TORAH FOR YOUR TABLE! CHALLAH!

This week’s parsha discusses the mitzvah to separate a portion of one’s dough from one’s challah to give to the Kohanim. Bnai Israel was obligated to follow this mitzvah in Israel, when a majority of Jews resided there. However, the Rabbis instituted that the mitzvah of separating a piece of dough from one’s challah even outside of Israel so that the Jewish people would not forget this law. Nowadays, we have a custom to set aside a kezayit- the size of a matchbox –and burn it. Additionally, there is a certain bracha- blessing- one should say after separating the challah.

This mitzvah was ordained specifically for the women (although men can still partake in this mitzvah) in order to atone for the sin of the first woman, Chava. Adam was created completely pure and had no evil desires, thereby, he was called ‘the pure challah of the world.’ When Chava enticed Adam to sin, he lost his purity and he and his future descendents were cursed with a life of physical desires. By splitting the challah, we symbolically bring back the purity Adam had lost. When a woman separates the challah, essentially, she is rectifying Chava’s sin.

From observing this mitzvah, material wealth is brought to one’s home; however, famine is brought when neglected. Additionally, we should all strive to reconnect back to Adam’s initial purity, simply by separating one’s challah. The answer is simple; the hope is that it is practiced.

DVAR TORAH IN UNDER A MINUTE! TZITZIS!

This week’s parsha continues with the commandment for men to wear tzitzis, or fringes, attached to four corners of his garment, in order for men to constantly be aware of all Hashem’s other mitzvot.

As Hashem’s servants, we are bound to follow His commandments. The tzitzis, attached to each corner of the garment, serve to remind us of Hashem at every corner we turn and remind us to refrain from sinning. Additionally the tzitzis symbolize the two witnesses that are in front and behind a person in order to warn him from sinning.

Moreover, the halachot- laws- for the tzitzis are as follows: of the eight threads, with five knots in each corner, one of the eight threads must be of wool and dyed blue (techilas- bluish/purple- made from the blood of the sea creature -chilazon –snail type creature, which has been concealed from us.) Currently, tzitzis are deemed kosher with only white thread, symbolizing forgiveness of sin.

Furthermore, the pasok tells us, “And you shall look at it and remember all the mitzvot of Hashem and do them”  (15:39). In other words, wearing the tzitzis alone will we not magically prevent a person from sinning; the tzitzis are meant to be a reminder for a person to consciously choose to follow in the ways of Hashem.

Women are not obligated to wear tzitzis, because it is a time bound commandment. So to, my fellow ladies, we should find something that constantly reminds us of Hashem and motivates us to continue following Hashem’s mitzvot and help us refrain from sinning…perhaps eating chocolate or ice cream…as long as you say a bracha to remember Hashem’s kindness and greatness (especially for making such tasty treats!)

“Quotes that matter”

The prophets tell us,

“Although it (the Final Redemption) tarries, wait for it, it will surely come (Chavakuk).”

This week’s parsha, Beha’aloscha, discusses the greatness of the generation in the wilderness.  The generation of people who were traveling in the desert for forty years displayed such immense emunah- faith/commitment- in Hashem. The Jewish people did not ask where they wanted to travel; rather, they followed the Cloud of Glory, which dictated Hashem’s command. Wherever the Cloud rested, Bnai Israel rested. Whenever the Cloud camped or departed, so did Bnai Israel. Even when Hashem chose an unpleasant location to camp, (i.e. When the Cloud camped in Mara, where there was bitter and undrinkable water, Bnai Israel faithfully camped there. Also, when the Cloud arrived in a place with clean sources of water, as in Aliam, the Cloud departed immediately after, but Bnai Israel still followed the Cloud, reassuring their faithfulness in Hashem). Although Bnai Israel never knew where they would camp, or for how long, they nevertheless had absolute trust in Hashem leading the way. There were millions of people who were following the Cloud, babies, children, the young, and the old, yet Bnai Israel had such faith in Hashem’s directing their path, that they followed the Cloud regardless of their situation.

From the experience in the wilderness, the trust Bnai Israel had in Hashem was instilled in them for generations thereafter. Although we have been in exile for thousands of years, we nevertheless maintain our trust in Hashem and know that despite all the traveling, and the numerous exiles we have endured, the redemption will come and will be lead by the Source of all.

'Here Yeh Here Yeh Moshe has arrived!'

This parsha continues to discuss Hashem declaring that those who fear Hashem will be promoted to a position of authority.  Because of the fear Moshe had for Hashem, Hashem made Moshe the leader of the Jewish people. Hashem said that Moshe was equivalent to a Jewish king, and like a Jewish king, who has trumpets blown for him before going into battle, Moshe too, needed trumpets to be blown for only him.

Moshe’s trumpets were made of silver and contained special kedusha- holiness. Additionally, no other king thereafter was permitted to use them. The trumpets were blown during the following occasions:
1.    Signaling when Bnai Israel was to depart.
2.    To assemble the nation of Israel together.
3.    To assemble the nesi’im- leader of the Tribes- together.
Thereafter, Hashem commanded that a trumpet be blown for the later generations for the following reasons:
       1. During times of calamity, drought, plague, an enemy attack, etc. the essence of the blowing the trumpet was to signal Bnai Israel to cry out to Hashem for help, thereafter, Hashem would come and rescue them from danger.

Upon hearing the sounds of the trumpets, Bnai Israel would become alarmed and this would push them to teshuva-repent- in order to get Divine assistance from above.

Essentially, in times of personal or national distress, we should hear the blaring sounds of the trumpets within. Hashem is signaling to us all that He desires our teshuva. We must open our ears and hearts to the alarming sounds and recognize that these calamities are present because they are signals for us to change our ways and rekindle our connection with Hashem.

Omnivores!

The generation that lived in the wilderness was an extremely special generation. Because of their added kedusha-holiness- Hashem continuously put them through tests in order to purify them.

This week’s parsha goes into their next spiritual test. After eating the mann for three meals a day, everyday, since leaving Egypt, the airev ravs- Egyptian converts- were the first to start complaining about generating physical cravings (because the mann provided spirutal nourishment, the Jews were on such a high level that most people only needed spiritual nourishment). Some members of the Sanhedrin- Jewish court- also started to complain (however, their complaints were not publically vocalized).

Truthfully speaking, if the new converts really only wanted to satiate their physical appetites, they could have slaughtered any cattle that were herding along with Bnai Israel. From this we can see that their true desires were not meat, but rooted in a desire to go back to Egypt, where they could freely partake in any physical desire they wanted, without all the new Torah regulations.

Although the members of the Sanhedrin desired meat for different reasons, in order to fulfill certain mitzvot, and the airev rav’s desire for meat was rooted in their desire to live physically free, as they had in Egypt, (despite the fact that they saw Hashem’s awesomeness and they had been the generation fortunate enough to receive the Torah), they too had an evil inclination that they needed to keep in check.

We are all created with yatar haras- inclinations to sin-  giving us the choice to sin. Hashem did not create us to be robots; therefore, the evil inclination was created in order for us to use our good inclination to empower the evil. Despite seeing Hashem’s infinite greatness, members of Bnai Israel were still fighting their evil inclination. From that we can see if the holiest generation alive was inclined to sin, how much more inclined are we to sin?

Furthermore, if everything that Hashem does is for the ultimate good, then Hashem creating an evil inclination must also be good, right? But how can that be, an evil inclination being good? Without an evil inclination, we would all be good people and do good things by default, there would be no other motivation to do good, other than it is our nature. However, Hashem in His wondrous ways instilled within us all the good evil inclination in order for us to rise above the evil and conquer it, thereby, owning the good behavior (rather than it just being a natural motivation). Now tell me, who is in charge, you, or the little devil inside? The choice is yours.

TORAH FOR YOUR TABLE! ENOUGH KVETCHING!

Regardless of the sins of the generation in the wilderness, this generation was considered to be the holiest of all other generations. Although they sinned numerous times, and the Torah criticizes them over and over, we must recognize that because they were on such a high level, Hashem had higher expectations of them. Even though they complained and sinned, they continuously maintained their high levels of emunah- faith/commitment- for Hashem. Moreover, Bnai Israel never truly complained, at times they just let their yatar hara- evil inclination- get the best of them, but they were immediately able to overcome those negative motivations and serve Hashem with utter faithfulness and joy.

At times, we all complain about our lives and may be displeased with certain circumstances. However, we must look to the generation in the wilderness for guidance. Just as they were able to overcome their evil inclinations to complain, we too, can learn to overcome our desires to ‘kvetch’-complain- and cling to our Source with utter emunah.

DVAR TORAH IN UNDER A MINUTE!

Sacrifice Yourself For Your Fellow Jew!
After the members of the Sanhedrin were killed, because of their complaints for meat, Moshe requested new Elders. Hashem told Moshe to elect seventy elders, who were overseers in Egypt- meaning they preferred to be beaten by the Egyptians than to be driving on top of other Jews, which would make their labor more strenuous. Because they displayed such love for their fellow Jews, Hashem rewarded them with these high-ranking roles in Bnai Israel. Because they suffered for the sake of their community, they were rewarded with honor, greatness, and ruach hakodesh-Divine inspiration.

Moreover, we can see that those who extend themselves for the sake of other Jews will be rewarded by Hashem. We should all find opportunities to consistently help our fellow Jews, because their strife is our strife. Those of us who do will be rewarded immensely in proportions unknown to man.