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CHUMASH
Parshas Va'eschanan - Sheini with Rashi
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Moshe Rabbeinu is continuing to talk to the Yidden and prepare them to go into Eretz Yisroel.
Moshe Rabbeinu is begging the Yidden to serve Hashem, and not Avodah Zarah. He reminds the Yidden about Matan Torah, and how close they felt to Hashem. He reminds them about Yetzias Mitzrayim — about how there is NOTHING aside for Hashem!
There are some very well-known pesukim in today’s Chumash:
- Rak Hishomer Lecha... we say this in the Sheish Zechiros, the six things we need to remember every day! This posuk reminds us about Matan Torah.
- Ata Hareisa LaDaas... the posuk we say before Kriyas HaTorah on Shabbos, and by Hakafos on Simchas Torah!
- VeYadaata HaYom... We say this posuk in Aleinu, and Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah is based on this posuk!
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Today’s kapitelach are Lamed-Hey, Lamed-Vov, Lamed-Zayin, and Lamed-Ches.
In Kapitel Lamed-Zayin, Dovid Hamelech says, “MeiHashem Mitzadei Gever Konanu” — “Hashem decides where each person goes,” “Vedarko Yechpatz” — “and He wants His way.”
Chassidus teaches that these two things are connected: Because Hashem wants His way, THAT’S why He decides where each person goes. Hashem puts us into each place to do His special shlichus there.
So when we end up somewhere with Hashgacha Protis, we need to remember that we’re there because Hashem has a job for us to do there, and make sure to look out for it and do it right!
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TANYA
Igeres Hakodesh Siman Beis
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The Alter Rebbe had a very special Shlichus from Hashem: To bring Chassidus Chabad to the world!
There were some Yidden who were against this, and tried to make it very hard for the Alter Rebbe to do this mission. They made lots of problems for the Chassidim as well. Because of this, the Alter Rebbe was put in prison, and it was a big sakana for Chassidim and Chassidus.
After he came out of prison, the Alter Rebbe wrote this letter. He told the Chassidim that what happened was a tremendous chesed from Hashem! When Hashem does a chesed for a person, it makes him closer to Hashem! And the closer a person is to Hashem, the more humble he should feel.
Because of that, it isn’t right to say not nice things to the people who were against Chassidus, even though their plan didn’t work and the Alter Rebbe was freed from prison.
Now that Hashem did this big neis, Chassidim should be humble and not talk in that kind of way. They should have truly good midos and show Ahavas Yisroel to those who were against the Alter Rebbe — and then maybe they will be nice back, and there will be shalom and Achdus!
One of the things we can learn from today’s Tanya, is that it is important to have Ahavas Yisroel no matter what anybody does to us!
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After the Alter Rebbe came out of prison on Yud-Tes Kislev, he said a very short maamar for the Mitteler Rebbe — but even though it is so short, there is a lot we can learn from it!
The posuk says “Se’u Yedeichem Kodesh, Uvorachu Es Hashem. Yevorechecha Hashem MiTzion Osei Shomayim Va’aretz.” “Pick up your hands in Kedusha, and bentch Hashem. Hashem should bentch you from Tzion — Hashem, Who made the heaven and the earth!”
The Alter Rebbe explained this posuk according to Chassidus:
Yedeichem (your hands) can also mean midos, since our arms are close to our heart, the place of our midos.
Uvorachu (and you should bentch) and Yevarechcha (He should bentch you) also mean to bring down into the world.
Tzion (which usually is talking about Yerushalayim) can mean the deepest part of a Yid’s neshama, which is also called Tzion.
Here’s how the Alter Rebbe explained the posuk:
“Se’u Yedeichem Kodesh” — Lift up your midos in holiness! Make sure that the midos are behaving according to what the sechel knows is right, and that what the sechel knows shines into the midos. “Uvorachu Es Hashem” — this will bring down the name of Hashem into the world!
When that happens, “Yevorechecha Hashem MiTzion” — the deepest part of the neshama will also be able to shine in the world, “Osei Shomayim Va’aretz” — and will make it the world able to exist.
When we learn Chassidus and act like a Chossid, it brings chayus not just to ourselves, but to the entire world!
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SEFER HAMITZVOS
Shiur #93 - Mitzvas Lo Saasei #161, #162, Asei #38, Lo Saasei #160, #158, #159
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Today in Sefer Hamitzvos, we learn mitzvos about who a kohen and a Kohen Gadol are not allowed to marry:
1) (Mitzvas Lo Saasei #161) A Kohen Gadol is not allowed to get married to a widow.
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: אַלְמָנָה וּגְרוּשָׁה וַחֲלָלָה זֹנָה אֶת אֵלֶּה לֹא יִקָּח
The details are explained in Mesechta Yevamos and Mesechta Kiddushin.
2) (Mitzvas Lo Saasei #162) A Kohen Gadol is not allowed to live with a widow, even if he is not married to her.
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: וְלֹא יְחַלֵּל זַרְעוֹ בְּעַמָּיו
3) (Mitzvas Asei #38) A Kohen Gadol needs to marry someone who never got married before.
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: וְהוּא אִשָּׁה בִבְתוּלֶיהָ יִקָּח
The details are explained in Mesechta Yevamos perek Vov and places in Mesechta Kesubos and Kiddushin.
4) (Mitzvas Lo Saasei #160) A kohen can’t marry someone who was married and got a get (divorced).
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: וְאִשָּׁה גְּרוּשָׁה מֵאִישָׁהּ לֹא יִקָּחוּ
The details are explained in Mesechta Yevamos and Mesechta Kiddushin.
5) (Mitzvas Lo Saasei #158) A kohen can’t marry a Zonah (a woman who did certain kinds of aveiros).
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: אִשָּׁה זֹנָה וַחֲלָלָה לֹא יִקָּחוּ
The details are explained in Mesechta Yevamos and Mesechta Kiddushin.
6) (Mitzvas Lo Saasei #159) A kohen can’t marry a Chalalah (someone who married a kohen when she wasn’t allowed to) or the daughter of a chalalah.
We learn this mitzvah from a posuk in Parshas Emor: אִשָּׁה זֹנָה וַחֲלָלָה
The details are explained in Mesechta Yevamos and Mesechta Kiddushin.
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In today’s Rambam (Perakim Yud-Ches, Yud-Tes, and Chof) we finish learning the halachos of who a kohen should not get married to, and how to know if someone is a kohen.
We also learn today that there are three special midos that Yidden have: They have rachmanus, they are bayshanim (not chutzpadik) and are kind — gomlei chassadim.
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We learn about the brachos on foods made from grain. There are five kinds of grain that can make food Mezonos or Hamotzi, depending on how they are prepared.
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In today’s Chumash, Sheini of Parshas Vaeschanan, we have the posuk, “Veyadaata Hayom Vehasheivosa El Levecha Ki Hashem Hu Ha’Elokim Bashomayim Mimaal Ve’al Ha’aretz Mitachas Ein Od!” “You should know today and keep in your heart that Hashem is our Hashem, in the heavens above and on the earth below there is nothing else!”
Chassidus explains that in this posuk, Moshe Rabbeinu is telling the Yidden that they should always know that Havaya is Elokim!
During different times, Hashem expresses Himself in different ways:
Sometimes there are moments where we see Hashem in a way of Havaya, the name of Hashem where His goodness and koach are clear to see. Yidden have had many powerful Havaya moments, like the time of Matan Torah, the time of the first Beis Hamikdash, and the neis of Chanukah. We also have Havaya moments in our own lives, when small (or big) nisim show us that Hashem is taking care of us. It could be when you passed a test that was very hard for you, or when you got something you had wanted very much.
There are also moments where Hashem expresses Himself in a way of Elokim. This is where Hashem’s goodness is hidden, and these moments can be very hard. We had many of these moments during the Churban and during all of these years of Golus. When everything seems to be going wrong, or something scary or painful happens to us, we are having a moment where Hashem’s chayus is coming in a way of Elokim.
But Moshe Rabbeinu is reminding us that either way, it’s still the same Aibershter! Hashem is our Hashem whether He is reaching to us in a way of Havaya, or in a way of Elokim. Hashem and His love for the Yidden is always there, even when it is hidden.
When Hashem gives a person an “Elokim moment,” He is testing him, to see if he will reach deeper inside of his neshama to KNOW (Veyadaata) that Hashem is right there with him. When he passes the test and still acts the way Hashem wants him to, then there is no reason for Hashem to be hidden anymore, and Hashem will show him His kindness!
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▼ Jump to Coloring Books & Downloads ▼
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The sixth posuk of the Yud-Beis Pesukim starts with the words “Vehinei Hashem.” This posuk comes from the Tanya, in Perek Mem-Alef. The Alter Rebbe uses these words to strengthen our Yiras Shomayim, by remembering that Hashem is always watching us to see if we will behave in the right way!
Vehinei Hashem Nitzav Alav — Hashem is standing right next to us!
U’melo Chol Ha’aretz Kevodo — And even though Hashem’s glory fills the world,
U’mabit Alav — Hashem is looking specifically at US!
Uvochein Klayos Valeiv — Hashem checks to see what we are thinking and feeling
Im Ovdo Kara’ui — To see if we are serving Hashem the way we should.
When we think about this, we will be careful to always do what Hashem wants!
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When you ask a Yid how he is feeling, what does he answer? Boruch Hashem!
Yidden are always thinking about Hashem, and are used to mentioning Hashem’s name often.
It is a minhag by Yidden that when we write something, we first mention Hashem. We write Boruch Hashem (B”H), Besiyata Dishmaya (BS”D), or something else like this.
We even do this on papers that have nothing to do with Torah. That’s because, really, the WHOLE world is full of the kavod of Hashem! There is nothing that doesn’t have to do with Hashem and His Torah. By writing B”H or BS”D on a letter, we are reminding ourselves how EVERYTHING is connected to Hashem!
See Likutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 190, Shulchan Menachem vol. 5, p. 218
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לעילוי נשמת הרה״ח ר׳ דניאל יצחק ע״ה בן ר׳ אפרים שי׳ מאסקאוויץ
שליח כ"ק אדמו"ר נשיא דורנו למדינת אילינוי
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There are two opinions in Torah about the third Beis Hamikdash. Rashi and Tosfos bring from the Zohar and the Medrash, saying that the Beis Hamikdash will come down from Shomayim! The Rambam paskens the halacha based on the Gemara Yerushalmi and a different Medrash, saying that Moshiach will build the third Beis Hamikdash.
Which is it?
The Rebbe tells us that both are true!
Here is one explanation the Rebbe gives:
The Rambam is a sefer of halacha. That means that the Rambam only talks about the things that Yidden need to do. The Rambam tells us that it is our job to work to build the Beis Hamikdash!
But we won’t be building the WHOLE Beis Hamikdash. There is also a Beis Hamikdash of Hashem in Shomayim, that will come down and become part of our Gashmius Beis Hamikdash! That will make it HASHEM’s building, and because of it, this Beis Hamikdash will be different than the other two. It will last forever!
We see an example for this in the Beis Hamikdash itself! Hashem sends down a fire from Shomayim to burn up the korbanos, but it is still a mitzvah for a kohen to light a fire on the Mizbeiach. Once we light a fire down here, Hashem sends down His fire onto the Mizbeiach.
(The Rambam doesn’t tell us that part, because it isn’t halacha, it isn’t something WE need to do! We learn about it from other places in Torah! The Zohar and the Medrash tell us about the part of the Beis Hamikdash which will be GIVEN to us from Hashem, and will make it a Beis Hamikdash that will last forever!)
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לע"נ התינוק זאב ארי' ע"ה בן יבלט"א הרה"ח ר' שניאור זלמן שי' גליק
נפטר ב' מנחם אב ה'תשע"ג
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