Overview of the Weekly Reading: Vayikra
To be read on 5
Nissan 5764 (March 27
)
Vayikra
is the 1th Reading out of 10 in Leviticus and
24th overall, and 19th out of 54 in overall
length.
Torah: Leviticus 1:1-5:26;
Haftorah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
(on the theme of sacrifices)
Pirkei
Avot: not till after Passover
A
discussion of how to bring burnt offerings of cattle, smaller animals
and birds. Different types of meal offerings: burnt, baked, pan
fried, deep fried, and the offering of the first grain of the season.
A discussion of other types of offerings: Peace offerings could
be of cattle, sheep or goats. Sin offerings are brought as an atonement.
The sin offering for the high priest, then for the community, for
the king or for an individual. Sins that the Torah delineates specifically
as requiring a sin offering, in which cases he can choose between
smaller animals, birds or a meal offering. Details about guilt offerings
brought because of errors, doubtful situations or dishonesty or
theft.
FROM THE MASTERS
OF KABBALA (K:24-64/Vayikra
)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:22-23-64/Vayakhel-Pekudeh
)
Rebbe
Elazar opened his discourse with the verse: "Ask for yourself a sign
of the Lord your G-d; ask it either in the depths or in the heights
above." (Isaiah 7:11).
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy
Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:24-64/Vayikra
)
Now,
corresponding to these, the Holy One, blessed be He, created [five
"kingdoms" in this physical world]: the silent [i.e., inanimate or
mineral], the vegetable, the animal, the articulate [i.e., man], and
the soul. "
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:24-64/Vayikra
)
Some
other reasons for the laws against forbidden relations are advanced
by some of the more recent commentators. They say that there are ten
emanations by means of which G-d established a physical world. He
remained close to these emanations, exerting His influence on them,
remaining inseparable from them.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V24-64/Vayikra)
"If you bring a meal-offering baked in the oven."
(2:4)
In order to become closer to G-d, a person should arouse his innate,
fiery love of Him by contemplating the greatness of the Creator.
For in the same way that an oven's heat causes the liquid to separate
from the dough, so too does a burning love of G-d separate a person
from his attraction to material things and strengthen his connection
with the infinite.
(Likutei Sichot)
"If any person sin, because he hears the voice of adjuration."
(5:1)
If a Jew sees someone committing a certain transgression, it is
a sure sign that the same sin exists within him. The reason G-d
caused him to witness this is so that he will be able to correct
his own flaw.
(The Baal Shem Tov)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:24-64/Vayikra )
Tuesday
was Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first day of the month
of Nissan. This is an important day because it is when Moshe
completed the Sanctuary's construction and when G-d's Presence began
to dwell there. The Sanctuary was G-d's first dwelling place on earth,
and its vessels were used by the Jewish people to serve G-d for over
1,000 years. Secondly, Rosh Chodesh Nissan reminds us that
Pesach, the birthday of the Jewish people, is just two weeks away.
The mitzvah of Pesach is to eat matzah, unleavened
bread. Leavening corresponds to haughtiness and pride. Eating matzah
renews within us the self-nullification (bitul) that the Jewish
people felt when they were freed from slavery 3,316 years ago. From
this self nullification comes our ability to serve G-d with humility
the entire year.
The most proper way to serve G-d is by ridding ourselves of pride
and ulterior motives, to become like a loyal subject of a king or
a loving son to a parent. Chassidic thought recognizes that this is
not always easy, and that most people have yet to achieve selflessness.
But we should still have some realistic way to serve G-d. A child,
for instance, needs to have some imminent factor to motivate him to
do something not for his own immediate benefit. Similarly, for a person
who has been off the spiritual track, the way to turn him around is
usually not through deep theological discussions about G-d and what
He expects from us. Rather, presenting Judaism in a way that the person
sees personal benefit in it is a much more effective route. Even a
person who is spiritually focused must sometimes use this method to
overcome his evil inclination. But once he gets himself restarted,
he must immediately work to become selfless again.
This is illustrated in teachings from a verse in this week's Torah
portion, which always falls near Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Concerning
the spice offering, we are commanded not to include any leavening
or honey (2/11) in its ingredients. Leavening represents the haughtiness
that prevents a person from recognizing that without G-d he cannot
succeed. Just as bread dough rises, haughtiness makes a person's heart
swell, blinding him to G-d's continuous assistance. Similarly, honey
represents pleasure, a person's connection to the desires of the world.
The exception to the prohibition of offerings with honey is 'first
produce'-korbon raishit. The Baal Shem Tov tells us that this type
of offering is compared to the first rapprochement by G-d to a person
who experienced some level of pride, self interest, and personal pleasure.
(This even includes subtle self interest, like actions motivated because
you feel you deserve to be rewarded, or because you want a place in
the World to Come) Although there is a principle that from acting
in self interest, a person will eventually act for G-d's sake (Pesachim,
50b), it is nevertheless important to recognize that this is a temporary
allowance. A person should strive to achieve the higher level, and
avoid using pride and pleasure as a spiritual technique. If a person
lets his interests continue to govern his G-dly service, this is tantamount
to adding leavening or honey to the spice offering, making it unfit!
Rebbe Ze'ev of Zabriz made a similar point about moving from self
interest to G-dly interest. He said that this can work in reverse,
too. Getting too comfortable with worldly matters with which we come
in contact for G-d's sake-like extra sumptuous Shabbat meals-can lead
us to wanting them all of the time, if we are not careful.
The Kotzker Rebbe interprets the prohibition of leavening and honey
differently. Leavening and honey are in turn sour and sweet. Serving
G-d in a sour way is like a country bumpkin, going through the motions
but without any thought. Serving G-d in a sweet way is becoming too
familiar, taking things for granted, like being always at home. The
Talmud says, (Megillah 25a) "Who can be a friend to Heaven?"
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul Leiter
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