Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Acharei Mot/Kedoshim is being sponsored by Rabbi Barak and Rebbetzin Saffer of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated for a total, complete Refuah Shleima for Barak’s Dad: Reuven Tzadok ben Chaya Sarah and dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim, the liberation of all remaining hostages as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Saffer family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to subscribe, and hopefully to sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
skype: mark.burt3
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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As our Twin Bill Parshiyot HaShavua Acharei Mos-Kedoshim is being written, Israel’s multi-front Milchamat Shel Torah continues against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the so-called “innocent
Consider that the opening posukim of each of our Parshiyot seem connected and soo on-target regarding our on-going Milchemet Shel Torah Parshat Acharei Mot opens:
“Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of Aaron’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 16, posuk 1 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in his sefer “Growth Through Torah” (pages 266-267) cites Rashi on the opening posuk of our Parshat Acharei Mot which segued (verb – used without object: to make transition from one thing to another smoothly and without interruption) into giving over Halachot as to rules regarding when Aaron, HaKohen Godol, can enter the Kadosh Kedoshim and explaining the effectiveness of not merely citing a fact, but providing examples to illustrate the fact cited:
Rashi cites… Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariya… [about] an ill person who is visited by a physician. The doctor said to him, “Do not eat such and such foods, and do not sleep in a damp place.” Then another physician came to him and said, “Do not eat such and such foods, and do not sleep in a damp place in order that you should not die like this certain person.” The second doctor will have a much stronger effect than the first doctor. Therefore, Torah emphasizes that Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aaron.
From this Rashi we see an important lesson in how to make… communications more effective. It is not sufficient to convey to others abstract… and general warnings. Rather, we must add practical illustrations from everyday life describing the effects of negative behavior. Whenever appropriate, give examples of how others have lost out by engaging in negative behavior. (R’ Pliskin’s Note: Familiarity with the laws of loshen hora are necessary for this.) Similarly, for the good. When… someone is told about the benefits of proper behavior, bring examples from others who have gained much from having positive traits and doing good deeds.
One such example of a practical illustration was cited above by Rabbi Pliskin, is provided by HaRav Chaim Zev ben Avrohom Aharon HaLevi (Malinowitz), zt’l, the Founding Rav of Kehillah Beit Tefillah Yona Avraham in Ramat Beit Shemesh, who cited Chovos Halevovos (Chovos Halevovos Cheshbon HaNefesh pamphlet day 26) :
“Reflect on fearing the punishment of a human king when not following a royal command. Do I feel that way before Hashem?”
“Rashi explains in the beginning of Acharei Mot: HaShem says: don’t enter the Kodoshei HaKadoshim [the Holy of Holies] willy-nilly, so that you not die like your children Nadav and Avihu.”
“And once you appreciate That — compare how you feel erev Rosh Hashana with how you feel when preparing a secular court case where you stand to, say, lose your driver’s license.”
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides commentary (Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing from Parshat Shemini, Sefer Vayikra, Perek 10, posuk 1, page 592) indicating that this opening posuk of Parshat Acharei Mot connects the deaths of Aaron’s two oldest sons, due to their various aveirot resulting in their bringing alien, uncommanded fire pans into the Kodoshei HaKadoshim, where even the Kohen Godol may only enter on Yom Kippur (page 636) :
The Sages in Sifrei note that Perek 10, posuk 1 (Parshat Shemini) speak of strange fire and unbidden incense, while our verse speaks only of their approach before Hashem. R’ Yose says that although they had no right to bring the incense and fire, that offense alone would not have caused their death. Our posuk informs us that they died because they ventured into the Kodoshei HaKadoshim which, … no one may do except for the Kohen Godol when he performs the Yom Kippur service.
Rabbi Akiva… maintains that the apparent contradiction is resolved by a third posuk, for the Torah states that they died “when they offered a strange fire before Hashem” (Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 26. posuk 61)
R’ Elazar ben Azariah comments that either sin — the unauthorized entry or the unbidden fire and incense would have been sufficient cause to warrant their death.
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, zt’l provides commentary on the opening posuk of our Parshat Acharei Mot in his sefer, “Kol Dodi,” which is excerpted here (page 183) :
Every day there are two incense-offerings. one in the morning and one in the afternoon, which atones for loshen hora, evil speech, a sin people transgress very often.
On Yom Kippur, however, when there is a general atonement for all sins, something more is needed. Therefore, exceptionally fine incense must be brought to atone for the more subtle form of loshen hora, which is called “avak loshen hora (literally, the dust of loshen hora).
Atonement for this sin is especially appropriate on Yom Kippur, since “avak loshen hora” is the root of most wrongdoing. Many sins originate when someone says, or even just hints at, derogatory information about someone else. From such a small beginning there can arise the grossest and most despicable forms of behavior.
In this author’s thinking, Rav Feinstein appears to solidify a premise of connection between the opening posukim of both Acharei Mot and Parshat Kedoshim.
The opening posukim of Kedoshim states;
“Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the entire assembly of the B’nei Yisrael and say to them: You shall be holy, for holy am I, Hashem Keilokeichem.” (Perek 19, posukim 1 and 2 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides this commentary (page 656) :
Moshe assembled the entire nation and taught this Perek to everyone simultaneously, because the majority of the Torah’s essential laws are contained here, either explicitly or by allusion. (Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Rashi; Sifrei) Maharzu explains that these essential laws are the Shabbos, reverence for parents, the prohibitions against stealing and taking revenge or bearing grudges, and the commandment to love one’s fellows.
In the case of the other commandments, it was not required that every Jew come to listen to Moshe’s teaching; they were free to rely on the elders and leaders to teach them, or to answer their Halachic inquiries… Here, however, because of the extreme importance of this Perek, everyone was required to attend. (Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Sefer HaZikaron; Panim Yafos)
Alshich explains that Moshe called all of the people together to impress upon them that the Mitzvot are incumbent [adjective: obligatory, required, mandatory] upon everyone equally. Judaism does not subscribe to the idea that “holy people” are obligated in commandments that do not apply to “ordinary” people, or that they have a greater responsibility than others to observe them scrupulously. Thus, the command to be Holy applies to everyone, and this being so, it is axiomatic that every Jew has the potential for Holiness.
So we can see that the opening posukim of Acharei Mot and of Kedoshim, when taken together, open the way for what should be a clear understanding Halachic law and commands.
However, current reality indicates that, just as Nadav and Avihu came each to their own independent, yet apparent mutual conceptions, or rather misconceptions, that Israel’s military command echelons evolved into their politicized, agendized conceptions, horribly mistaken perceptions regarding Hamas’ intentions in the months and years leading to 7 October — the War of Simchat Torah.
So embedded were these agendized conceptions and horribly mistaken perceptions in the collective mindset of the command echelons and the ISA (Shin Bet) that they failed in their duties to the security of Israel. They bore grudges, disregarded laws of loshen hora and bore false witness against their subordinates by way of arrogantly threatening and intimidating the female border guards who were issuing the warnings of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and “Gazan civilians” training, weaponry and preparations for their invasion of Israel. The result was the murders of over 1,200 Jews and others by Hamas and their so-called “Gazan civilian
There was arrogance and equivocation on the government’s part in repeatedly entering negotiations for ceasefires which encompass supplies to Gaza which end up in Hamas hands rather than in Gazan civilian hands, and negotiating for “return” of a hands full of hostages in exchange for hundreds or thousands of bloody-handed terrorists previously incarcerated in Israel’s prisons.
Not withstanding the previous horrendous “ceasefires” and drips and drabs of hostages in exchange for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, may it be that our Chayalim, regardless of the machinations of malfeasance and nonfeasance by their previous high command to date, emerge totally victorious — eradicating from the face of the earth Hamas, their terrorist buddies and the so-called “innocent civilians” of Gaza who joined with Hamas in their murderous deeds, that the Chayalim return home whole — physically, mentally and spiritually and that the Chayalim Liberate and bring home all remaining hostages. May we see a Final and Decisive victory by our Chayalim, mandated by a government secure in it’s foremost service of and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, as should the remains of the two chayalim from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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