Parashat Vayikra
Nisan 7, 5785 / April 4-5, 2025
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23
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This d’var torah is offered in honor of my most excellent and wonderful life partner, Lynn Kronzek, who is celebrating a very special birthday on Tuesday, April 8. Happy Birthday, my dear!
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for the hostages.
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On April 7, we'll be at BT Yevamot, page 32 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 3 -
Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On April 7, we'll be at BT Yevamot, page 32 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 3 -
"...,תַנְיָא:
יָכוֹל יִתְיָירֵא אָדָם מִמִּקְדָּש" - "We are taught: one might assume that the above fear refers to the sanctuary itself."
NOTE: NO LUNCH AND LEARN ON APRIL 14 - SECOND DAY OF PESACH
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/
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My annual Pesach Resources page is now available! Check out:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/
----------------------------------------------------------------
My annual Pesach Resources page is now available! Check out:
The page will be updated as needed before Pesach.
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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SACRIFICING ONE’S APPETITES
"And he shall slaughter it before the Lord; on the north side of the altar ..." Leviticus 1:11
Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl (1730-1787) teaches: ‘This verse is a metaphor. What one is really slaughtering is one's yetzer hara - the evil inclination. The word translated here as "side" also means “thigh" - this alludes to lust. "Altar" refers to gluttony, because "a person's table is like an altar" (BT Chagigah 27a). "North" refers to avarice, the insatiable desire to accumulate wealth, for we learn "one who desires wealth should turn north" (BT Bava Batra 25b).’ Menachem Nachum adds that we often hold most dear those character traits which are the most destructive - they are part and parcel of our very selves, as modern psychiatry would say some 125 years later.
Yochanan ben Zakkai - Knesset Menorah
We usually understand "sacrifice" as the giving up of something of considerable worth, particularly within the context of ritual worship. The Hebrew word for sacrifice, korban, is from the root word k-r-b, meaning “to come close”. By offering up a valuable item, we show our dedication and our desire to draw near to God. Our tradition, however, teaches that the sacrifices have been replaced by tzedakah and gemilut chasadim - charity and deeds of loving kindness.
Rabbi Elazar said: ‘Doing deeds of charity is greater than all of the sacrificial offerings.’ BT Sukkah 49b
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai taught: ‘How does one make atonement in the absence of sacrifice? We have another way of gaining atonement which is equal to it. What is it? Deeds of loving-kindness, as it is written: “For it is loving-kindness I desire, and not sacrifice.”’ Avot D’Rabbi Natan 11a, quoting Hosea 6:6.
Don't be retentive! Lust - gluttony - greed; slaughter those bad habits and appetites, and replace them with your inner power to do good and improve the world!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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