Shemini #2- Birkat Kohanim

Vayikra 9:22
ו ַיִּשּׂ ָּא אַהֲרֹ֧ן אֶת־ידו [י ָדָ֛יו] אֶל־הָעָ֖ם ו ַֽי ְבָרְ כֵ֑ם ו ַיֵּ֗רֶ ד מֵעֲשֹׂ֧ת הַֽחַטָּ֛את ו ְהָעֹ לָ֖ה ו ְהַשּׁ ּלָמִ ֽים׃

Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he stepped down after offering
the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the offering of well-being.
What blessing does Aharon give ישראל בני?
According to רש״י ,Aharon says birchat cohanim.
What other interpretations are there? Why does the פסוק say Aharon went down? What is in the
קרבנות Aharon gives? Why this specific combination of קרבנות?

Shemini #1- Nadav & Avihu

וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the LORD. (Perek 10 Pasuk 2)

What does וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ mean? Why did Aaron's sons die?

Rashi answers this by quoting Rabbi Eleizer. Rabbi Eleizer said that Aaron's sons died because they made decisions on religious matters in the presence of Moses. Then Rashi continues by quoting Rabbi Ishmael who says that they died because they came in drunk. This is proven because after their death he said that those who survived should not enter when drunk.

What are other reasons that Aaron's sons died?

How do other mefarshim define these words?

What do other mefarshim think the reason that Aaron's sons died?

Is there anywhere else in the Torah that someone dies like this?

Tzav #3

צַ֤ו אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר זֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הָעֹלָ֑ה הִ֣וא הָעֹלָ֡ה עַל֩ מוֹקְדָ֨ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ כָּל־הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וְאֵ֥שׁ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ תּ֥וּקַד בּֽוֹ׃

Command Aaron and his sons thus:  This is the ritual of the burnt offering: The burnt offering itself shall remain where it is burned upon the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar is kept going on it. (6:2)

 

But what does “צו” mean?

Rashi says that Whenever the word “צו” is used, it’s a commandment to be done without delay and is meant to apply to more than one occasion. And if it’s not done immediately then you could lose the opportunity to be an,e to do the commandment.

Questions:

1. where else is the word “צו” seen in the Torah? The
2. What other meanings does ״צו״ have?
3. Where else do we see the word used like this?

Tzav #2

6:3 וְלָבַ֨שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדּ֣וֹ בַ֗ד וּמִֽכְנְסֵי־בַד֮ יִלְבַּ֣שׁ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וְהֵרִ֣ים אֶת־הַדֶּ֗שֶׁן אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאכַ֥ל הָאֵ֛שׁ אֶת־הָעֹלָ֖ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְשָׂמ֕וֹ אֵ֖צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar.

The first thing commanded of the Cohen in the morning is to clean up the ashes. Why is “cleaning up the garbage” the first the to do in the morning?

The chovos halevavos says that it is to remind the cohanim to be humble because they have such an important Job they might become arrogant because of his position. So Hashem makes him every morning clean up the ashes to humble him.

Questions :

What might be another reason why the Cohen picks up the ashes?

Where else is there a mitzvah in order to keep someone humble?

Where else do we see someone being humble?

What other mitzvah of a cohen has a deeper message?

What other mitzvot are there that teaches us to be better people?

Tzav #1

In Parshat Tzav, it says in pasuk 5 וְהָאֵ֨שׁ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ תּֽוּקַד־בּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה , that a fire should burn on the Mizbeach and it should not go out. The again, in the next pasuk 6, it says אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד תּוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה. A continuos fire shall burn on the mizbeach and not go out.

Why is there double language? What is the signifigance of this repition?

Rashi comments a very Pshat answer, that the reason why the phrase is repeated twice is because by violating this commandment, you are also violating two Mitzvot.

What are other suggestions to the reason for double language here? Where else in the Torah do we see repitition, and what is the signifigance? What is the signifigance of the continuous fire on the mizbeach?

Vayikra #3- No Fat

“חקת עולם לדרתיכם בכל מושבתיכם כל חלב וכל דם לא תאכלו״ 3:17 

“A perpetual statue throughout your genarations in all your dwellings; you may not consume any fat or blood.

Why does the Torah prohibit eating fat?

Ramban says that in an anima there are 2 types of fat: “Shuman”- kosher fat which is in the ribs of the animal and inseparable, and Cheilev- which is the non- kosher fat on top of the meet and can be separated. It neede to be removed because its not good for our health.  

What are other reasons why fat of an animal is prohibited? What is the punishment if you consume it? What are other parts of karbanot that you are not allowed to eat and what are the reasons for it?  Why does the Passuk need to say throughout your generations AND all your dwellings?

Vayikra #2- Little Aleph

Neima Fine	Fri, Mar 8, 10:19 AM (5 days ago)
to me

וַיִּקְרָ֖א אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו מֵאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃ 

The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying:

פרק א, פסוק א

Why is the word “Vayikra” written with a small aleph? 

The Ba’al Haturim says that the word “Vayikar” (ויקרא without the aleph) means casually calling, while the word “Vayikra” (with an aleph) means to call with love. While Moshe is considered the greatest prophet of the Jewish people, the non Jews boasted about Bilaam, being someone as great in prophecy. When the Torah talks about hashem speaking to Bilaam, the word “Vayikar” is used to show that hashem didn’t enjoy speaking to Bilaam and was not calling out to him with love. Because Moshe was so humble he wanted to write the word as “Vayikar” but because hashem loved Moshe so much he insisted that Moshe write “Vayikra.” So it is written with a small aleph as a compromise between Moshe and hashem. 

What other reasons do mipharshim give as a reason for the small aleph?  

Where are other places in the Torah where a letter/word is written in a smaller font? And why? 

Where else is the word Vayikra used to show someone specifically calling out with love, versus causality? 

Vayikra #1- Salt

“וכל קרבן מנחתך במלח תמלח ולא תשבית מלח ברית אלקיך מעל מנחתך על כל קרבנך תקריב מלח"

“And every meal-offering you shall season with salt, and you may not discontinue the salt of the covenant of your G‑d upon your meal-offering. On all your sacrifices you shall offer salt.” (2:13)

Why must Karbans always be salted?

There are 3 parts of the world: inhabited land, water and deserts. The Beit Hamikdash was on inhabited land, the Torah was given in the desert but nothing holy happened with water! Therefore, in order for water to have something holy happen with it, Hashem commanded us to salt karbanos and use that water to pour on the מזבח on sukkah. (When sea water is boiled it separates into salt and water). (רבינו בחיי)

What other reasons are there that we put salt on karbanot?

What are some other rules we see about karbanot that have deeper meanings?

Where else in the Torah do we see an idea similar to this one?

When else do we usually salt something? Why?

Pekudei #3- Bayit #3

"אשר פקד על פי משה“

“Which was counted according to the commandment of Moshe.” (38:21)

Why does the passuk say by the commandment of Moshe, shouldn’t it say by Hashem?

When mashiach comes, we will iyh have the 3rd beit hamikdash. The word “al pi” in gematria equals 90 and 90 in Hebrew is קץ. That means end meaning ending of galus. Rashi says, that in the same passuk where the hint is to the 2 beit hamikdash being destroyed, it also says al pi Moshe to maybe hint that through learning Torah which was handed to Moshe, we will merit keitz, the end of galus, and bringing Mashiach, and ultimately rebuild the third beit hamikdash.   

Chabad.org 

What are other reasons it says by Moshe and not Hashem?

Where in the Torah is there other Hints to mashiach and the 3rd beit hamikdash being rebuilt?

Where else in the Torah does it mention Moshe instead of Hashem?

Pekudei #2- Jobs of Leviim

אֵ֣לֶּה פְקוּדֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר פֻּקַּ֖ד עַל־פִּ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה עֲבֹדַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם בְּיַד֙ אִֽיתָמָ֔ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן

These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses’ bidding—the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 38:21

What where the jobs of the לווים? And were they all the same jobs?

Rashi says that each person had different jobs depending on his accord ability. For example counting the things in the משכן that needed to be counted or carrying,  putting up, taking down, or setting up vessels that were needed in the משכן.

What were other jobs of the לווים? And according to other opinions did they all have the same jobs? If they did all have the same jobs, why? 

Pekudei- Mishkan x2?

כאאֵ֣לֶּה פְקוּדֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָֽעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר פֻּקַּ֖ד עַל־פִּ֣י משֶׁ֑ה עֲבֹדַת֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם בְּיַד֙ אִֽיתָמָ֔ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן:

These are the numbers of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony, which were counted at Moses' command; [this was] the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the Kohen. (שמות לח:כא)

Why does it say Mishkan twice? Rashi says that it represents the two beit hamikdashim that were destroyed because Bnei Yisrael sinned. (And once we repent we will have a third in the future)

Follow up questions:

What’s another reason it says mishkan twice?

Where is there another time in the torah where a word is repeated twice in a row?

Is there another time in the torah where words allude to the beit hamikdash?

Where in the torah are the sins which Bnei Yisrael committed to have the beit hamikdash destroyed?