Divrei Mav

Parshas Kedoshim 2018 Transcendence   Joe is a shomer - shabbos and shomer - mitzvos Jewish man. He actually takes great pride in his observance of the Torah . He keeps the highest degree of kosher , studies Torah , and keeps the Shabbos . Not only that but when he eats, he’s sure to make a brocha (blessing) over each food, and even bentch (recite Grace After Meals) afterward. Everything Joe does, is in accordance with the Torah . Or is it? There’s something else you should know about Joe. Aside from being orthodox, Joe has an eating and drinking problem. See, Joe is vastly overweight mainly because what he sees, he eats. Joe will sit down to eat lunch and have a 24 oz steak, with hamburgers, fries, a salad, onion rings, soup, and pasta. After he’ll have a chocolate cake and a tub of ice cream. Oh, and to wash it all down he’ll polish off a bottle of soda and of course several glasses of wine. However gross and gluttonous his eating routine may seem, he still ma

Parshas Acharei Mos 2018 Live Because of Them Hashem distributes the issur (prohibition) of immorality in Parshas Acharei Mos with a list of all the forbidden relationships for one to associate. Included in this list, for example are one’s relatives and the relatives of one’s spouse. Intriguingly, almost mid-sentence Hashem states, “Observe My statutes and ordinances -which a person shall do, and live because of them .” (Leviticus 18:5). Ramban comments, this statement is actually referring to each mitzvah that pertains to man and his fellow (social commandments). This category of mitzvos is called, “bein adam l’chavairo” (between man and his friend). In this category you’ll find mitzvos governing debts and loans and the prohibition against stealing and robbery, for example. With each one you observe, you promote a life with law and order ultimately creating peace, says the Ramban . Others are of the opinion, the phrase “ and live because of them ” means

Parshas Metzora 2018 Neutralizing Our Negativities Parshas   Metzora , like  Tazria  also discusses the laws of  Tzaraas  and one who is contaminated is called a “ Metzora ”. The  Torah  forbids us from speaking  Lashon   Hara  (gossip). Slandering another with words is a great sin and is in fact, a primary reason developing  Tzaraas . A person who is a  Baal   Lashon   Hara  (habitual speaker of  lashon   hara ) can also be referred to as a “ motzee   shem   ra ” which literally translates to “one who give someone else a bad name”. Just as one’s personal feelings toward his fellow Jew surfaced into gossip and slander; the  Metzora’s  body surfaced with  Tzaraas . To eradicate  Tzaraas,  proper  teshuva  (repentance) is needed. One of the steps in  teshuva  is committing to never transgress that sin again. We are taught,  mitzvos  attract  mitzvos  and  avairos  (sins) attract  avairos . Good deeds attract positive energy and misdeed deeds attract negative energy

Parshas Tazria 2018 Keeping the Balance The Torah teaches a concept called “ tumah and taharah” , being spiritually impure or pure. Tumah is a status. It’s nothing physical -it’s purely spiritual. There are a several ways a person to become tamei (impure). One way is by coming in contact with something that is impure or carries impurities. For example, a corpse is tamei and if one touches a corpse he too becomes defiled. A person who is defiled cannot partake in certain practices until he is purified. One way to become tahoar (pure) is through the mikvah (immersion in ritual bath house). A woman becomes impure when she gives birth. She is deemed tamei for a period, depending on the gender of the child. Interestingly, some teach the reason Hashem made it this way is because a mother could lose sight of the fact that Hashem gave her this child, arrogantly feeling instead that she brought it into this world. As a reminder or a way to keep things in balance Hashem mad

Parshas Shemini 2018 You Can’t Understand If You “Can’t” Understand Shemini is the first place in the Torah where we find the laws of Kashrus (keeping kosher ) as it pertains to specific species. Listing them by name, the Torah spells out exactly which animals are OK to eat and from which we should refrain. Back in Parshas Mishpatim we were taught the prohibition of “cooking a calf in its mother’s milk” whereas, this week the physical identification markings are given as well as a list of creatures permitted. Hashem’s laws of kashrus are to prevent us from eating impure products and only allow those with unique marks. The kosher identification signs include split hooves and chewing cud for animals, while fish must have fins and scales. Birds on the other hand, need to be specifically from the list mentioned in the parsha (and cannot be birds of prey). Taking this along with the previous prohibition of mixing milk with meat, we start to understand what it me

Pesach 2018 Why Have “Second Days”? The  Yom   Tov  of  Pesach  is an incredible time to build ourselves as Jews. One way we can do this is to take the time to express our gratitude to  Hashem  for everything that He  constantly  does for us. Pesach  is divided into two parts with two days of  Yom   Tov  each celebrating and commemorating extraordinary miracles  Hashem  did for our people. The first two days of  Yom   Tov  commemorate the freedom from bondage under Pharaoh’s reign. To celebrate this we observe the  Yom   Tov  with a  seder  in which we tell in great detail the story of our exodus and sing  Hashem’s  praises through  Hallel  (additional prayers in the morning service). Then, the holiday comes to a close with last two days where we reflect on splitting of the Sea and yet another salvation for our people. The “second days” of  Pesach  (as they are known) are very simple. We continue to eat  matza  and observe the laws of  Yom   Tov . When we read from