27-28 March 2015 / 8
Nisan 5775
Parashat Tzav (Shabbat HaGadol)
Annual: Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24, 23
Parashat Tzav (Shabbat HaGadol)
Annual: Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24, 23
URGENT TZEDAKAH/CHESED
NEED – LOS ANGELES
Chaverim:
A member of our community
is in urgent need of a place to live, as soon as possible. She is 70ish,
relying on Social Security, looking for a one-bedroom or studio or in-law
apartment or caretaker cottage. She would also be interested in shared housing.
She has a vehicle and is willing to perform light-duty services in exchange for
all or part of rent.
If you are able to help,
please contact me via e-mail at: ravflom@sbcglobal.net ASAP,
and I will put her in touch with you. Thanks for your consideration.
Calendar and dedications
follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation
Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org
My annual Pesach
Resources Guide is available at my blog:
A very enjoyable and
useful video tour of the Kasher L’Pesach section of the grocery store conducted
by my colleague, Rabbi Gabriel Botnick, can be seen on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sH4T7DoDAs&feature=youtu.be
The Rabbinical
Assembly’s Pesach Guide 5775 can be read and downloaded at the following
site:
Please feel free to pass
this on to a friend, and please cite the source
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THE REWARDS OF SACRIFICE
"Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering ...'" Leviticus 6:1
The Midrash, Vayikra (Leviticus) Rabbah, quotes Psalms 51:19 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Either Zabdi ben Levi or Rabbi Yose ben Petros (it's not clear in the text) says that from this verse we learn that if a person does teshuvah (turns himself around through repentance), it is considered as if s/he had gone up to Jerusalem and built the Temple and altar, and there offered all of the sacrifices ordained by the Torah(!)
The Maharal, Rabbi Yehudah Loewe of Prague , adds that every person is like the Temple . If a person is holy, the Temple is holy, and if one sins, s/he pollutes the Temple . Thus, a sinner who repents is considered to have rebuilt the Temple(!)
In Talmud Sanhedrin 99a, Rabbi Abuhu says, "At the place where ba'alei teshuvah (masters of repentance) stand, perfect tzaddikim (righteous persons who have never sinned) cannot stand. For we learn in Isaiah 57:19, 'Peace, peace to the one that is far off, and to the one that is near.'" The Talmud explains that one who was far from God and has returned, takes precedence over one who was always close. Perhaps this verse also teaches that the pursuit of peace itself might serve as a rebuilding of the Temple , and provides for those who seek peace a place closer to God.
From all of these teachings cited above, it should be perfectly obvious that there is great reward in teshuvah, in turning to God and to a life of goodness and holiness. It is not easy - that's why it is compared to the sacrifices! Similarly, the pursuit of peace is often viewed as a sacrifice. It also is not easy. But it is worth the effort! For we learn, “May we be disciples of Aaron the Kohen, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving our fellow creatures and drawing them near to the Torah.”
"Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering ...'" Leviticus 6:1
The Midrash, Vayikra (Leviticus) Rabbah, quotes Psalms 51:19 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Either Zabdi ben Levi or Rabbi Yose ben Petros (it's not clear in the text) says that from this verse we learn that if a person does teshuvah (turns himself around through repentance), it is considered as if s/he had gone up to Jerusalem and built the Temple and altar, and there offered all of the sacrifices ordained by the Torah(!)
The Maharal, Rabbi Yehudah Loewe of Prague , adds that every person is like the Temple . If a person is holy, the Temple is holy, and if one sins, s/he pollutes the Temple . Thus, a sinner who repents is considered to have rebuilt the Temple(!)
In Talmud Sanhedrin 99a, Rabbi Abuhu says, "At the place where ba'alei teshuvah (masters of repentance) stand, perfect tzaddikim (righteous persons who have never sinned) cannot stand. For we learn in Isaiah 57:19, 'Peace, peace to the one that is far off, and to the one that is near.'" The Talmud explains that one who was far from God and has returned, takes precedence over one who was always close. Perhaps this verse also teaches that the pursuit of peace itself might serve as a rebuilding of the Temple , and provides for those who seek peace a place closer to God.
From all of these teachings cited above, it should be perfectly obvious that there is great reward in teshuvah, in turning to God and to a life of goodness and holiness. It is not easy - that's why it is compared to the sacrifices! Similarly, the pursuit of peace is often viewed as a sacrifice. It also is not easy. But it is worth the effort! For we learn, “May we be disciples of Aaron the Kohen, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving our fellow creatures and drawing them near to the Torah.”
Shabbat Shalom - a
Shabbat of Peace.
Rabbi Richard A.
Flom
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City , CA
www.bethmeier.org
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City , CA
www.bethmeier.org
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on
Facebook
Oseh shalom bimromov, hu
ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol ha'olam. May the One Who brings peace to
the celestial heights bring peace to us and to all the world.
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Candle lighting: 6:51 pm
Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg
Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush
luncheon follows.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am.
Adult Hebrew and Leyning Class – 10:00 am. RS Model Seder – 11:00 am
Tuesday, March 31: NO Lunch and Learn
Thursday, April 2: Bedikat Chametz (Search for Chametz) –
evening.
Friday, April 3: Erev Pesach – Ta’anit Bechorim Torah
Study and Siyyum with Rabbi Flom – 8:00 am. Sale/Destruction of
Chametz – 12:00 noon. First Seder – light candles, Pesach begins before
sundown. NO evening service.
Saturday, April 4: Shabbat/Yom Tov Morning Service – 10:00
am. Community Second Seder at CBM – 8:00 pm. RSVP
has closed!
Sunday, April 5: Yom Tov Morning Service – 10:00 am.
Tuesday, April 7: NO Lunch and Learn –
Resume April 14.
Friday, April 10: Yom Tov Morning Service – 10:00 am. NO evening
service.
Saturday, April 11: Shabbat/Yom Tov Morning Service with Yizkor
– 10:00 am. Pesach ends – 8:00 pm.
Sunday, April 12: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew
and Leyning Class – 10:00 am.
This d’var torah is
offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Naomi bat
Yorma, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Stewart Benkle, Ken
Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Jacob William Cohen, Howard Ehrlich,
Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Gig
Flom (Gittel Tobi bat Blanca), Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, and Annie
Rivera.
My weekly divrei torah are also available
through subscription to the Cyber Torah list.
No salesman will call!
Cyber Torah list
management (no salesman will
call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah,
send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests
for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah,
in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah,
send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”
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