SHEMINI: Part One
DVAR TORAH
The beginning of this week's Parsha details the very first time that Aron and his sons carried out the Service in the Mishkan. The Pasuk states : "And Moshe said to Aaron: Come near to the Mizbeach and perform the service..." Rashi comments that Aaron had to be coaxed to approach and bring the Korbanos ; Moshe had to tell him "why are you embarrassed? You were chosen for this!"
In order to have been all ready to perform the service, Aaron would have to have to have been bedecked in the special vestments of the Kohein Gadol. He clearly knew the job was upon him, he had been prepped for this and versed in all of the halachos pertinent to acting as the Kohein Gadol. He MUST have been acutely aware that he was the Kohein Gadol and that no one else could have taken his place. Yet still, Moshe had to tell him "You were chosen for this!"
There is an important lesson here. What was about to occur was the culmination of tremendous ups and downs that the Jews had had in their relationship with H-Shem. They had received the Torah from the word of His mouth directly, and fell from that level with the creation of the Egel Hazav. After being forgiven, they gave their all to the construction of Ha-Shem"s "residence" in the Midbar, The Mishkan. They came forth in an unprecedented display of devotion and gave a tremendous amount toward the cause - from their pockets, from their hearts and from their souls. Finally, it was all ready. It was "Moving Day". Everyone waited in baited breath for Aaron to begin the service and for all their hard work to come to fruition. The Yetzer Harah however, was not about to let that happen. Just as Aaron stepped up to begin the service by the Mizbeach, the Satan entered his head and he started to have pangs of self doubt, eventually leading to his refusal to lead the service and the need for Moshe to remind him that he was in fact chosen for this job!!
The Yetzer Hara comes in many shapes and sizes. One of his most vicious forms is self-doubt. He convinces us, and has us convince ourselves, that we are not good enough; that we don't have enough to offer in our service of G-d. We may talk the talk, walk the walk, and genuinely put an effort out to announce to the world that we are Jews and are fully devoted to H-Shem and his Avodah, but the Yetzer Harah still lingers, reminding us of our misdeeds and convincing us that we don't matter and any amount we can do would never be enough. That is when Moshe steps in. The Yetzer Tov's counter to this attack must be "You were chosen for this!!" He must implore us to look at ourselves, to look at our families, to look at our communities. He must shout "Look at how beautiful you are! You are wearing the Vestments of the Kohein Gadol!" We must remind ourselves that there is no one better suited than us to carry out the service of H-Shem. And we must forge ahead.
- Adapted from a Vort by Rabbi Ganz of the JHI - (Cambridge, MA)
DVAR TORAH
The beginning of this week's Parsha details the very first time that Aron and his sons carried out the Service in the Mishkan. The Pasuk states : "And Moshe said to Aaron: Come near to the Mizbeach and perform the service..." Rashi comments that Aaron had to be coaxed to approach and bring the Korbanos ; Moshe had to tell him "why are you embarrassed? You were chosen for this!"
In order to have been all ready to perform the service, Aaron would have to have to have been bedecked in the special vestments of the Kohein Gadol. He clearly knew the job was upon him, he had been prepped for this and versed in all of the halachos pertinent to acting as the Kohein Gadol. He MUST have been acutely aware that he was the Kohein Gadol and that no one else could have taken his place. Yet still, Moshe had to tell him "You were chosen for this!"
There is an important lesson here. What was about to occur was the culmination of tremendous ups and downs that the Jews had had in their relationship with H-Shem. They had received the Torah from the word of His mouth directly, and fell from that level with the creation of the Egel Hazav. After being forgiven, they gave their all to the construction of Ha-Shem"s "residence" in the Midbar, The Mishkan. They came forth in an unprecedented display of devotion and gave a tremendous amount toward the cause - from their pockets, from their hearts and from their souls. Finally, it was all ready. It was "Moving Day". Everyone waited in baited breath for Aaron to begin the service and for all their hard work to come to fruition. The Yetzer Harah however, was not about to let that happen. Just as Aaron stepped up to begin the service by the Mizbeach, the Satan entered his head and he started to have pangs of self doubt, eventually leading to his refusal to lead the service and the need for Moshe to remind him that he was in fact chosen for this job!!
The Yetzer Hara comes in many shapes and sizes. One of his most vicious forms is self-doubt. He convinces us, and has us convince ourselves, that we are not good enough; that we don't have enough to offer in our service of G-d. We may talk the talk, walk the walk, and genuinely put an effort out to announce to the world that we are Jews and are fully devoted to H-Shem and his Avodah, but the Yetzer Harah still lingers, reminding us of our misdeeds and convincing us that we don't matter and any amount we can do would never be enough. That is when Moshe steps in. The Yetzer Tov's counter to this attack must be "You were chosen for this!!" He must implore us to look at ourselves, to look at our families, to look at our communities. He must shout "Look at how beautiful you are! You are wearing the Vestments of the Kohein Gadol!" We must remind ourselves that there is no one better suited than us to carry out the service of H-Shem. And we must forge ahead.
- Adapted from a Vort by Rabbi Ganz of the JHI - (Cambridge, MA)
STORY
The Klausenberger Rebbe was known for his Emunah and trust that he would be able to fulfill H-Shem's commandments in the best way that he could even in the horrific circumstances of the holocaust. Pesach of 1945 was fast approaching, and the Jews of Auschwitz gave up all hope on the prospect of being able to obtain Matzos for the Chag. The Rebbe however refused to give up hope, repeating over an over in a confident voice "We will have Matzah." The Jews tried to have the same belief that their holy leader had, but it was extremely difficult; things were not looking good. Suddenly the Allied forces arrived, and they bombed strategic German positions around the camps, including a freight train transport. 12 Jewish prisoners were assigned to the task of cleaning the wreckage, and to their joyous shock and amazement, one of the trains had been carrying a transport of wheat! They shoved as much wheat as they could carry into their pockets, and joyously made their way back to the camps. In the barracks they ground the wheat by hand, and lit a fire in the barracks which they used to bake the matzos at risk to their very lives. The Rebbe had trusted from the beginning: "We will have matzah." And have matzah they did. That night, tens of Jews were able to fulfill the mitzva of eating matzah at the Klausenberger's miraculous Seder in the bondage of Auschwitz.
- Adapted from a story brought in the book "The Klausenberger Rebbe -The War Years" , by Judah Lifschitz
QUOTES
"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle."
-Abraham Lincoln
"How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being
a caterpillar."
- Anonymous
SHEMINI: Part Two
DVAR TORAH
1) The Pesukim tell us (10:16-20) that Moshe became angry with the remaining sons of Aaron when he found out that the Chatas had not been eaten and was burned instead. Aaron responded to Moshe and explained that the reason he and his sons had not eaten the Chatas was because he was an Onein, and was disqualified from eating the Korban. The Pasuk then tells us "Vayishma Moshe, Vayitav B'einav.", "Moshe heard, and he approved."
The S'forno adds that Moshe became happy upon hearing a S'vara from his brother that he found halachically correct.
In the beginning of the Second Perek of Bava Metzia (22a), Rava and Abaye have an argument over whether or not 'Yiush Shelo Mida'as' is considered valid Yiush or not. Before finally Paskening like Abaye, the Gemara goes back and forth bringing questions on both opinions which are answered by the respective Man D'amrim. One question brought on Abaye is not answered by Abaye but rather by his "opponent", Rava!! How strange! Instead of walking off with a "win", Rava answers a question for Abaye, ensuring the continuation of the debate!
My Rebbe in 11th grade answered this question by explaining that when Talmidei Chachamim fight regarding Halachic matters, it's not about winning or losing. It is about coming out with the correct ruling so that we could serve H-Shem in the most proper fashion possible. Thus Rava answered for Abaye because he didn't feel that the question was strong enough to prove his own opinion, and felt that he wouldn't feel fully confident that the Halacha was valid.
It is the same thing here with Moshe. The minute Aaron explained his S'vara to Moshe, not only was Moshe quiet in approval,
says the Sforno "Samach Al Tov S'varas Achiv", he was HAPPY that they had come out with the correct Halacha.
QUOTES
"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass. I'ts about learning how to dance in the rain."
-anonymous
"In order to score, you must first have a goal."
-anonymous
DVAR TORAH
1) The Pesukim tell us (10:16-20) that Moshe became angry with the remaining sons of Aaron when he found out that the Chatas had not been eaten and was burned instead. Aaron responded to Moshe and explained that the reason he and his sons had not eaten the Chatas was because he was an Onein, and was disqualified from eating the Korban. The Pasuk then tells us "Vayishma Moshe, Vayitav B'einav.", "Moshe heard, and he approved."
The S'forno adds that Moshe became happy upon hearing a S'vara from his brother that he found halachically correct.
In the beginning of the Second Perek of Bava Metzia (22a), Rava and Abaye have an argument over whether or not 'Yiush Shelo Mida'as' is considered valid Yiush or not. Before finally Paskening like Abaye, the Gemara goes back and forth bringing questions on both opinions which are answered by the respective Man D'amrim. One question brought on Abaye is not answered by Abaye but rather by his "opponent", Rava!! How strange! Instead of walking off with a "win", Rava answers a question for Abaye, ensuring the continuation of the debate!
My Rebbe in 11th grade answered this question by explaining that when Talmidei Chachamim fight regarding Halachic matters, it's not about winning or losing. It is about coming out with the correct ruling so that we could serve H-Shem in the most proper fashion possible. Thus Rava answered for Abaye because he didn't feel that the question was strong enough to prove his own opinion, and felt that he wouldn't feel fully confident that the Halacha was valid.
It is the same thing here with Moshe. The minute Aaron explained his S'vara to Moshe, not only was Moshe quiet in approval,
says the Sforno "Samach Al Tov S'varas Achiv", he was HAPPY that they had come out with the correct Halacha.
QUOTES
"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass. I'ts about learning how to dance in the rain."
-anonymous
"In order to score, you must first have a goal."
-anonymous