Articles with the tag: behalotcha
The Hidden Ark, the External Temple
הלכות בית הבחירה פרק רביעי
א. אבן היתה בקדש הקדשים במערבו שעליה היה הארון מונח ולפניו צנצנת המן ומטה אהרן ובעת שבנה שלמה את הבית וידע שסופו ליחרב בנה בו מקום לגנוז בו הארון למטה במטמוניות עמוקות ועקלקלות ויאשיהו המלך צוה וגנזו במקום שבנה שלמה שנאמר ויאמר ללוים המבינים לכל ישראל הקדושים ליי’ תנו את ארון הקדש בבית אשר בנה שלמה בן דויד מלך ישראל אין לכם משא בכתף עתה עבדו את י”י אלהיכם וגו’ ונגנז עמו מטה אהרן והצנצנת ושמן המשחה וכל אלו לא חזרו בבית שני ואף אורים ותומים שהיו בבית שני לא היו משיבין ברוח הקדש ולא היו נשאלין בהן שנאמר עד עמוד כהן לאורים ותומים ולא היו עושין אותן אלא להשלים שמנה בגדים לכהן גדול כדי...
Continue reading The Hidden Ark, the External Temple
A Book of Eternal (9:7)
“G-d spoke to Moshe in the second year of the Exodus from Egypt saying, ‘Let the children of Israel make the Pesach sacrifice at its proper time…’ There were men who were impure, due to contact with a dead man, and they could not make the Pesach sacrifice, and they came before Moshe and Aaron. They said, ‘We are impure due to contact with a dead man; why are we worse, that we should not bring a sacrifice before G-d in its time, amongst the children of Israel?’”
As with any episode that G-d deemed worthy to record in His Book of Eternal Lessons, there is always any number of Sages with a variety of insights explaining the subtle meaning…
Continue reading A Book of Eternal (9:7)
The Difficult Made Easier (8:4)
Life is difficult. But then who said it shouldn’t be? Every morning, countless people rise from their bed only to face a slew of problems. Compare their day with the tzorres of those who cannot get out of bed. Why, we ask, does life have to be so hard? After all, did some oracle proclaim that life shouldn’t be easy? Of course, the loudest Voice of all, G-d.
In fact, even before Adam thought of a fruit platter, the Almighty had declared to man that his vocation was, “To work and guard.” Without a doubt, the work load became heavier after the first couple were expelled from the luscious Garden of Eden. At that point, the new orders were, “By…
Continue reading The Difficult Made Easier (8:4)
The Lamplighter (8:2)
The opening verses of this week’s Torah portion, Beha-alotcha, obligate Aaron the High Priest in the daily lighting of the Temple Menorah. Paraphrasing the words of King Solomon, “The soul of man is the candle of G-d”, Chassidic philosophy compares man’s soul to a flame. Just as a flame flickers and rises constantly upwards - regardless of which way the candle is held - so too man’s soul is forever seeking elevation.
Aaron, as High Priest, did not only light the Menorah. His job was to kindle the souls of all Jews. While each and every Jew has that G-dly flame, it is often deeply buried and concealed. Aaron’s task was to uncover and reveal this “holy spark”.
Rabbi Sholom…
Continue reading The Lamplighter (8:2)
Introducing the Greatest (12:3)
“The man Moshe was extremely humble…” is an impressive reference. Especially when one considers the source, the Torah of Truth itself. But that’s not all. Indeed, the latter part of the verse, “More than any person on the face of the earth!” is even more extraordinary. Try topping that!!
Okay, so Moses was humble. In fact, when the self-effacing leader was informed that there were others who were similarly inspired to prophecy, Moses responded, “Are you being jealous on my behalf? Let the entire nation of Hashem be prophets”
This fascinating passage provides a wealth of insight into Moses’ attitude regarding the special gifts bestowed upon him by G-d. As far as he was concerned, nay, as far as he…
Continue reading Introducing the Greatest (12:3)
A Nose Can Be Too Big (11:21)
Moshe was extremely distressed. He, the greatest of all prophets, had totally purged himself of all physical desires. He had survived amongst the angels in his struggle to wrest the Torah from heaven; he lived apart from his wife and thus was truly married to his people and their G-d; and in his merit the spiritual wonder-bread called manna descended to feed the nation. But the complainers were not satisfied. Worse, they spurned the manna and asked for good, old-fashioned meat!
The man of G-d foresaw the consequences. Recriminations would be followed by punishment and his strength forsook him. So Moshe pleaded, “I alone cannot carry this entire nation, for it is too heavy for me.”
It seems that Hashem…
Continue reading A Nose Can Be Too Big (11:21)
The Conquest of Time (10:7)
In response to their cry, G-d instituted a Second Passover. Beginning that year and for all future generations, a person who was ritually impure on Passover eve was given another opportunity one month later.
Don’t Change! (8:3)
This week’s Torah portion begins with the commandment that specifically Aaron light the Temple Menorah. That sounds fair. The other tribal princes had just been honored with inaugurating the Temple Altar, while the ‘poor’ Levites with their titular head, Aaron, had seemingly been ignored. One can imagine the disappointment, even the shame that Aaron must have felt. It therefore seems quite correct that compensation be given. Hence the mandate to Aaron, “Light the Menorah.”
What is not understood is the Bible’s unnecessary statement that Aaron did exactly “as G-d had commanded Moses.” (Numbers 8:3) Rashi comments that the Torah is commending Aaron for not deviating from his appointed task (literally, “That he did not change”). The great Chassidic master, Rabbi…
Continue reading Don’t Change! (8:3)
Not Mercy, but Love (8:2)
Of all the ancient rituals associated with the Temple, the one most palatable to modern man is the lighting of the Menorah. So while we may wonder at animal sacrifices, the kindling of golden candelabra somehow makes sense. Nevertheless, this week’s Midrash asks why G-d could possibly need light any more than He would require animal offerings.
In response, the Midrash admits that the Almighty does not want the light per se for Himself, but rather to elevate the Jews in the eyes of the other nations. Since this cryptic answer also needs further explanation, the Sages offer us an accompanying parable.
Two men - one blind, the other sighted - were traveling together. Throughout their trip the blind man…
Continue reading Not Mercy, but Love (8:2)