Parashat Tzav (Shabbat Parah)
Adar II 20, 5784 / March 29-30, 2024
Torah: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36
Maftir (Parah): Numbers 19:1-22
Haftarah (Parah): Ezekiel 36:16-38
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Reb Jason is on a well-deserved vacation this Shabbat. Rabbi Flom will be conducting an A Capella Shabbat Evening Services (Zoom and Facebook Live only) at 7:00 PM. Rabbi Flom and Dr. Steve Pearlman will be conducting Shabbat Morning Services (in person and on Zoom and Facebook Live) at 9:30 AM. If you do not already have the Zoom or Facebook links, please email Rabbi Flom at: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
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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 Hamas terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all the victims of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Y’hi zikhronam liv’rakhah – May their memories be a blessing. And may the memory of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah and all their supporters be forever erased.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On Monday, March 25, we'll be at BT Shabbat 151b, page 207 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - '...תניא ר"ש בן אלעזר אומר' – "It was taught in a Baraitha that R. Simon b. Elazar said ....”
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On Monday, March 25, we'll be at BT Shabbat 151b, page 207 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - '...תניא ר"ש בן אלעזר אומר' – "It was taught in a Baraitha that R. Simon b. Elazar said ....”
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630
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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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com
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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source
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HOLY AFIKOMAN!
"That which is left of (the meal offering) shall be
eaten by Aaron and his sons; it shall be eaten as unleavened bread (matzot) in
the holy place…. It shall not be baked with leaven (chametz); I have given it
as their portion from My offering by fire; it is most holy, like the sin
offering and the guilt offering.... Anything that touches these shall become
holy." Leviticus 6:9 – 11
Only some of the minchah (meal) offering is burned on the
altar. The remainder is eaten by the priests in the form of an enriched
matzah (not quite the same as Pesach matzah - it's mixed with olive oil). Like some of the other
sacrifices, it is "most holy". Anything that touches it becomes holy
as well.
Olive Oil "Matzah"
Our Seder Shel Pesach is a re-enactment of an ancient
ritual of sacrifice. We are a kingdom of priests and a holy people (Exodus
19:6). Our table is the altar. The candles represent the flames of the
sacrifices. The wine represents the libation the priests poured over the
sacrifices. The shank bone and roasted egg represent the Pesach sacrifice and
the Festival sacrifice respectively. As commanded in the Torah, we consume
matzah and maror (bitter herb), but we do not eat or offer a sacrifice. The
three matzot? The top two are used for the commandment to eat matzah and the
commandment to eat maror (along with charoset). The third matzah? Half of it is
used to eat the “Hillel sandwich” in the style Hillel consumed the Pesach
sacrifice. And the other half of the third matzah? That is a substitute for the
Pesach sacrifice – the afikoman.
The Seder Shel Pesach is more, much more than a big
family feast - it is a deep connection to our roots and to those who have gone
before us, as well as a significant link to our future. It is an act of
kedushah - of holiness. The afikoman is not dessert, though it is the
final thing we eat at the seder. As it is representative of the last morsel of
the Pesach sacrifice, it is, like any sacrifice, holy. And its consumption
makes us holy as well.
Pesach is coming!
Shabbat Shalom uv’rakhah - Wishing you a Shabbat of peace and blessings!
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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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
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
