YOU’RE GETTING CLOSER

Parashat Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor)

8 Adar II 5779 / 15-16 March 2019

Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26

Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Haftarah (Zakhor): 1 Samuel 15:2-34 (Ashkenazim); 1 Samuel 15:1-34 (Sephardim)

Dedications and this week’s calendar are below. For more information about our community, visit: http://bnaihayim.com

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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YOU’RE GETTING CLOSER

“When a person from among you should offer (yakriv) an offering (korban) to the Lord ...” Leviticus 1:2

Rabbi Elazar: Doing deeds of charity is greater than all of the sacrificial offerings (korbanot). BT Sukkah 49b

The word “korban” has an interesting etymology. The word is usually translated as “offering” or “sacrifice”. The book of Leviticus uses the word, or some variant of it, numerous times in this and succeeding parshiot, describing in graphic detail the various animal and grain sacrifices. The root of the word is k-r-v, which means “to draw near”.

The rabbis wondered why the sacrificial rite should use this particular term. One classic explanation is that the smoke of the sacrifice rose up to God, and drew God near to the person making the offering. Another explanation is that, by offering something of significant value, the person was bringing him/herself closer to God, a not-so-subtle difference. There were many types of sacrifices: atonement, freewill, thanksgiving, purification, and others. With the Temple destroyed and the sacrifices gone, we might ask how it is possible to draw close to God. I do not believe that Rabbi Elazar’s answer is sufficient, for giving charity, or performing any other “good deed”, in and of itself, does not necessarily make any spiritual connection for us, even if fulfilling the commandment makes us “feel good”.

Now consider this brief statement, recited before donning tefillin: “For the sake of the unification of the Holy One Blessed is He, and His Presence ... Here I am, intending to fulfill the mitzvah of my Creator ...” The Kabbalists teach that performing the mitzvah of tefillin brings us closer to God, and God closer to us, IF THAT IS OUR INTENT. I would go a step further. We ought to focus on bringing ourselves closer to God whenever we observe ANY mitzvah, whether it is giving charity or lighting Shabbat candles or reciting the Sh’ma or praying.

In other words, every mitzvah is a “korban”, an offering of drawing closer to God, if we intend that it be so. There is a world of difference between lighting candles for atmosphere and reciting a blessing over them. And there is a significant difference between reciting a blessing by rote and intending that one truly bring God into one’s life through an act and accompanying blessing. But that is a sacrifice that should be easy to make.

Have a wonderful Shabbat!

Grand Rabbi Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom

Der Heiliger Shlabodkieville Rebbe
Av Beis Din – Chelm

משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה

Mishenichnas Adar, Marbin B’simcha!

With the entry of the month of Adar, we increase joy!

Be Happy! Adar 2 is here!

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CALENDAR

Candle lighting: 6:43 pm

Friday – Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service - 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Sunday - Religious School - 9:30 am. We need help in assembling and delivering Mishloach Manot baskets – 9:30 am.  Please contact Susan Burke or Melinda Trauman if you can pitch in. Purim Shpiel Rehearsal - 4:00 pm.

Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon. Continuing with learning Midrashim on Purim!  Purim Shpiel Dress Rehearsal – 7:00 pm.

Wednesday - Purim dinner, shpiel and megillah reading, beginning 6:00 pm. RSVP to TBH office.

Thursday - It's Purim!

Friday, March 22 – Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, March 23 – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service - 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Sunday, March 31 – Sisterhood Meeting – 12:00 noon. Movie Time! Yentl - 2:00 pm.

Saturday, April 6 – Women’s Rosh Chodesh Shabbat Morning Service – contact Carol Herskowitz or Lynn Kronzek for more details.

Saturday, April 13 – NO Torah Study/Breakfast – resume May 4. Sh’MA (Shabbat Morning Adventure)Service – 9:30 am. A Guitar-led, singalong service with Dr. Steve Pearlman. Designed for the whole family! Followed by kiddush luncheon.

Saturday, April 20 – Community Second Seder Shel Pesach – check your snail mail for lots of info on Pesach!

Sunday, May 19 – TBH/CBM Concert and Fundraiser – with music, comedy, silent auction, and food and drink. Check our website: http://bnaihayim.com for details. Or contact the TBH office.

Sunday, June 2 - Afternoon at the Colony Theater – “Old Jews Telling Jokes” – a bawdy (not suitable for minors) visit to the Catskills with Jokes, Skits, Song & Dance! More info to follow.

Next time you come to TBH/CBM, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

TBH Religious School and TBH Preschool have open enrollment. Enroll your children now! Contact the TBH office for information.

And be sure to tell your neighbors, friends, and relatives about our warm and welcoming community and our programs!

We are looking for volunteers for services: chant Torah or Haftarah, daven, lead English readings, deliver d’rashot, and have aliyot and other Torah/bimah honors. Training available! Contact Rabbi Flom by e-mail for details and to sign up!

This d’var torah is offered in memory of Irwin Silon, who passed away on Sunday night. Y'hi zikhro liv'rakhah - May his memory be a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Ze’ev ben Adeline, Liora bat Sarah, Eilite bat Miriam, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Marilyn Lee, David Marks, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Bernie Seeman, Price Simon, William Sragow, and Jonathan Woolf.

Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.

My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

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To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.