Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Bamidbar 5767: Only in Unity is There Strength to Blunt Tyranny

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by, Moshe Burt

Call this a “Best of.” The points included in this Parsha HaShevua are timely and bare repeating.

Our Parsha Bamidbar, once getting past the numbers crunching of the census, speaks of Degalim: the flags of the Sh’vatim (Tribes), as a paradigm of Unity whch is inclusive of diversity within the various components, all of which play essential roles within a collective unity. Within a unity, there is room for integration and cooperation of diverse individual and group attributes, skills, strong points and actions when channeled toward the common goals of Unity, i.e. the common goals of B’nai Yisrael. read more

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Parsha Behar 5767; Shemittoh — Reinforcing the Bond Between Jew and HIS Land

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by Moshe Burt

Rashi asks a critical question on the very first posuk of our Parsha;
“Hashem spoke to Moshe on Har Sinai, saying.” (Parsha Behar, Vayikra Perek 25, posuk 1) He asks why the laws of Shemittoh are singled out as having been given at Sinai. Were not all of the Mitzvot said at Sinai?” He answers that just as all of the Mitzvot; their general rules and their specifics were taught at Sinai, so too were the general rules and specifics regarding Shemittoh taught at Sinai. Rashi then reasons that the posuk comes to teach us that every utterance said to Moshe, they were all from Sinai. read more

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Parsha Emor 5767: The Kohen; The Paradigm of The Divine Am Segula

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by Moshe Burt

The positioning in Torah of our Parsha Emor, following last week’s Parsha Kedoshim gives rise to thought and contemplation.

Kedoshim teaches “…You shall be holy, for holy am I, Hashem, your G’d.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posuk 1) And we learn that the epitome of this holiness is the principle taught by Rabbi Hillel to the convert, on one foot, says “V’ohavtoh L’reiachoh Komochoh” — “… you shall love your fellow as yourself…” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posuk 18) The Halachot subsequently taught in Parsha Kedoshim are all built upon the emulation of Hashem. read more

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Parsha Achrai Mos/Kedoshim 5767: The Unity of the Kohen and the Jewish Nation

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by Moshe Burt

This Shabbos we leyn from the 2nd of 2 doubleheader Parshas Achrai Mos/Kedoshim (Last week’s Sedra was Taria/Metzora).

And in continuing to delve into personal aveirot projected onto the National level, Parsha Achrai Mos describes Aaron HaKohen’s special service in the Beit HaMikdash on Yom Kippur. The bulk of this Parsha HaShevua is derived from a vort from the sefer Shem Mishmuel, written by Shmuel Bornstein, the only son of Rabbi Avraham Bornstein, the Rebbe of Sochaczev, in Poland. read more

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Parsha Sh’mini 5767 — The Eternal Constant: The Jew’s Service

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by Moshe Burt

For seven days, Moshe taught Aaron HaKohen and his sons the laws of their Avodah in the Mishkan. (You might say that they were given OJT from Shemayim.)

Our Parsha Sh’mini begins by relating that on the eighth day, Aaron and his sons commenced their Avodah HaKodosh.

But our Parsha also relates the tragedy of the deaths of Aaron’s two oldest sons, Nadav and Avihu who died while performing an unauthorized Service, offering a “strange fire …, which he did not command them…” (Artscroll Chumash, Vayikra, Perek 10, posuk 1) And our Parsha relates that “Hashem spoke to Aaron saying: Do not drink intoxicating wine, you and your sons …, when you come to the Ohel Mo’ed (the Tent of Meeting), that you not die — this is an eternal decree for your generations. In order to distinguish between the sacred and the profane …” (Artscroll Chumash, Vayikra, Perek 10, p’sukim 8-10). read more

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Parsha Tzav 5767: The Constancy of the Jews

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by Moshe Burt

In our Parsha, Tzav is Moshe’s command from Hashem to Aaron HaKohen and his sons to take up and clothe themselves in their Vestments, their garments of service in the Mishkan, and to begin their daily Avodah (service and offerings in the Mishkan).

For seven days, Moshe taught Aaron HaKohen and his sons the laws of their Avodah in the Mishkan. (You might say that they were given, as they term it in the US, OJT from Shemayim.) On the eighth day, Aaron and his sons began their Avodah. read more

Parsha Vayikra: The True Motivations of Leaders Who Spin and Repeat the Same Mistakes?

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by Moshe Burt

The first word of our parsha; Vayikra begs discussion of why the small
“aleph” in Vayikra, and tells much about Moshe Rabbeinu’s level of principle, integrity and standard of leadership of B’nei Yisrael.

We are told how Hashem, Kav’yochal, would call gently, affectionately “Moshe, Moshe” in a voice for Moshe Rabbeinu’s ears only and Moshe would respond “Here I am.” (Rashi on Perek 1, posuk 1 Metsuda Linear Chumash & Rashi with footnotes) read more

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Parsha Ki Tisa 5767 — Level of Importance: Principle or How others Hold of You?

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By Moshe Burt

For many years, since 1991 when Parsha Ki Tisa marked my son Philip’s Bar Mitzvah, I have spoken or written about a posuk in our Parsha which alludes to an event which took place 40 year later, in a subsequent Parsha.

The posuk being referred to (Sh’mos, Perek 30, posuk 30)says that while Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai being given Torah, Hashem said, “You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them to minister (to serve) me.”

This seemingly obscure posuk raises the challenging question which cuts to the chase of what we are facing today. The question is; what about that Pinchas Ben Elazar? Why was he not anointed as a Kohen with his brothers? read more

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Parsha Tetzaveh 5767 — Is Something Amiss? Where’s Moshe?

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by Moshe Burt

In our Parsha Tetzaveh, the laws regarding the annointment, the vestments and the Avodah (service) of the Kohanim are enunciated for the Jewish people. But wait! Stop the music. Something seems amiss.
Our Parsha, unlike any other place throughout Torah (including Sefer Devarim where Moshe himself speaks to the Jewish people in one continuous Mussar shmooze reviewing the laws and the events of the 40 years in BaMidbar and where each of the Parshiyot are distinguished only by the sections Halachas enunciated) from the time of his birth through Vezos HaBeracha, omits any mention of Moshe Rabbeinu. read more

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Parsha Terumah 5767: Ascertaining Man’s True Motivations

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by Moshe Burt

It seems to this author that each Parsha in Torah carries with it a major theme, attribute or mido.

The two previous Parshiyot; Yithro and Mishpatim speak about related attributes; intent and honesty and our Parsha, Terumah addresses motivation.

In previous years, the Parsha sheet for Parsha Teruma dealt with man’s motivations equating them with what drives the athlete in the beginning, or as we baseball fans say, in the “Big Inning”. And as has been done regarding other Parshiyot, this year another revisit of the motivation of men seems appropriate. read more

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