Parashat Acharei Mot
Nisan 26, 5784 / May 3-4, 2024
Torah: Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30
Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15 (Ashkenazim); Ezekiel 22:1-16 (Sephardim)
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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.
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. On May 6, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 -
'...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך'
"Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”
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:
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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:
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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.
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THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!
"And you shall observe my laws and my rules; so that when man does them, he shall live by them; I am the Lord." Leviticus 18:5
The commentary Degel Machaneh Ephraim (Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov, (1748-1800) notes that the word "otam", meaning "them", is spelled here without the customary "vav-holem". This leaves the letters alef, tav and mem. These same letters also spell the word "emet", meaning "truth". He says that the secret of prolonging and fulfilling one's life is to acknowledge the truth, to tell oneself the truth, and to walk in the way of truth. One thereby makes truth the foundation of one's life. This is what it means by to "live by them".
He is not referring only to honesty to others, ala George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Rather, he means that one must live a life of sanctity, finding holiness wherever one is and in whatever one is doing; and that requires truth in every aspect of life.
It is noteworthy that, when we remove the Torah from the ark, we recite the following meditation: "Not in man do I put my trust, not upon angels do I rely, but upon the God of the universe, Whose Torah is truth, Whose prophets are truth, and Who abounds in deeds of goodness and truth.... May it be Your will to open my heart to Your Torah ..."
It is noteworthy that, when we remove the Torah from the ark, we recite the following meditation: "Not in man do I put my trust, not upon angels do I rely, but upon the God of the universe, Whose Torah is truth, Whose prophets are truth, and Who abounds in deeds of goodness and truth.... May it be Your will to open my heart to Your Torah ..."
When we acknowledge the Torah as truth, we are able to live moral and holy lives. When we live lives of truth, we have no need to create or maintain falsehoods. If we always tell the truth, we never have to remember which lies we told to whom. It makes for an uncluttered mind and a pure heart. And that's the truth!
Shabbat Shalom!
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
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