------------------------------------------------ Parshas Emor Vol. III, No. 31 - May 1, 1999 * 15 Iyar, 5759 ------------------------------------------------ Questions on the Parsha: 1. In which two ways may a Kohen Gadol become inaugurated? 2. What is the difference between a xcp-a voluntary offering and a dacp-a free will offering? 3. What circumstances brought the blasphemer to do what he did? *** Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them Vayikra 21:1 Rashi comments that the repetition is meant to admonish adult Kohanim not to allow their children to become impure. R' Moshe Feinstein asks, "Where in this verse do we find an allusion to children?" Both expressions "Kohanim" and "the sons of Aharon" refer to adults. He writes that it is meaningless to merely tell a child "this is permitted; this is forbidden" A child needs to see that what his father tells him means something to the father. A child hearing from his parents, "It's difficult to keep Shabbos, but we overcame our temptation." will not necessarily follow suit. He may rationalize that he cannot withstand the temptation. The only way education has a chance of being successful is if a child hears from his parents that mitzvos are beneficial and wonderful, and he sees his parents fulfilling them with enthusiasm and zeal. Moshe was to teach the Kohanim first the basics of the mitzvah, and then to explain to them that they should feel wonder and magnificence of their unique mitzvos. With this approach, the adult will be charged with the mitzvah and the children will naturally be educated by it. *** You shall bring an Omer from your first harvest to the Kohen Vayikra 23:10 Before any grain produce of the new crop may be eaten, a meal offering of ground barley must be brought. It was brought on the 2nd day of Pesach, and is known as the Omer. R' Schwab writes that the reason the Minchas HaOmer was brought specifically from barley which is generally used for animal feed, is to teach us that through fulfilling the commandments involved, even animal food can be uplifted to the mizbeach (altar) of Hashem. The lesson to be gleaned is that it is possible for us to uplift even our animalistic soul through our actions. He cites the words of our Sages on the verse in Devorim (16:9) "You shall count seven weeks for yourself, from when the sickle is first put to the standing crop, shall you begin counting 7 weeks." Our Sages comment on the word "standing crop-dnw" that it shouldn't read "standing crop", but "standing-dnew"-referring to a person who is standing. From here, they derive that Sefiras HaOmer must be said while standing. Our Sages compare us to standing grain in a field and our mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer, to the time of cutting the grain from the ground. The message is that just as the commandment of Sefirah begins from "when the sickle is first put to the standing crop" disconnecting it from the ground to become worthy of being put on the mizbeach, so too, the mitzvah of Sefira disconnects us from the ground-our connection to earthliness and lowliness. Thus, with each successive day, we elevate ourselves until we become worthy of receiving the Torah. *** The son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name and blasphemed, so they brought him to Moshe, the name of his mother was Shelomis, daughter of Divri... Vayikra 24:11 The Torah relates the narrative of a Jew who committed the sin of blaspheming the Name of G-d. Rav Hirsch notes that the Torah mentions the mother's name only after the son had sinned. Prior to this sin, he is referred to simply as the son of an Israelite woman. Shelomis, the daughter of Divri, was the only woman in Israel who had sinned in an immoral way. The Torah only mentions her name after her son's sin because it is, at this point, that the consequence of her immorality is shown. Without this, such an outbreak of depravity would never have occurred in Yisroel. The horror of the enormity of the son's crime showed up the mother, Shelomis, as the actual originator of the deed. The Peninim on the Torah adds that a person may think he has deceived the world, by veiling his actions with a facade of piety-his iniquities will become apparent through his child's debasing activity, which will return to haunt and castigate him. *** POINTS TO PONDER: * Why is the portion dealing with the festivals prefaced with "six days labor may be done but the seventh day is a day of complete rest," seemingly referring to Shabbos. The Vilna Gaon, writes that the verse is not referring to Shabbos. "For six days" refers to the six days of Yom Tov when certain labors are permitted: the first day of Succos, Shmini Atzeres, the first day of Pesach, the last day of Pesach, Shavuos, and Rosh Hashana. "The seventh day" which is Yom Kippur, "a day of complete rest" when no work may be done. * The Meshech Chochma writes that certain mitzvos, such as Tefillin and Mezuza, cause a bonding between Bnei Yisroel and G-d, while others, such as Trumos and Maasros, bind between Bnei Yisroel themselves. This is the difference between Shabbos and Yom Tov. Shabbos binds G-d and man. Therefore, the laws forbid carrying from domain to domain and cooking in order to facilitate this bonding. Yom Tov binds man and man. Therefore, cooking is permitted. And we are 'oleh leregel,' to celebrate communally in Yerushalayim. * The Seforno writes that although there are certain blemishes that may actually increase the strength and value of an animal, they nevertheless render the animal unfit for sacrifice. What we learn from this is that completion and wholeness take precedence over quantity. The way our service to G-d is measured is by how close it comes to perfection. * The kohanim are dedicated to serve the Eternal. The food they eat must be pure, the marriages they conduct are restricted. In their daily encounter with the Almighty they are affected by a sense of eternity, the opposite of death. They are to be the embodiment of purity and holiness, a way of life which bears testimony to the eternal character of the soul. Consequently, the very touch of a dead body defiles and disqualifies them. (adapted from Peninim on the Torah) *** HALACHA: selected laws regarding Shatnez (cont.) 1. If a wool garment and linen garment are attached together through sewing, knotting or any other permanent form (bonding) the combination is considered shatnez. 2. Buttoning a wool and linen garment together (even permanently) is not considered an attachment because it can easily be unfastened. One would therefore be permitted to wear a raincoat containing linen together with its buttoned in wool lining. The same would apply to snaps or velcro. (Regarding zippers there is a difference of opinion.) 3. Some articles that may contain shatnez: military type garments - coats, hats, uniforms, etc., boots (cloth or fleece linings may be wool while stitching linen), woolen carpets (may be reinforced with linen backings), knitting yarn (textured yarns may contain wool and linen), sleeping bags (are stuffed with shredded rags), ties (linen ties may contain wool in the lining and Spanish ties may have a blend of wool / linen in their lining.) *** Zemanim for Shabbos: Candle lighting Friday night: '' 7:33 p.m. Latest time for Shema: Acc. to Magen Avraham 8:54 a.m. Acc. to Vilna Gaon 9:30 a.m. *** This week's issue is sponsored by Jay and Shelley Sarver and Debra F. Fink, D.M.D. M.S. P.C. 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Schedule of St. Louis Yesodei HaTorah Classes * Mon and Thu 8:30-9:30pm, Rabbi Chona Muser, Rabbi Yossi Golombeck, Rabbi Sroy Levitansky in U. City. * Wed 8:00-9:30pm and Sunday 9:00-10:15am, Rabbi A.A. Feldman at TICK. *** Answers to the parsha questions: 1. Either by being anointed with specially prepared oil, or by wearing the vestments of his office. 2. A vow is a personal obligation that even if the owner consecrates an animal and it becomes lost, he has not discharged his vow, and must bring another animal. A free will offering, on the other hand, is a person obligating himself to offer a specific offering, but, if for any reason, he cannot bring that offering, he is not responsible. 3. Our Sages tell us that he scoffed at the showbread. "A king eats warm, freshly baked bread. Why should G-d have old cold bread in the Tabernacle?" He was rebuked for this show of disrespect, and he then cursed. Another version is that he was refused by the tribe of Dan, his mother's tribe, a dwelling place. (His father was an Egyptian, and had no tribe.) For whatever reason, the court of Moshe ruled in favor of Dan, whereupon he cursed. *** Torah Bits are distributed to all of the St. Louis area Orthodox shuls. To sponsor Torah Bits or place an announcement for the upcoming Shabbos please contact Dmitry Reznikov at (314) 872-1676. Rates announcements: $5 for individuals $10 for organizations sponsorship: $50 per issue. TORAH BITS FROM THE ST. LOUIS KOLLEL HAS TORAH CONTENT, PLEASE TREAT IT RESPECTFULLY ( AND YES, YOU MAY TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU ).