Chores or Passions?
“…I will turn towards you…” – Vayikra 26:9 וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם – ויקרא כו, ט After stating that if you follow G-d’s statutes and observe His commandments G-d will grant you prosperity, security, and peace, the Torah adds that G-d will also “turn towards you” and grant you additional blessings as well. Rashi comments on the words “I will turn towards you” […]
Timing
“…I will give your rains in their time…” – Vayikra 26:4 וְנָתַתִּי גִשְׁמֵיכֶם בְּעִתָּם – ויקרא כו, ד In Parshas Bechukosai, G-d declares that if the Jewish people will observe His commandments and follow His statutes —meaning, they will “toil in the study of Torah” (Rashi) — they will be blessed with prosperity, peace and security, and they will multiply and flourish. […]
Exchange Rate
“…And he shall not substitute for it. If he shall exchange it, then it will be and its exchange will be holy…” – Vayikra 27:33 וְלֹא יְמִירֶנּוּ וְאִם הָמֵר יְמִירֶנּוּ וְהָיָה הוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִהְיֶה קֹּדֶשׁ – ויקרא כז, לג According to the teachings of the Arizal, there are twelve configurations of the four letters of G-d’s name, Yud-Hey-Vov-Hey, each configuration […]
When the Going Gets Tough
“…If you go in My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them…” – Vayikra 26:3 אִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם – ויקרא כו, ג Rashi wonders about the meaning of the phrase, “If you go in my statutes.” Considering that mitzvah observance is stipulated by the next phrase in the verse, “and observe My commandments,” what […]
Slave Rights
“…No non-kohen may eat holy things… But if a kohen acquires a person, as a monetary acquisition, he may eat of it…” – Vayikra 22:10-11 וְכָל זָר לֹא יֹאכַל קֹדֶשׁ . . וְכֹהֵן כִּי יִקְנֶה נֶפֶשׁ קִנְיַן כַּסְפּוֹ הוּא יֹאכַל בּוֹ – ויקרא כב, י-יא The Sages taught that one may not derive benefit from this world without first reciting […]
Goal Oriented
“…When you come to the land that I am giving you, the land shall rest a Shabbos to G-d. For six years you may sow your field …but in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest…” – Vayikra 25:2-3 כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַה’: שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תִּזְרַע שָׂדֶך . . […]
A Little Big
“…And G-d spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai, saying…” – Vayikra 25:1 וַיְדַבֵּר ה’ אֶל משֶׁה בְּהַר סִינַי לֵאמֹר – ויקרא כה, א The Midrash relates that the great mountains of the world all vied to be chosen as the site where G-d would give the Torah to Bnei Yisrael. Yet G-d selected the smallest of all the mountains, Mount […]
Out of Control
“…For the children of Israel are servants to me; they are my servants, whom i took out of the land of Egypt…” – Vayikra 25:55 כִּי לִי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים עֲבָדַי הֵם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם – ויקרא כה, נה Why does the verse repeat itself, saying “B’nei Yisrael are servants to me; they are my servants whom I took […]
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