speak to the kohanim,” which contains the laws of the kohanim. Because these laws were required that day in order for the kohanim to work in the Tabernacle, it was necessary for Hashem to convey them at that time.” According to Rashi, the “section of the priests” mentioned in the Talmud is the passage comprised of the first several verses of Parashat Emor. These verses set forth prohibitions relating to priestly ritual uncleanliness and marriage, as well as physical defects that disqualify a priest from working in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Why was this passage relocated from the parasha of Shemini to the beginning of Emor? B. The section of the ritually unclean: This section is identified as the passage beginning with the words “that they shall separate themselves from the holy [sacrifices] of the children of Israel.” This passage sets forth the laws of ritual cleanliness that pertain to the consumption of terumah (priestly contributions) and kodashim (holy sacrifices). -
Spark, the Tribe Parasha Activity Sheet That Will Help You Bring Judaism to Life in a Varied and Exciting Way
Welcome to Spark, the Tribe Parasha activity sheet that will help you bring Judaism to life in a varied and exciting way. I’d like these activities to enthuse the children and show them how the Torah given almost 3500 years ago is still as relevant and as exciting in our lives today. Thank you for offering to run a Children’s Service, for all the hard work you put into it and for making a real difference to so many young people. The US is very proud of the numerous Children’s Services that are run every week across the UK and this would not happen without you. Spark gives you an overview of the weekly Parasha, songs, an activity, discussion questions or D’var Torah linked to the Parasha or important event that week. Every Children’s Service will be different, in terms of how many participants there are, their age range, its length and the varying abilities of the children. Please read through the document and find the activities that will best suit the needs of your group. It is advisable to read it before Shabbat in case there is some preparation that may be needed in advance. I am sure the children at your shul will benefit from Spark. Please be in touch if you have any queries, feedback or if we can be of any help. Thank you again for the work you do in enabling so many young Jews to access their heritage and traditions in such an exciting way. All it takes is a small spark of interest, to ignite a flame of passion for Judaism. -
Parashat Korach 5773 June 8, 2013
Parashat Korach 5773 June 8, 2013 This week’s Dvar Tzedek takes the form of an interactive text study. We hope that you’ll use this text study to actively engage with the parashah and contemporary global justice issues. Consider using this text study in any of the following ways: • Learn collectively. Discuss it with friends, family or colleagues. Discuss it at your Shabbat table. • Enrich your own learning. Read it as you would a regular Dvar Tzedek and reflect on the questions it raises. • Teach. Use the ideas and reactions it sparks in you as the basis for your own dvar Torah. Please take two minutes to share your thoughts on this piece by completing this feedback form . Introduction Parashat Korach opens with a scene of intense political drama in which a coalition of disgruntled Israelites challenges Moses and Aaron’s leadership. An analysis of this rebellion and the motivations of its leaders provides an opportunity to explore questions of politics, power and leadership—our associations with them, why they are important and how we might be able to utilize them to achieve the justice that we seek for our communities and the world. The Torah describes the opening of the showdown between Korach’s coalition and Moses and Aaron, as follows: במדבר טז:א ד, ח יא Numbers 16:1 ---4, 8 ---111111 ַוִ ַ ח ֹקַרח, ֶ ִיְצָהר ֶ ְקָהת ֶ ֵלִוי; ְוָדָת Now Korach, son of Izhar son of Kohat son of Levi, took, along ַוֲאִביָר ְֵני ֱאִליב, ְואֹו ֶ !ֶ לֶת ְ נֵי —with Datan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Pelet ְרא%ֵב. -
Shabbat-B'shabbato – Parshat Behaalotecha No 1577: 19 Sivan 5775 (6 June 2015)
Shabbat-B'Shabbato – Parshat Behaalotecha No 1577: 19 Sivan 5775 (6 June 2015) AS SHABBAT APPROACHES Testimony for All of Humanity - by Rabbi Oury Cherki, Machon Meir, Rabbi of Beit Yehuda Congregation, Jerusalem This week's Haftarah begins with the return of the Shechina – the holy Presence – to Zion and with the significance of this process for mankind: "Sing and be happy, daughter of Zion, for I am coming, and I will dwell within you – this is what G-d says. And many nations will join together with G-d on that day." [Zecharia 2:14-15]. The end of the Haftarah describes the Shechina as an image of a Menorah, similar to the one in the Temple. The proximity of the two images is taken by the sages as proof that the Menorah will serve as testimony for all of humanity that the Shechina dwells within Bnei Yisrael. It is true that the Menorah is placed outside of the Holy of Holies, such that at first glance it would seem that it is at a lower level of sanctity than the Ark of the Covenant, where the Torah is kept. This corresponds to the notion that the nation of Yisrael, including the appearance of the Shechina within it, is of minor importance when compared to the Torah. However, Rav Kook explains that this is only true from an external point of view, but that from an internal viewpoint – since the Torah was given for the sake of Yisrael and Yisrael preceded the Torah – the Menorah is indeed holier than the Ark. -
Parshat Naso
Parshat Naso A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's Chumash Bemidbar/Book of Numbers with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc. THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE Copyright © 2006-2009 by Chabad of California THE TORAHSecond,- revisedCHUMASH printingB 2009EMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARYA BprojectASED ON of THE WORKS OF ChabadTHE LUBAVITCH of CaliforniaREBBE 741 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-208-7511Copyright / Fax © 310-208-58112004 by ChabadPublished of California, by Inc. Kehot Publication Society 770 Eastern Parkway,Published Brooklyn, by New York 11213 Kehot718-774-4000 Publication / Fax 718-774-2718 Society 770 Eastern Parkway,[email protected] Brooklyn, New York 11213 718-774-4000 / Fax 718-774-2718 Order Department: 291 KingstonOrder Avenue, Department: Brooklyn, New York 11213 291 Kingston718-778-0226 Avenue / /Brooklyn, Fax 718-778-4148 New York 11213 718-778-0226www.kehot.com / Fax 718-778-4148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book All rightsor portions reserved, thereof, including in any the form, right without to reproduce permission, this book or portionsin writing, thereof, from in anyChabad form, of without California, permission, Inc. in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc. The Kehot logo is a trademark ofThe Merkos Kehot L’Inyonei logo is a Chinuch,trademark Inc. -
Parshat Mishpatim 5773
Written by: Ruth Michaels Editor: David Michaels Parshat Acharey Mot-Kedoshim 5778 At the beginning of this parsha verse 2 states, “Speak to all the congregation of the to cleave to him (u'ldavkah bo). Moreover we are duty bound to do all that is good and children of Israel and say to them: holy shall you be... ". Rav Shimshon Refuel Hirsch perfect ...simply because G-d commanded us to do so." comments that only at the giving of the very first Law which Israel received, the command of the Pesach offering, do we find the order written in similar terms ,to He continues to ask " Why does the Torah say Kedoshim T'hihyu?" “You should be announce the Law to the whole community. The reason for this is because this holy...”. He answers that one should not think that kedoshim t'hihyu refers solely to admonition, "holy shall you be “ refers to the highest degree of moral human perfection forbidden sexual relations due to its juxtaposition to the laws at the end of Acharei Mot and every individual needs to be included in this call to very height of absolute morality. but this phrase refers to each of the Ten Utterances, This means the Jewish people should be holy and sanctify themselves in all matters. Rabbi M Miller suggests that Moshe had to speak to the whole congregation, to each one individually, because in the question of self restraint even from pleasures generally The parsha of Kedoshim follows the sedras from Vaiyikra to Acharei Mot. What is the permitted, each individual must know his own nature...detect in himself the inclinations significance of this order? According to Rav Shimshon Refuel Hirsch, the morality is that threaten to degrade him and exercise on himself those restraints that will restore learned from G-d’s word which rests beneath the wings of the keruvim. -
PARASHAT SHEMINI the Sin of Nadav and Avihu and the Animals
PARASHAT SHEMINI The Sin of Nadav and Avihu and the Animals Prohibited for Consumption By Rav Amnon Bazak A. The Problem In the aftermath of the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu, the Torah suddenly interrupts the narrative with a command highlighting an additional function of the kohanim: And to distinguish between the holy and the profane, and between the impure and the pure; and to instruct Bnei Yisrael concerning all of the statutes which God spoke to them at the hand of Moshe. (10:10-11) These verses set forth the framework for the chapters that follow in chiastic order. First, the Torah discusses the differences between the impure and the pure, in terms of the types of animals that may be eaten and those that may not (chapter 11), and the various types of impurity and purity (Parashot Acharei Mot, Tazri'a, and Metzora); thereafter, it addresses the differences between the holy and the profane (Parashot Kedoshim andEmor). What do these categories and the differentiation between them have to do with the sin of Nadav and Avihu? Why are the kohanim given the new job of differentiating between the holy and profane and between the impure and the pure specifically here, in the midst of the events of the "eighth day"? In order to answer this question, let us examine the animals forbidden as food as listed in chapter 11. We will find two groups of prohibitions in this chapter, and we will discuss the connection between them and the story of the death of Nadav and Avihu. -
Shauni: This Week's Torah Portion Is Parashat Emor. We Will Be
May 3, 2018 Parashat Emor https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.21.1-15?lang=bi&aliyot=1 http://mirowitztorahreading.weebly.com/emor.html Ezra Ezra ben Yehoshu’a Asher v’Temima Fayga Shauni Chana Lilah bat Kalanit v’Warren Annika Chanukkah bat Miriam v’Yosef Abigail Yosef bat Laura v’Steven Omri Omri ben Eli-Mordecai v’Osnat Shauni: This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Emor. We will be reading from Sefer Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 21, Verses 1-3. Emor means “speak.” G-d tells Moshe to speak to the kohanim, the priests, about what they should do to be extra holy in order to serve in the Temple. Parashat Emor also tells us about the special holidays of the Jewish calendar, which make time holy throughout the year. The holy days connect us with our people, the land, the seasons, and with God. The first holy day mentioned is Shabbat, the day of rest. Omri: Then come Pesach and Shavuot, followed by the fall holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Parashat Emor also includes the mitzvah of counting the omer. All of us are commanded to count the omer. All year long, the Kohanim at our Holy Temple, offered wheat to God. In a ceremony from Pesach until Shavuot, barley was added, and the Kohanim counted on behalf of the Jewish People. These days we do the counting for ourselves. We count from the second day of Passover until just before Shavuot. That’s 7 weeks of 7 days - 7 weeks x 7 days equals 49 days! The 50th day is Shavuot. -
Parshat Korach 5770 by Guy Izhak Austrian June 12, 2010
Parshat Korach 5770 By Guy Izhak Austrian June 12, 2010 “We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers.” So said President Barack Obama after the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, before concluding with just such a prayer: “May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.”1 At the same time, the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism distributed a “Prayer for Haiti” by Rabbi Naomi Levy,2 and no doubt, many other Americans prayed as well. Given all of the options for taking action after a crisis in a developing country—donating, organizing and volunteering—why do the President, a rabbi in Los Angeles and ordinary people across the U.S. feel compelled to pray for the victims? What impact can these prayers have? We can find a clue in the haftarah for Parshat Korach, a passage from the First Book of Samuel.3 There, Samuel bids farewell to the Israelites, and he rebukes the people for insisting on being ruled by a king. Yet Samuel promises that though he is no longer their prophet and judge, he will continue to pray for them: “Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.”4 Samuel juxtaposes his own prayerful support of the people with his prophecy, in an earlier passage, of the king’s coming oppression. The king, he says, “yikach”—will take—your children, vineyards and olive groves, your servants and livestock.5 In contrast, Samuel asks rhetorically, “Whose ox have I taken … from whom have I taken a bribe…?” and the people affirm, “You have not taken anything from anyone.”6 Samuel suggests that a righteous leader prays for the people, while an exploitative leader such as a king will only take. -
Luach for Vayikra
Baruch Hashem! Luach for Week of Vayikra Chabad NP - www.chabadnp.com 6-13 Nissan 5781 / March 19-26 Friday, 6 Nissan ● Shabbat Candle Lighting at 7:03 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Gad In today's "Nasi" reading , we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Gad, Elyasaf ben Deuel, for the inauguration of the Mishkan Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 394). 7 Nissan - Shabbat Vayikra Torah Reading Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23 ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Ephraim In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama ben Amihud, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 394). Sanctification of the Moon Once a month, as the moon waxes in the sky, we recite a special blessing called Kiddush Levanah, "the sanctification of the moon," praising the Creator for His wondrous work we call astronomy. Kiddush Levanah (P.301) is recited following Maariv if the moon is visible. After the evening of March 28, 15 days have passed, the moon begins to wane once more and the season for saying the blessing has passed. ● Kiddush for Shabbat day on pg. 249. ● Shabbat Ends at 8:00 PM ● Havdalah on p. 297 Sunday, 8 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Menasseh In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Menasseh, Gamliel ben Pedahtzur, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. -
Parshat Korach Weekly Dvar Torah for the Sake of Heaven
Parshat Korach 3 Tammuz 5778 /June 16, 2018 Daf Yomi: Zevachim 64; Nach Yomi: Isaiah 24 Weekly Dvar Torah A project of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL SPONSORED BY THE HENRY, BERTHA AND EDWARD ROTHMAN FOUNDATION ROCHESTER, NY,CLEVELAND, OHIO, CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO For the Sake of Heaven Rabbi Naphtali Burnstein Mara D'atra, Young Israel of Greater Cleveland In Pirkei Avot, Chapter 5, Mishna 20, we are reminded of the difference between a machlokes sh’le L’Shem Shamayim ─ “a dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, and a machlokes sh’eino L’Shem Shamayim ─ a dispute not for the sale of Heaven.” In giving us the examples of each, the Mishna chooses that of Hillel and Shammai as that of a machlokes sh’le L’Shem Shamayim, and that of Korach and his entire community as that of a machlokes sh’eino L’Shem Shamayim. The question is asked why the two examples given in the Mishna do not seem to be comparablel. In the first example, Hillel and Shammai are the ones chosen as having disputes for the sake of heaven, and in the latter example, rather than choosing Korach together with Moshe and Aharon, Korach and his community are chosen. Did Korach indeed dispute with his followers or with Moshe and Aharon? Many suggestions have been offered; perhaps the most well-known approach is the following: The Mishna, mentioned above, points out that a machlokes L’Shem Shamayim will have a constructive outcome, whereas a machlokes sh’einoL’Shem Shamayim will not. The reasoning for this striking difference is in the motivation behind each. -
Tum'a – Ritual Impurity by David Silverberg Parashat Tazria
Tum'a – Ritual Impurity by David Silverberg Parashat Tazria introduces us to two distinct categories of tum'a, or ritual impurity. The first type, which earns relatively brief mention in the Torah, occupying a mere eight verses at the beginning of the parasha, surfaces immediately after childbirth. The Torah ordains a period of tum'a upon a woman after delivering a child, during which time she may not eat sacrificial foods or enter the Temple grounds (see 12:4). Thereafter, the Torah proceeds to a much lengthier exposition on the subject of tum'at tzara'at, the ritual impurity generated by a discoloration on one's body, garments, or house. This second topic, tzara'at, occupies the remainder of Parashat Tazria and a considerable portion of Parashat Metzora. In the latter half of Parashat Metzora (chapter 15), the Torah proceeds to a much different category of tum'a, known in halakhic jargon as "tum'a ha-yotzet min ha-guf" – impurity resulting from bodily discharge, specifically menstruation and various types of semenal emissions. In truth, the subject of tum'a is not introduced for the first time here in Parashat Tazria. The discussion in this parasha should perhaps be seen as a continuation of the final section of Parashat Shemini (chapter 11), which, amidst its presentation of the Torah's dietary laws, addresses as well the various types of tum'a generated through contact with animal carcasses. Thus, Parashat Tazria appears at the heart of what we might term the "tum'a unit" of Sefer Vayikra, which runs from the final section of Parashat Shemini – chapter 11 – through the end of Parashat Metzora (chapter 15).