Tzav

What is true love?  Many philosophers have pondered this question since the beginning of time.

A few months ago, everybody had a day off, for some reason or another … so I took the oldest five to Tzfas for the day.  Unfortunately, because of the war, it was a ghost town, but nonetheless, it was a beautiful day and we got to walk around the old city …  by ourselves.

I took them for lunch at a falafel place, where we were served super-stuffed falafel with the best hot-pepper salad I had.  I spoke with the owner on how to make it, and it's become a regular at the Shabbos table.

Yesterday, my oldest daughter had a meeting in that same area, and when she came home at lunch time, she held out a greasy bag, with a big smile on her face, and said, "I bought you a gift!"  When I asked her how much this cost me (since she has a credit card linked to my account), she responded proudly, "Nothing! I paid for this one."

THIS is true love.

"One who offers it for thanksgiving shall offer…" (Vayikra 7:12).

Throughout this large section of the Torah, we delve into the various offerings that were brought in the Mishkan/Beis HaMikdash.  One of them, probably one of the more relatable offerings, was that of the "Thanksgiving Offering," which Rashi describes as, "It's about giving thanks for a miracle that happened to him, such as those who cross the sea, travelers in the wilderness, prisoners released from captivity, or a sick person who recovered - they need to give thanks."

This seems quite logical.  A person who was rescued from a difficult or dangerous situation should bring an offering to Hashem, not only to thank Him, but to publicize his recovery/rescue.  In fact, even today, when a person was in such a situation, he publicly makes a bracha of thanksgiving when the Torah is read.

However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach asks an interesting question on this.

We know that many tribulations (not to be confused with trials), are brought on as a result of one's sins.  They could be to push a person to repent or to give a person their punishment in this world, so they do not receive it in the next.  Logic clearly dictates that if a person becomes sick, instead of going to a doctor or taking medicine, he should let the sickness run its course and accept everything that happens for his good!  If he gets cured and starts feeling better, is he not "bypassing" Hashem's will, leaving himself open only to receive more hardship in some other area of life?

He answers that when a person, in his pain, recognizes that this is not some natural occurrence, even though it may seem so, and it's really from Hashem Himself, then that recognition will guard him from future pain.  Since the original pain served its purpose, no more needs to be sent "as a reminder."

When we acknowledge that suffering is from Above, and we act with that knowledge (with teshuvah, for example), we are able to save ourselves a lot more pain in the future.

With that, I wish you all a quiet and enjoyable Shabbos.

My wife asked the security guard of one of the local stores what the hours will be the next day.  He goes on and explains all the hours and says, “I’m Druze and I understand that Pesach is coming, so that’s why things are opening earlier.”  He then explains that the Druze have only one holiday, when Moshiach comes.  When my wife replied that she thought that they do many Muslim practices, he replied, “Oh, we’re just a bunch of ‘shakranim and pechadim,' liars and ‘scaredy-cats.’  We do whatever the ruling country does.  If the Americans came, we would be pro-American.  If the Turks came, we would be pro-Turkish.  The Jews are here, so we do what they do!  We’re afraid of everybody so we lie to everybody.”  He then noticed my wife was carrying some fresh rolls she had just bought from the store, and said, “Oh, and you should know, those rolls are VERY good!” and with a smile he added, “And this time, I’m not lying."

Okay, on to Torah!

“Then (the Kohen) shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry forth the ashes out of the camp unto a pure place” (Vayikra 6:4).

I’ll be honest.  Every time I write something​ quoting Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, I get a little nervous.  There’s somebody on this list who is a BIG student of his (and just yelled at me the other day for not having a certain book of his: “How can you be a Jew without it!?!?!?!”).  So I’m davening that this should be a pleasing offering to him.

Rav Hirsch comments: “The taking out of the ashes that remained on the altar from the previous day expresses the thought that with each new day the Torah mission must be accomplished afresh, as if nothing had yet been accomplished.  Every new day calls us to our mission with new devotion and sacrifice.  The thought of what has already been accomplished can be the death of that which is still to be accomplished.  Woe to him who, with smug self-complacency, thinks he can rest on his laurels, on what he has already achieved, and who does not meet the task of every fresh day with full devotion as if it were the first day of his life’s work!

“’Carry forth the ashes out of the camp.'  Every trace of yesterday’s sacrifice is to be removed from the hearth on the Altar, so that the service of the new day can be started on completely fresh ground.  Given these considerations, we can understand the law that prescribes the wearing of worn-out garments when one is occupied with the achievements of the previous day.  The past is not to be forgotten.  But it is to be retired to the background, and is not to invest us with pride before the fresh task to which each new day calls us.”

While Rav Hirsch focuses on pride on yesterday’s accomplishments, I would like to add that this is equally applicable to the opposite.  If a person had a "bad day" yesterday, filled with sin, he should not dwell on it.  Nor should he forget it.  Rather, he should learn from his mistakes, and understand that today is a new beginning and is not affected by yesterday, unless we allow it.  Do tshuvah and move on.

I doubt I will be around to write something for Pesach, so I would like to wish everybody a wonderful Shabbos and a meaningful Pesach!  I’ll see you after that!

This year I put my foot down and told my wife that I’m doing the food shopping by myself. Every year, since we’ve moved up north, we’ve rented a car and driven to Kiryat Bialik where there is a giant kosher food store. It’s worth the rent, since it’s MUCH cheaper than anything locally and there’s a lot more kosher food compared to anything locally. I enjoy the drive there and back with her, but shopping? No. Most healthy males hate shopping. Most healthy females love shopping. Put those together, and you get trouble. Me? I prefer to look on my list, put the food in the cart, repeat, and checkout. She prefers to double-check everything, triple-check prices, ask me several times what I think (about what? I ask), and finally decides that maybe she’ll buy it (after getting mad at me for not paying attention (to what? I ask.). It’s nothing new. All couples are like this. So, this year I did the shopping on my own, and watched the poor men who were with their wives, moping down the aisles with their carts, begging me with their eyes to end their misery. The point of Pesach preparations under our wives’ iron-fists is that we should feel the pain that we felt in Egypt . . .

Okay, on to Torah!
“If it is brought as a Thanksgiving offering, he should offer together with the Thanksgiving offering unleavened loaves mixed with oil; flat matzos smeared with oil; and loaves of boiled, fine flour mixed with oil” (Vaykira 7:12)

The Likeutei Halachos (I, p.238) writes, “The Thanksgiving offering symbolizes the union of opposites. It was brought with both matzah and chametz, hinting that one should try to join these opposites together, creating a cause for true thanksgiving. On Pesach, we eat only matzah; on Shavous, we bring two loaves of bread (known as ‘thanksgiving loaves’) as an offering. These ‘opposite’ holidays are linked through the Torah portion of Parshas Tzav [this week’s parsha], which details the Thanksgiving offering and is usually read before Pesach to remind us that the main goal of the Exodus on Pesach was to attain the Torah on Shavous.”

Many people think Pesach as the “Jewish Independence Day,” where we left Egypt to travel and gain independent rule in Israel, to live a life where we can do whatever we want and live in peace and happiness.

Too bad: that’s not Pesach.

What happened in Egypt was not “independence” as defined by the Declaration of Independence. Rather, it was a transfer of servitude from Pharaoh to Hashem. When we left Egypt, we stopped being servants to Pharaoh and began being servants to Hashem.

Pesach also serves as a beginning of our birth as a nation. It was the “Lexington & Concord” of our history, and only at Sinai, when we received the Torah, did we reach “the surrender at Yorktown” and our independence was secured (pretty impressive I remember that, no?).

Therefore, we begin our independence on Pesach, not as an end of slavery, but as the beginning of the road to receive the Torah at Sinai.

Have a great Shabbos!

Michael Winner

My wife, always looking out to bring pain into my life, made an appointment for me to see the doctor for a routine checkup. During the checkup, the doctor asked me questions about my schedule and lifestyle to make sure that it’s all nice and healthy. When he asked me how much sleep I get and I answered him, he started to give me a big speech on the importance of sleep and how I’m getting way too little. My wife was delighted at that since she’s been saying the same thing (like she sleeps much more than I…). I responded with:

“Doctors overreact. That’s their job. They want to make us worried when we don’t need to”

Then, a few days later, the doctor called me up because he received the results of my blood work.

“You’re really low on B12”, he says.

“Okay.”

“Do you eat a lot of meat and chicken?”

“Nope.

“For financial reasons, or…”

“I don’t know, we just don’t… takes too long to make, maybe…”

“Well, you need to start eating more meat and chicken”

“How terrible…”

When I told my wife about this, I closed off with the remark:

“Doctors don’t overreact. That’s their job. They don’t want to make us worried when we don’t need to”

Okay, on to Torah!
“If for the Thanksgiving he offers it, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and fine flour soaked and made into cakes mingled with oil” (Vayikra 7:12)

When a person’s life was in danger and was saved, he was to bring a Korban Todah, a Thanksgiving Offering. With that offering, he brought forty loaves of bread in four different forms. The Kohen would receive one of each type, and the remaining thirty-six were given to the person who brought the korban. Just to make it a challenge, he had the remainder of that day and the following night to eat everything. Any leftovers would be burned on the mizbayach (altar).

What’s the reason for so much food in such a short amount of time? The Sforno explains that a person is put in such a situation to force him to share his food with anybody and everybody. When he offers somebody some of his meal, the receiver would naturally ask, “What’s this for?”

With that, he would launch into an explanation on what happed to him and how Hashem saved him. With this method, it was assured that a person would ‘spread the word’ of Hashem’s greatness and goodness, and would cheer others as well.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin noted that this is a great example of how one should conduct his life. On one hand we see an individual going around sharing his good news. On the other hand, we can see that a person who had to bring a Korban Chatas (sin offering), would not do so in such a public manner. What’s the lesson? Always be and speak positive. The world doesn’t need a person who complains and bickers about everything in life. Hardships in life are personal messages from Hashem, they’re not there to be used for bitterness and complaining.

Nobody likes to be around a person who grumbles and complains all the time. They want to be around people who are happy and have true simcha in life. That is the lesson of the Korban Tamid and Chatas.

May we merit the ability to look at all of life’s issues and still have a warm smile on our face.

Have a great Shabbos!

p.s. I can’t make any promises about a Pesach dvar torah. I’ll try my best though!

These are the times that try men’s souls…

The week before Pesach.

The goal: Have 90% of the apartment, including the entire kitchen, turned over for Pesach by Thursday, all while keeping your marriage together.

If anything, I’ve begun to understand how Pharaoh felt when Yosef first came down to Egypt. This week is the “Week of Plenty” where my wife is trying to get us to eat all the chometz. So, right now, I’m eating really well. However, I know that after Shabbos we will be in the “Week of Famine” in which there is nothing in the house to eat, until Pesach begins.

This week’s dvar torah is a little on the shorter side. However, I’m hoping to supplement it with two dvrei torah in time for Pesach.

“He shall remove his garments and dress in other garments, and he shall take out the ashes beyond the encampment” (Vayikra 6:4)

This pasuk is dealing with the service of the Cohanim. Specifically speaking, every morning they are to change their clothes, and clean out the mizbayach (altar) of the ashes from the day before.

Rashi, on this pasuk, writes “This is not obligatory, but good manners, in order that he not become dirty while taking out the ashes in the clothes in which he performs the rest of the service. The clothes in which he cooked the pot for his master, he should not wear when he pours the goblet for his master. Therefore, it says, ‘and dress in other garments’, meaning - of lesser worth than these”

Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that this is where we see the importance of dressing in a dignified manner. While the Cohein was doing the messy work of removing the ashes, he would put on garments of lesser worth, in order not to make his daily clothing dirty. So too, should we be careful in how we dress everyday. We should dress in clothes that are modest, clean, and show that you are working ‘on behalf of Hashem’.

Furthermore, says Rav Feinstein, if we learn that we are to dress well during ‘regular hours’, how the more so when we daven three times a day. We should be careful that when we are speaking to the King of kings, we should dress as if we are truly standing in front of him. Have a great Shabbos!

I hope everybody is enjoying their Purim. As mentioned earlier, Jerusalem celebrates Purim the day after everybody else. This year, being that it falls on Shabbos, the celebrations are put off until Sunday. Nonetheless, since today is Purim, people put on their Shabbos dress and children dress up in their outfits. I needed to run some errands in Meah Shaarim/Geula today, and it was really nice to see everybody dressed up. Also, a couple guys from the yeshiva went to somebody's house outside of Jerusalem today, so they got to start their Purim celebrations early. I just received a call from one of the guys who was drunk out of his mind. He said something like: "Hello Michael? I just wanted to tell you how awesome you are! You totally are awesome! Man what you did was amazing! What did you do? You moved here and couldn't give a dang about anything else...that's awesome!!! I love you and your wife...well, I don't love your wife...but you know what I mean...ahhhhhhhhhhh...." . That's what you get when Bnei Torah get drunk. Hopefully, if I can remember it, I'll give you a report on our celebrations on Sunday. In the mean time, even though it's Purim, we still have regular Shabbos reading in the Torah this week. So, on to Torah!

"For anyone who eats of the chailev (a certain type of fat) from the type of animal one offers up to Hashem as an offering, that person who eats it will be cut off" (Vayikra 7:25)

There are many things in the Torah that don't make too much sense to the human mind. However, when a lesson can be learned from it, we take that opportunity at learn.

The pasuk quoted above, deals with what a person should do when they eat meat that has not been offered up as a korban. Usually, when an animal is offered as a korban, the chailev is burned on the mizbayach, altar, and completely 'consumed' by Hashem. Nobody is allowed to eat it. Similarly, in the case when a person is eating meat that is not being used as a korban, he must remove the chailev. So, what is the lesson to be learned?

Rav Avigdor Miller offers a fascinating insight to this pasuk. Even though your personal eating of meat is not in the service of Hashem (i.e. it's not a korban), nonetheless, you should treat this action as if it were. Everything that a Jew does should be treated as part of his service to Hashem. Rav Miller continues, that even though a person's profession might be that of a dentist or (G-d forbid) a lawyer, that is not his MAIN job. His main job is the service of Hashem. He only acts as a dentist or lawyer in order to make money to support himself and his family. Every action a person does, should be an avodah (service). Earlier, the Torah stated: "And you will be to Me a Kingdom of Kohanim, a Holy Nation" (Shemos 19:6). What were the jobs of the kohanim? To serve in the Beis Hamikdash and to spread Torah. So too, that is our job. Everything else is secondary. May we be able to take whatever mundane activity we do in our lives and make it as part of our avodah. Have a great Shabbos!

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure meeting with a representative from the Israeli Aliyah Center. Most of the discussion was based on citizenship. As we all know, usually Israeli citizenship requires military duty; hence, one of the topics. He told me that I need not worry about the army. He pulled out a nice big binder, opened up a chart, and pointed to the age bracket that I'm in, to show me my official 'designation' in the eyes of the military. Well, under the age bracket of 26-39, my official military designation is: "Shelf" (yes, the English word). Basically this means that unless a war breaks out, the army will leave me alone. I'm "on the shelf", so to speak. So basically, I'm useless in the eyes of the Israeli army. I'm a mere "shelf". This is really not good for my self-esteem...

One small thing before we begin. Some of you have been emailing me via my Yahoo account. While it will remain active while in Israel and I will check it, please correct it to go to my frum.org account. Thanks. Okay, on to Torah!

This week's parsha continues to discuss korbonos (offerings). Specifically mentioned are the Shlamim. Unlike other korbonos, there was no obligation to bring these. One type of Shlamim is called a Korbon Todah (a thanksgiving offering). Usually this korbon was brought by a person who wished to thank Hashem from saving him from difficult times. Though many times, people brought the Korbon Todah simply out of the gratitude they felt to Hashem for everything He has done for them. When a person brings this Korbon through that gratitude, the Heavens 'credit' him. When that same person is facing a dangerous situation, the Heavenly Court, takes his gratitude into consideration, and will help lift him out.

Rav Avigdor Miller points out the obvious lesson to be learned from here. It is only natural for human beings to look for bigger and better opportunities, whether they are spiritual or physical. In the physical sense, we are longing for the day where we can make our millions and retire. In the spiritual sense, we long for the days of Moshiach, when we can finally overcome and destroy our Yetzer Horah.

Rav Miller reminds us, that even though life isn't perfect, and we are constantly fighting for physical and/or spiritual survival, we must begin to stop taking what we have for granted. When Hashem sees that we are thankful for everything we have, he will continue to bless us even more.

Have a great Shabbos!

Well, well, well...it seems Iraq has launched a couple of Scuds into Kuwait...you know, the same Scuds that they said they destroyed in '95? You know the ones I guess the UN forgot to find. Anyways, I was hoping somebody could explain to me why there are so many anti-war people out there who believe that we Jews are behind this war? My alarm clock is set to WLS, so when it went off, the first thing I heard was, "I'm against this war, because the Jews are the ones who are behind it and will benefit." Needless to say, after destroying this woman's "logic," the hosts cut her off. But that's the third or fourth time I've heard this on the radio alone! I know in California, many people at the anti-Bush, I mean, anti-War protests, are also claiming the same thing. I need not cite the many examples from the internet. Are people really that scared of us? Oh well.... A special hello to the Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, and I believe soon, the 101st Airborne, currently entering Iraq. We hope your stay is quiet and short. And of course, a special thank you to all the Undercover Jewish Controllers who are secretly running the government, the schools, the media, the military, the right-wing politicians, the left-wing politicians, the restaurant on Dempster, the shul on Whipple, etc... okay, enough of my ranting, on to Torah.


"And the fire that is on the altar shall be kept burning, and should not be extinguished." (8:5)

In Pirkei Avos (5:5), Chazal teach us that rain would fall on the altar in the Beis HaMikdash, yet the rain would never extinguish the fire on the altar. An interesting question is raised. Usually, miracles are not employed when they are not needed. Being that a large amount of water falling on a fire and not extinguishing it constitutes a miracle, why didn't Hashem simply not have it rain on the altar at all? Many people will simply write that off as a coincidence.

Rav Chaim M'Volozhin writes, that this occurrence teaches us an important lesson to be learned. Fire has always symbolizes Torah and spirituality. I bring a proof from Mordechai Ben David's song, "Someday," where he says, "The flame of Torah flickered on that day," and silly little NCSYers add, "Two, three, four..." Anyways...

The word for rain is "geshem". Geshem happens to also be the root for the word, "gashmiyos," materialism. Hence, our lesson to be learned. The fire of spirituality must never be extinguished with our material pursuits. They must be used in conjunction with each other to fulfill our individual missions in our lives.

Rav Yitzchak Bunim takes a slightly different approach. He notes a rare known physical fact. If you pour large amount of water onto a fire, the fire will go out. However, if you pour a small amount of water onto a fire, the water would dissipate. Neat, huh? In this case, we see a large amount of rain being poured on the Altar, yet we do not see the fire being extinguished. We see water and fire cooperating together, all in the service of Hashem.

So too, says Rav Bunim, should people be. Everybody has a different personality than the next person. We all have our own quirks and weaknesses. Yet, when we are involved in the service of G-d, which we are 24/7, we need to come together and cooperate.

"Any Korban Chatas (an offering brought by one who sins) which some blood has been brought to the Ohel Moed (the inner and holiest place of the Mishkan), to effect atonement within the Holy shall not be eaten (i.e. it's no good); it shall be burned in fire" (6:23)

It's like this. Some korbanos (offerings), after they are slaughtered, their blood is either sprinkled inside the Ohel Moed (a pretty holy place) or outside the Ohel Moed (pretty holy, but not as holy as the Ohel Moed). If the blood of a Korban Chatas is sprinkled inside instead of outside, then the offering is null and void. A similar halacha is this: if one slaughters and offering and places the blood in two cups, and takes one of the cups outside of the Mishkan (which has lower holiness), then the other cup CAN still be used. If he took one of the cups into the Ohel Moed (which is holier than the rest of the Mishkan), the second cup CANNOT be used.

Rav Raphael Katz notes an interesting lesson. There are many times in our lives when we want to "jump the gun" in spiritual development and we start taking on things faster than we should. Even though you might have good intentions, you are simply doomed to fail. Just as by going to a holier place when you are not allowed to, nullifies your offering, so does venturing into higher levels of Torah observance when you're not ready can nullify everything you do. If you purposely step into areas where you do not belong, then you will ultimately fail.

The basis of Torah growth is foundations. One needs to take things one-step at a time, not jump on things simply because they are there. Yes, there are higher levels that exist. Yes, we have an obligation to try to reach those levels. But ONLY WHEN ONE HAS A FOUNDATION!!

Think of it this way. Just as taking the first cup of blood outside the Mishkan (which is in a lower spiritual level) doesn't nullify the second cup, so too does a sin (lowering one's spiritual level) not nullify those mitzvos already attained at a higher spiritual level. Yet, if we take the first cup and bring it to a place where the spiritual level is much higher, when we are not allowed to, that not only nullifies that first cup, but also the second cup which hasn't gone anywhere! By jumping the gun, you are risking EVERYTHING!

That is why it is important to take things one-step at a time. Hashem doesn't want us all resting on a super-high spiritual level. He wants us to MOVE there. He wants us to constantly struggle and change, building a stronger foundation each step of the way. Have a great Shabbos!