Adar 25, 5783 / March 17-18, 2023
Parashat Vayak’hel/Pekudei - Shabbat HaChodesh
Torah: Exodus 35:1 – 40:38
Maftir (HaChodesh): Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah (HaChodesh): Ezekiel 45:16 – 46:18
This d’var torah is offered in memory of my father-in-law, Abraham Kronzek, whose yahrzeit falls on Thursday, Nisan 1. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – his memory is a blessing.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On March 21, we'll be at BT Shabbat 56a, page 147 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - "...אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני" - "Further said R. Samuel b. Nachmeini...”
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:
Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On March 21, we'll be at BT Shabbat 56a, page 147 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - "...אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני" - "Further said R. Samuel b. Nachmeini...”
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at:
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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SERVICE OF THE HEART
"Take from among you gifts to the Lord; everyone whose heart so moves him shall bring them ... Every man and woman whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded to be done, through Moses; the Israelites brought free will offerings to the Lord." Exodus 35:5; 35:29
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The Goldsmith (Bezalel), ca. 1896–1902 by James Tissot
The free-will gifts mentioned here relate to the construction of the tabernacle and the ritual objects and vestments utilized by the Israelite priests. With no more Temple in Jerusalem, we have found different ways to make holy gifts, in the form of tzedakah (charity) and gemilut chasadim (deeds of lovingkindness). For Purim, we have Mishlo’ach Manot (sending gifts of food) and Matanot L’evyonim (gifts of food or money to the poor). For Pesach we have Ma’ot Chittin (tzedakah specifically so the poor can observe the festival). Although these are mitzvot, acts which are commanded, we must admit that we give more and we do more when our hearts are moved to do so.
We have been told by our Rabbis that the Temple was destroyed because of sin'at chinam, senseless hatred, and that we will be redeemed through ahavat chinam, senseless love of our fellow human beings.
Observance of the mitzvot may be seen as a form of worship – just as our prayer services are. Perhaps our path to redemption, for ourselves, for our communities, and for our world, is for our hearts to be constantly moved with love of these mitzvot and of those who benefit from them, so that we continually engage in Avodat HaLev - the service of the heart
Our society too often appears to be engaged in a struggle between love and hate, between caring for each other and treating people like they were disposable. Yes, Pesach is coming in three weeks – but members of our community are in need NOW!
God promises us through Ezekiel (36:26 – the haftarah we read last week for Shabbat Parah), "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you; I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh."
Don’t wait for God’s heart transplant! Don't wait until your heart moves you! Move your heart!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
TBH/CBM
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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