Articles with the tag: vayikra

What's in a Name?

Is it plagiarism to “borrow” good lines penned by your child that, in all probability, you taught her in the first place? If it is, I’m guilty because what follows is an excerpt from my daughter Malkie Janowski.

“What’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually. For starters, we are told that parents are granted a minor degree of ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) when they select names for their children. So it’s not an arbitrary decision “

Take a look at the Hebrew word for name – “sheim.” It has the same letters as the word sham – “there.” Not a coincidence. A person’s name tells you what’s really there.

“One’s [Hebrew] name is not merely a handle; it is…

Continue reading What’s in a Name?

Dear Mr. Ehud Olmert (4:22)

Torah often conveys profound ideas by mere nuance. In describing the various sin offerings, brought for inadvertent wrongdoing, it lists different offenders; High Priest, Sanhedrin, (Supreme Court), Nasi (ruler), and an ordinary individual. While in three cases, the law is introduced by the Hebrew word (אם)“im-if,” for the ruler, Torah uses the word (אשר) “asher-when.” In other words, Torah perceives that a high priest, Sanhedrin, or an individual may err, but a Nasi probably will. Hence, the word “when he sins” and not “if”.

Nasi is the generic word for a ruler. It means the holder of political power. The nasi is not a priest serving in the Temple, nor is he a prophet, the mouthpiece of G-d. He is…

Continue reading Dear Mr. Ehud Olmert (4:22)

Invest Right (pesach) (4:2)

“אשר לא תעשינה ’נפש כי תחטא בשגגה מכל מצות ה” The literal translation of this verse is, “If a person will inadvertently sin by doing any of the things that G-d commanded shall not be done… ” Although this straight-forward text is clean and unambiguous, that did not stop one of the great Chasidic masters of a century and a half ago to add another unique interpretation. According to him, the verse also means,  “A person may sin when he does one of G-d’s commandments in a way that he should not have one it.”

While most people understand that one must atone for sins committed, this new perspective adds that one must sometimes ask forgiveness for mitzvot (good deeds)...

Continue reading Invest Right (pesach) (4:2)

The Beast Got S’micha (1:4)

Individuals have a way of creating their own lines of demarcation. A young man or woman might categorize their lives into two periods;  “before leaving home for university versus after leaving home. ” For someone moving up the corporate ladder, the different stages could be,  “The day one was an employee vs. the time one finally became the employer.”

In my personal scenario, B.C. has for a long time meant Before Coral Springs vs. C.E. standing for Coral Springs Engaged. / (Author’s note: It is my hope and belief that our new Synagogue will provide another milestone to be forever inscribed as B.C., Before Construction vs. C.E., Construction Ends.)

But to get back to my story: In the historic days…

Continue reading The Beast Got S’micha (1:4)

The Animal Within (1:2)

Does serving God mean that one has to sacrifice one’s life? And if not literally, is one obligated to obliterate their personality and become someone they’re not? With all this hoopla surrounding, for G-d’s sake, a movie, some Jews may be wondering if that is what it takes to really be passionate about religion. Thank G-d (according to the real One), NO! In fact, it’s anathema to the very fundamentals of Judaism. Don’t believe me? Check out the third book of the Bible called Vayikra (Leviticus) which provides the quintessential approach to how each of us can and should serve. At first, the Book hardly presents a serene picture of spiritual reverie. Indeed, its subject matter is more likely to…

Continue reading The Animal Within (1:2)

Actions Count (1:2)

The laws of sacrifices that dominate the early chapters of the book of Vayikra are among the hardest in the Torah to relate to - for it has been almost 2,000 years since the Temple was destroyed and the sacrificial system utilized. Still, Jewish thinkers have striven to understand the eternally relevant,  spiritual significance of the animal offerings even if their physical use was no longer allowed.

Among the most profound insights is the one introduced by the first Rebbe of Lubavitch, which is based on an oddity in the second line of this week’s Torah section. If the verse were constructed according to the normal rules of grammar it would have read, “Adam mikem ki yakriv - When one…

Continue reading Actions Count (1:2)

A ‘little’ Man? (1:1)

Several months ago I met a man. It was tragedy that brought us together. His wife had passed away and I conducted the funeral. Like so many encounters for a Rabbi in our society, this one proved to be painful and challenging. How does one eulogize an individual you’ve never met? How does one comfort the living if your lives have never crossed before?

After the Shiva, during which we gathered the required minyan each morning and night, I started to bring the husband to the synagogue.  He had no transportation, but he did have to say Kaddish.  Could I do less?  It was my personal mitzvah and it made me proud. After all, did I venture to the spiritual…

Continue reading A ‘little’ Man? (1:1)

The Beast Got S'micha

Individuals have a way of creating their own lines of demarcation. A young man or woman might categorize their lives into two periods; “before leaving home for university versus after leaving home.” For someone moving up the corporate ladder, the different stages could be, “the days one was an employee vs. the time one finally became the employer.”

In my personal scenario, B.C. has for a long time meant Before Coral Springs vs. C.E. standing for Coral Springs Engaged. (Author’s note: It is my hope and belief that our new Synagogue will provide another milestone to be forever inscribed as B.C., Before Construction vs. C.E., Construction Ends.)

But to get back to my story. In the historic days of B.(efore)...

Continue reading The Beast Got S’micha

Invest Right

(Hebrew writing)

The literal translation of this verse is, “If a person will inadvertently sin by doing any of the things that G-d commanded shall not be done…” Although this straight-forward text is clean and unambiguous, that did not stop one of the great Chasidic masters of a century and a half ago to add another unique interpretation. According to him, the verse also means, “A person may sin when he does one of G-d’s commandements in a way that he should not have one it.”

While most people understand that one must atone for sins committed, this new perspective adds that one must sometimes ask forgiveness for mitzvot (good deeds) as well. This concept is best illustrated with the…

Continue reading Invest Right

The Animal Within

Does serving God mean that one has to sacrifice one’s life? And if not literally, is one obligated to obliterate their personality and become someone they’re not? With all this hoopla surrounding, for G-d’s sake, a movie, some Jews may be wondering if that is what it takes to really be passionate about religion. Thank G-d (according to the real One), NO! In fact,  it’s anathema to the very fundamentals of Judaism.

Don’t believe me? Check out the third book of the Bible called Vayikra (Leviticus) which provides the quintessential approach to how each of us can and should serve. At first, the Book hardly presents a serene picture of spiritual reverie. Indeed, its subject matter is more likely to…

Continue reading The Animal Within