Parashat Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor)
Adar Hasheni 9, 5782 / March 11-12, 2022
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)
Adar Hasheni 9, 5782 / March 11-12, 2022
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)
Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday night. Daylight saving time is here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah! – With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! (BT Ta'anit 29a)
HERE'S A LITTLE PURIM TORAH CONTEST
As this is a Jewish Leap Year, it raises a question, and the person who gives me whatever I believe to be the best answer will be awarded one slightly used bottle of slivovitz (the decision of the judge and the amount of slivovitz remaining after he drinks from the bottle are in his sole discretion and are final): Since we are instructed by our rabbis to be joyful in Adar, and Adar is twice as long this year, does that mean that we will have twice as much joy in total this year than in non-leap years, or, does it mean that on any given day in the months of Adar, we are only half as joyful as we would have been in a non-leap year because our joy must be spread over twice as many days? There is no right or wrong answer! Be creative with proof texts!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah! – With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! (BT Ta'anit 29a)
HERE'S A LITTLE PURIM TORAH CONTEST
As this is a Jewish Leap Year, it raises a question, and the person who gives me whatever I believe to be the best answer will be awarded one slightly used bottle of slivovitz (the decision of the judge and the amount of slivovitz remaining after he drinks from the bottle are in his sole discretion and are final): Since we are instructed by our rabbis to be joyful in Adar, and Adar is twice as long this year, does that mean that we will have twice as much joy in total this year than in non-leap years, or, does it mean that on any given day in the months of Adar, we are only half as joyful as we would have been in a non-leap year because our joy must be spread over twice as many days? There is no right or wrong answer! Be creative with proof texts!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PURIM IS COMING, BABY! Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier will be holding their annual Megillah reading and Purim Shpiel on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:00 PM - in-person, via Zoom, and on FaceBook live. This year's Purim Shpiel is "West Side Purim Story", written and directed by Reb Jason can Leeuwen. You can see a preview here:
https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/videos/982577839055665/
---------------------------------------------------------------
This d'var torah is offered in honor of my mother, Annabelle Flom, celebrating her 91st birthday on Friday, March 11. Yom Huledet Sameach, Ima! Ad Meah V'esrim! Happy Birthday, Mom! Until 120!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/
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 8, we'll be at page 7 (my pagination) of Chapter 5 of Berakhot (32a) - "...וידבר ה׳ אל משה לך רד" - "And the Lord spoke unto Moses, Go, get thee down!...” The reading may be found at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18naYXIfd37WqagfJ5UfJoH84amqt2-tA/view?usp=sharing
Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kb2Gt3jkjrBchBp1TGsmjwStU6fE7kbQ/view
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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 kavannah, a brief statement of intent, 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!
------------------------------------------------------
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” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
