|
|
CHUMASH
Parshas Behaalosecha - Shlishi with Rashi
|
|
Today we learn about Pesach — and Pesach Sheini!
The Mishkan was put up on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Hashem told Moshe to tell the Yidden to bring a Korban on Erev Pesach. Even though Moshe told them about this before, he reviewed it with them again when they actually had to bring the korban!
On Erev Pesach, the Yidden did exactly what Hashem asked, and brought the Korban Pesach.
But not ALL the Yidden. Some Yidden were tamei and couldn’t bring the Korban. They were very disappointed! They tried to give a reason to Moshe that they could bring the Korban Pesach even though they were tamei. “Lama Nigara?” they asked. “Why should we be left out? We also want to bring the Korban Pesach!”
Moshe asked Hashem what he should do.
Hashem told Moshe that these Yidden were wrong, they CAN’T bring a Korban Pesach when they are tamei. But they CAN still bring one later!
One month after Erev Pesach, on Yud-Daled Iyar, anyone who didn’t have a chance before can bring the Korban Pesach. They still need to keep the same halachos, eating it with matzah and not leaving any over until the morning. The only difference is that they are allowed to have chometz, and to do melacha on Pesach Sheini.
The Torah warns us not to say “I’ll bring the korban later.” If we CAN bring the Korban Pesach on time, it is an aveira to push it off until Pesach Sheini on purpose.
|
|
|
|
In today’s Tehillim, in Kapitel Pey-Daled, we have a posuk which we learn about in Tanya! “Ki Shemesh UMagen Hashem Elokim!” “Because the name of Hashem and Elokim is like a sun and its cover.”
A mashal for the chayus of Hashem in the world is the sun, which shines very strong. If the sun shines on us with all of its might, it would make the world too hot! The world can only be a place for us to live because there is a cover on the sun, so we can enjoy its light.
The same is with the chayus of Hashem: The chayus from the name Havaya is so strong that we wouldn’t be able to live in the world like regular people — we would just feel like we are part of the chayus of Hashem. But the name Elokim covers up the name Havaya so we are able to live in the world and keep Torah and mitzvos like Hashem wants.
The main name of Hashem that the world sees is Elokim, the hidden chayus of Hashem. But the Avodah of a Yid is to remember that inside of this chayus is the chayus of the name Yud-Kay-Vov-Kay that is higher than nature, and that the chayus of the name Yud-Kay-Vov-Kay and the name Elokim is the same Hashem!
We remind ourselves of this in our tefillos and brachos, when we say “Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu,” and when we say “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu” — that there is a chayus of Hashem that a Yid is connected to that doesn’t have to follow the rules of nature!
|
|
|
TANYA
Shaar Hayichud Veha'emunah Perek Vov
|
|
The two names of Hashem, Havaya and Elokim, work together: Hashem creates the world and gives us chayus with Sheim Havaya, and then hides the chayus using Sheim Elokim, so we can live in the world and choose to serve Hashem! These names of Hashem are describing two different midos of Hashem, but they are of course part of only ONE Hashem. Even though they might look different to us, we understand that by Hashem they are really one.
The Alter Rebbe shows us where Eliyahu Hanavi talks about this, in the part of the Zohar that starts Posach Eliyahu, which we say on Erev Shabbos before Mincha.
Moshe Rabbeinu told this to the Yidden before they went into Eretz Yisroel, and told them that they should remember this for always. He told them that when you think about this, you will understand that there is nothing that exists aside for Hashem!
We say this posuk every day in davening, at the end of Aleinu! “Veyadaata Hayom, Vehasheivosa El Levavecha, Ki Hashem Hu HoElokim BaShomayim Mimaal, Ve’al HaAretz Mitachas Ein Od”: “You should know today and take to heart that Hashem is Elokim (meaning that even the world where Hashem is hidden, ‘Elokim,’ is all part of Hashem) and then you’ll know that in Shomayim above and on earth below, there is nothing separate from Hashem at all!”
|
|
|
|
Let’s say you go with Mommy and Tatty to the store, to buy a very special birthday present — a new bike! You see all the bikes in the store, but one of them makes you look twice. It is a super-fancy kind, with 25 speeds, and flashing lights on the back and on the wheels, a basket that you can put your name on, a horn AND a bell AND a built-in place for a lock, and even a place to clip a video camera to the front!
When you see that bike, something inside you doesn’t let you choose it. You feel like that’s TOO much Gashmius. You decide to get a different bike instead — one that’s nice, but not with all of those extra taavos which are exciting, but you don’t really need.
That feeling inside of us is important and special. It’s part of Avodas Hashem and what a Yid should feel. By not running after taavos which don’t help us do what Hashem wants, we are showing that what’s important to us is not the pleasures in the world, but our connection to Hashem. That brings Hashem a lot of nachas!
But it’s only a beginning. The main avodah of a Yid is not in what we DON’T do, but in what we DO. The MAIN avodah is to take the bike that we DID buy, and to use it to get exercise and to have fun so we can be healthy and happy and be able to learn better. The main avodah is using what we have to serve Hashem.
Another example of this is choosing not to read the news if it won’t help us serve Hashem. That’s iskafya and very important. But the MAIN avodah is using our time and mind instead to learn Torah!
|
|
|
|
Today’s mitzvah (Mitzvas Asei #155) is to make Shabbos holy, by saying special things when Shabbos comes in and when Shabbos goes out. We speak about how great and special Shabbos is, and how it is different than the days before and after it.
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Yisro (one of the Aseres Hadibros): זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ
The posuk means, “Remember Shabbos to keep it holy.”
Torah Shebaal Peh explains what this mitzvah is. The Mechilta, the Midrash of halacha, explains that this means to make a bracha. In Gemara, the Chachomim tell us to make this bracha over a cup of wine. The Gemara says we should make a bracha when Shabbos ends as well, to separate it from the rest of the days.
That’s why we keep this mitzvah by making Kiddush and Havdalah!
The halachos of how to keep this mitzvah are discussed in the end of Gemara Pesachim, and in parts of Mesechta Brachos and Mesechta Shabbos.
The Rambam organizes these halachos in Perek Chof-Tes of Hilchos Shabbos, part of the Rambam tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
In today’s Rambam, we learn about other things we don’t do on Shabbos, even if they aren’t similar to a melacha and won’t lead to a melacha. These things we don’t do because they aren’t Shabbosdik things to do, even though they have nothing to do with a melacha. The Chachomim learned from a posuk (“Mimtzo Cheftzecha VeDaber Davar”) that we shouldn’t act like we do during the week.
We also start learning about muktza — things that aren’t meant to be used on Shabbos.
Perek Chof-Daled: We learn not to speak about business like you do during the week. We are allowed to talk about money for the sake of a mitzvah though, like to raise money for tzedakah.
Perek Chof-Hey: Another way that Shabbos is different than the rest of the days of the week is that we don’t move things that are muktza, which means separated from use. Some things are muktza because they are not allowed to be used on Shabbos, and other things are muktza because they are very expensive and you are always careful about touching them. There are also things that are muktza because they are disgusting, and you are always careful not to touch them!
Perek Chof-Vov: The Rambam gives examples of keilim and what kind of muktza they are. We learn when it is asur to move them, and when we are allowed to use them for something which is allowed on Shabbos.
|
|
|
|
In this perek, we learn about doing business and about our dealings with goyim when they are celebrating their Avodah Zarah days.
|
|
|
|
In today’s Chumash, we learn about the Korban Pesach.
The Korban Pesach is an unusual korban! Usually, a korban can be one of two kinds: A Korban Yochid, or a Korban Tzibur.
A Korban Yochid is a korban that a person brings for himself — like a person who had a neis happen to him, who brings a Korban Todah.
A Korban Tzibur is a korban that is brought together for all the Yidden — like the Korban Tomid that is brought every day in the Beis Hamikdash on behalf of all of the Yidden.
But the Korban Pesach is BOTH! It is a Korban Yochid, because each Yid has a mitzvah to bring one. And it is also a Korban Tzibur, because it needs to be brought by all Yidden at the same time!
The Rebbe shows us how we can learn from here a very important lesson in Ahavas Yisroel:
When we hear about or meet a Jew, we have Ahavas Yisroel for them like we do for every Yid, because we know they are part of Klal Yisroel! That kind of Ahavas Yisroel is like a Korban Tzibur, one that is the same for all of the Yidden.
But it is not enough to have just that kind of Ahavas Yisroel. We also need to love every Yid in a way of a Korban Yochid, by seeing what is special about just that person!
For example, we can look at how they make other people happy, or how they are careful to kiss the mezuzah when they come into a room. We can look at how excited they are to light Shabbos candles, or how much tzedakah they give!
When we look for the special maalos that each Yid has, we will feel Ahavas Yisroel especially for them!
See Likutei Sichos chelek Yud-Ches, second sicha for Parshas Behaalosecha
|
|
|
▼ Jump to Coloring Books & Downloads ▼
|
|
|
|
In Ashrei, we praise Hashem with all of the letters of the Alef-Beis!
The most important posuk of Ashrei starts with the letter “pey”: “Poseiach Es Yodecha, Umasbia Lechol Chai Ratzon.” “Hashem, You open Your hand and satisfy all living things.” This posuk is one of the main reasons why Ashrei was chosen to be the words of praise in Pesukei Dezimra!
This posuk tells us that Hashem gives parnasa, and helps everyone with whatever they need. We realize that all that we have comes directly from Hashem, and that we have all we need! We also think about how Hashem takes care of every creation and gives it whatever it needs to have.
Because this idea is so important, the halacha in Shulchan Aruch is that we need to have kavana especially when we say this posuk.
|
|
|
|
In Shulchan Aruch, it teaches that davening NEEDS to be with kavana. Because of this, a person is even allowed to daven in whatever language he speaks, so that he will understand what he is saying.
Practically speaking, we daven nowadays in Lashon Kodesh even if we don’t understand it. We do this because there is a special kedusha in Lashon Kodesh, and many deeper meanings and kavanos are hidden in these words.
Still, this halacha teaches us how important it is to understand the meaning of davening!
When we know what the words of davening mean, we can daven with all of the beautiful kavanos and deeper meanings hidden in the words of Lashon Kodesh, as well as the main thing — understanding the words we say to Hashem!
See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, siman Kuf-Alef
|
|
לעילוי נשמת הרה״ח ר׳ דניאל יצחק ע״ה בן ר׳ אפרים שי׳ מאסקאוויץ
שליח כ"ק אדמו"ר נשיא דורנו למדינת אילינוי
|
|
|
|
The Navi Yeshaya is also called the “Navi HaGeulah,” because he is the Navi that speaks the MOST about Moshiach in his nevuos!
In one of Yeshaya’s nevuos about the end of Golus and the beginning of the Geulah, he tells us about how we will go out of Golus:
כִּי בְשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ וּבְשָׁלוֹם תּוּבָלוּן הֶהָרִים וְהַגְּבָעוֹת יִפְצְחוּ לִפְנֵיכֶם רִנָּה וְכָל עֲצֵי הַשָּׂדֶה יִמְחֲאוּ כָף
Ki Besimcha Seitzeiu — You will go out of Golus with joy!
U’veshalom Tuvalun — And you will be brought back to Eretz Yisrael in a way of shalom!
Heharim Vehag’vaos — The mountains and the hills
Yiftzechu Lifneichem Rina — Will burst into song before you!
Vechol Atzei Hasadeh — And all of the trees of the field
Yimcha’u Chaf — Will clap their hands!
According to one of the meforshim, this posuk is saying a mashal: When someone is happy, they feel that the whole world is happy too! Since we will be so happy when Moshiach comes, we will feel like the whole world, including the mountains and the trees, are singing and clapping together with us!
The Rebbe would usually finish off farbrengens with singing a niggun with words from this posuk!
See Yeshaya Perek Nun-Hey posuk Yud-Beis, and pirush of Metzudos
|
|
|
|
|
לע"נ התינוק זאב ארי' ע"ה בן יבלט"א הרה"ח ר' שניאור זלמן שי' גליק
נפטר ב' מנחם אב ה'תשע"ג
|
|
Give children around the world the gift of Kids Chitas!
KidsChitas.org/sponsor
|
|
|
