MISHPATIM:
DVAR TORAH-
1) The Pasuk states "V'anshei Kodesh Tihun Li", "Men of holiness shall you be to Me". Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk saw a deep lesson in this Pasuk. Our main Avodah in this world is to be holy, as "ANSHEI Kodesh", more specifically, to be holy as MEN. This means that our purpose is to work on sanctifying human behavior, turning away from our inborn wants and desires and using our traits for a higher purpose, to serve H-shem. A prime example of this is Dovid Hamelech. The Gemara in Sanhedrin tells us that Dovid had red hair, causing the Beraishis Rabba to state that it was an expression of his temper and tendency to get worked up and even angry. It was this exact Middah, that is more often than not one that is a cause for much pain to the Kaysan and for those around him, which enabled Dovid to write Sefer Tehillim. He was able to turn his potentially terrible middah for the good, and use the drive and passion that came along with it to serve H-shem to the nth degree. THIS is our most important struggle, being holy - as men, using our human traits for the service of G-d. "V'anshei Kodesh Tihun Li".
2)The Kedushas Levi says that a measuring stick for our success in our Avodas H-shem is hinted to in this weeks Parsha. The Pasuk says: "Umareh Kevod H-shem K'esh ", "The Appearance of H-shem is like a devouring fire." Says the Kedushas Levi, the way to know if H-shem is happy with your progress is if you have a fiery enthusiasm to continue growing. The appearance of H-shem is like a fire;You know H-shem is with you if you feel a fire inside, a burning sense of longing to do the best that you can.
STORY-
The priest of the town thought he had Rav Yonasan Eibshutz in a fix. He had thought long and hard before he came up with a question that would stump the Torah giant. He asked triumphantly "Your Torah says (this week’s Parsha) "Go after the many", when you have a decision, go with the opinion most people follow. How could you then, continue living as a Jew? The worldwide Jewish population is barely even there, while the Christian faith is kept by millions upon millions, and continues growing by leaps and bounds! Your own Torah tells you to follow the masses! Does that not mean that you should convert to Christianity, the religion with a more numerous population?" Rav Yonasan Eibshutz smiled before answering "That rule only stands true when there is a doubt. Only in that case do you follow the opinion of the many. In this case however, there is no doubt. Judaism is true, while your religion is false. Therefore the rule does not apply!"
INTERESTING POINTS-
Q: Why was the Half-Shekel used as the way to count Klal Yisrael?
A1: It leads a person to be aware of the fact that he always has plenty of room for further growth - he's not yet whole. (Noam Elimelech)
A2: One must realize that he always needs others in order to work toward his own perfection. (Chida)
QUOTES-
"One candle can kindle many candles without being diminished."
-Midrash Rabba
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
-Winston Churchill
DVAR TORAH-
1) The Pasuk states "V'anshei Kodesh Tihun Li", "Men of holiness shall you be to Me". Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk saw a deep lesson in this Pasuk. Our main Avodah in this world is to be holy, as "ANSHEI Kodesh", more specifically, to be holy as MEN. This means that our purpose is to work on sanctifying human behavior, turning away from our inborn wants and desires and using our traits for a higher purpose, to serve H-shem. A prime example of this is Dovid Hamelech. The Gemara in Sanhedrin tells us that Dovid had red hair, causing the Beraishis Rabba to state that it was an expression of his temper and tendency to get worked up and even angry. It was this exact Middah, that is more often than not one that is a cause for much pain to the Kaysan and for those around him, which enabled Dovid to write Sefer Tehillim. He was able to turn his potentially terrible middah for the good, and use the drive and passion that came along with it to serve H-shem to the nth degree. THIS is our most important struggle, being holy - as men, using our human traits for the service of G-d. "V'anshei Kodesh Tihun Li".
2)The Kedushas Levi says that a measuring stick for our success in our Avodas H-shem is hinted to in this weeks Parsha. The Pasuk says: "Umareh Kevod H-shem K'esh ", "The Appearance of H-shem is like a devouring fire." Says the Kedushas Levi, the way to know if H-shem is happy with your progress is if you have a fiery enthusiasm to continue growing. The appearance of H-shem is like a fire;You know H-shem is with you if you feel a fire inside, a burning sense of longing to do the best that you can.
STORY-
The priest of the town thought he had Rav Yonasan Eibshutz in a fix. He had thought long and hard before he came up with a question that would stump the Torah giant. He asked triumphantly "Your Torah says (this week’s Parsha) "Go after the many", when you have a decision, go with the opinion most people follow. How could you then, continue living as a Jew? The worldwide Jewish population is barely even there, while the Christian faith is kept by millions upon millions, and continues growing by leaps and bounds! Your own Torah tells you to follow the masses! Does that not mean that you should convert to Christianity, the religion with a more numerous population?" Rav Yonasan Eibshutz smiled before answering "That rule only stands true when there is a doubt. Only in that case do you follow the opinion of the many. In this case however, there is no doubt. Judaism is true, while your religion is false. Therefore the rule does not apply!"
INTERESTING POINTS-
Q: Why was the Half-Shekel used as the way to count Klal Yisrael?
A1: It leads a person to be aware of the fact that he always has plenty of room for further growth - he's not yet whole. (Noam Elimelech)
A2: One must realize that he always needs others in order to work toward his own perfection. (Chida)
QUOTES-
"One candle can kindle many candles without being diminished."
-Midrash Rabba
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
-Winston Churchill