SACRIFICING ONE’S APPETITES

Parashat Vayikra

Nisan 3, 5780 / March 27-28, 2020
Torah reading: Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23

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Our synagogue community, Temple B’nai Hayim in Association with Congregation Beth Meier, has set up a GoFundMe page to help support some of our employees and members who are particularly vulnerable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please help us help them with your donation.

https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/maot-hittin-bread-to-the-afflicted?utm_campaign=oc&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=crowdrise&fbclid=IwAR2D1ZzLUwc1iYjSci4SXjRjxXqetRfZvfWSl-LzymYsj2pFpBR9ZZVUQYw

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TBH is on-line, baby! You can access the following today and over the weekend:

This Shabbat's Torah reading, Parashat Vayikra, chanted by Reb Jason Van Leeuwen, with commentary by Rabbi Richard Flom, video and audio at:

 https://zoom.us/rec/play/tMF7Ir2tpz83TNKctASDU6N7W9Tvevis0ClM8qFcmBnkUHYBYQaiM7YVMOvrMvAaX5LvETP3_9IGAIqm?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=H9i3e5W2Q9KamhFL50zS-Q.1585325892908.80a5da9cd6f818e3924386c22f9d21b0&_x_zm_rhtaid=37

The haftarah for Parashat Vayikra, chanted by Steve Pearlman, audio only, at:
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XfCmpZG7UXzaeUp3rutb9dnmiLQU3T_W/view

Kabbalat Shabbat with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom, live streaming at TBH's Facebook page Friday, March 27 at 6:30 pm (PDT): https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/

"Passover in the Time of Corona Virus - Strategies for Seders, Passover Food, and Climbing the Walls", with Rabbi Flom, live streaming at TBH's Facebook page, Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 am (PDT): https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/

(My Pesach Resources - 5780 (UPDATED), is available at: https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2020/03/pesach-resources-5780-edition-updated.html  I'll be referencing some of the sources there on Sunday morning)

"History of the Jews of Israel/Middle East" (on-going) with David Silon, live streaming at TBH's Facebook page, Sunday, March 29 at 11:00 am (PDT):  https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/

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Candle lighting: 6:52 pm

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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. 

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

Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier

"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"

"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”

BT Yevamot 88a

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Chanah bat Minnie Leah, Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Stana Cooper, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Martin Lee, Barbara Levy, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Gina Seeman, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and William Sragow.

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.