Overview
of the Weekly Reading
To be read on Shabbat Vayikra, Shabbat Zachor -
9 Adar II 5776 /March 19
Torah:Leviticus 1:1-5:6 ; Maftir: Deut. 25:17-19, Haftorah:
Samuel I 15:1-34 (pre-Purim)
Vayikra, 1st out of 11 in Leviticus, 24th
overall, 19th out of 54 in overall length.
Discussion of how to bring burnt offerings of cattle,
smaller animals and birds. Different types of meal offerings: burnt,
baked, pan fried, deep fried, and the offering of the first grain of
the season. A discussion of other types of offerings: Peace offerings
could be of cattle, sheep or goats. Sin offerings are brought as an
atonement. The sin offering for the high priest, then for the community,
for the king or for an individual. Sins that the Torah delineates specifically
as requiring a sin offering, in which cases he can choose between smaller
animals, birds or a meal offering. Details about guilt offerings brought
because of errors, doubtful situations or dishonesty or theft.
An
essay from Rabbi
Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
We experience the Torah in small chunks. There are 5 books,
54 portions, each portion is divided into chapters and verses. But on
another level the Torah is one unified entity, teaching us without any
relation to the different divisions we use. The Lubavitcher Rebbe gives
an example of this connecting the end of last weeks Torah portion,
Pekudei which is the last portion of the 2nd book of of the Torah, Shmos
with the beginning of this weeks portion, the first of the 3rd
book of the Torah, called Vayika. The last section of Pekudei speaks
about the divine cloud filling the Tent of Meeting. That verses say
that Moshe could not come to the Tent while the divine cloud covered
it and the divine presence filled it. The verse says (40/38), And
Moshe could not enter the tent. We have a dichotomy here. The cloud
was a visual sign of Gds presence. Yet it denied Moshe access.
In essence the cloud was an example of concealment, holding Moshe back
from communicating to Gd. The beginning of the next section, already
in the next book, Vayikra begins with the words (1/1), And Gd called
to Moshe. Calling someone is an example of revelation. If we follow
the verses, this revelation followed the concealment in the previous
verses. And like a peekaboo game, the revelation that follows a concealment
is a substantially more powerful an experience than an independent isolated
revelation.
The idea of a revelation that follows concealment in the Jewish man/Gd
matrix, is called teshuvah, return. Teshuvah happens when
a person allows himself to become distant from Gd. That is the concealment.
And teshuvah means he or she returns to their rightful place
of relationship to Gd, revelation. And like the immense difference between
the darkness of concealment and the brightness of revelation, so also
the light of teshuvah is something way beyond the darkness that
preceded it, to the point that even purposely done negative deeds can
be transformed to something positive, to merits. Darkness transformed
to light.
This is the truth of the call that comes after the concealment. Whether
between people or between a person and Gd, it is not just pushing away
and removing the darkness but to make the darkness itself shine. To
make night shine like day!
This is the teaching to each of us. No matter what difficulty we find
ourselves in, never give up. Realize this is an opportunity. Through
the darkness we have an opportunity to achieve an even greater revelation.
This also answers another gnawing question. Previous generation had
so much more light. And they did not bring the redemption, they were
so far away. How possibly can we, in this dark and confused generation
bring the complete redemption?
And the answer is in the question. Sleep is strongest just before the
dawn. Then is the most crucial time to strengthen ourselves, not to
doze for even an instant. Rather, wake ourselves up to received the
bright new morning, until the whole world will turn the night into day.
(Toras Menachem vol 19, page 126.)
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this
week's Reading, see the archive.
FROM
THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org
Specifically,
for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary
Kabbalists, and more,
click to Vayikra
one sample:
The Zohar
Elation Elevation
From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary
by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash
All service of G-d should be performed with joyfulness and heartfelt
desire, in order that the worship should be complete. However, a person
who has sinned before his Master and then brings a sin offering to rectify
this, needs to feel broken and remorseful in spirit.
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