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Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.
Behar Bechukosai 5786
Emor 5786
Acharei Mos Kedoshim 5786
Tazria Metzorah 5786
Shmini 5786
Behar Bechukosai 5786
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This week's YouParsha Behar Bechukosai http://youtu.be/b8XnRRIqJyU Exchanging Sacrificing
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Parsha Behar-Bechukosai - Leviticus 25 - end - is read as part of the preparation for the holiday of Shavuos (this year May 21 at Sundown - May 23 dusk). The second part of the Parsha begins, "If you will go in my chukos - statutes (then all kinds of good things happen). Chukos means those commandments that are performed without being told why; keeping kosher, mikvah, wool and linen, etc. Good things happen whenever people do mitzvahs. Why does the verse make the distinction?
Commandments that make intellectual sense are easy to perform. We understand the need. Even commemorative commandments as Shabbos and the holidays become enjoyable because of their relatability. The very basis of Yiddishkeit, though, is accepting the yoke of heaven. Bottom line - Jews perform the commandments because of an obligation to Hashem (obligations can be enjoyable [I enjoy not eating bugs]). This attitude acts as a springboard to achieve the highest level of Divine service - b'chol m'odecha - with all your might.
We are commanded to love Hashem with all your heart, soul and might. All your heart is very easy. You are reading this missive because you have convinced your animal soul that there are aspects of Torah and mitzvahs that are enjoyable. All your soul requires is martyrdom to some degree. Martyrdom hurts. Yet, a Jew would suffer the pains of death rather than be separated from Hashem. All your might is the next step up. It means relating to Hashem in a supra-rational way - going beyond the limits of intellect. The Jews' very existence, considering our 3338 years of history, would indicate that the Jewish people should have gone the way of the Assyrians, ch'v. Our existence is proof of the essential connection with the Almighty and that the Almighty does take care (see story following). It all starts with the commandments we do not understand.
Another of the prohibitions in this Parsha is delaying the wages of a hired worker.
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The chassidim were gathered around the table of the Maggid of Mezeritch, Reb DovBer, as he told a story of his rebbe, the holy Baal Shem Tov.
“It was an uneventful Shabbat by the Baal Shem Tov,” began the Maggid, “until the conclusion.” The Maggid continued: Immediately after the conclusion of the evening prayers—still before havdalah—a woman rushed in to the room where the Baal Shem Tov and his chassidim had concluded their prayers.“You’ve got to help me, Rebbe!” she cried out. “I am in desperate need of funds to marry off my daughter, and I have nowhere left to turn!” The Baal Shem Tov heard her out, and then directed his chassidim to reach their hands in to their pockets and give whatever money they found there for this worthy cause. Amazingly, the funds they came up with were the exact amount that the woman said she needed.
“Tell me,” the Maggid concluded the story, “what is the lesson to be gleaned from this story of our master the Baal Shem Tov?”
One chassid offered his thought: “This story shows the miraculous powers of the Baal Shem Tov. Even though it was impossible that anyone would have money in their pockets—for Shabbat had ended just moments earlier—the Baal Shem Tov performed this miracle to help this poor woman.” “To show us the Baal Shem Tov’s power to perform miracles,” the Maggid pronounced, “we have many stories. We do not need this specific story.”
Another chassid spoke up: “But this was a double miracle: not only did the Baal Shem Tov make the money appear miraculously, but it was the exact amount—to the kopek.” Again the Maggid said that there are no lack of stories demonstrating amazing and doubly amazing miracles performed by the Baal Shem Tov.
A third chassid suggested: “That the Baal Shem Tov can make wondrous miracles occur—that is obvious. However, the Baal Shem Tov could have made all the money appear in his pocket, thus performing this important mitzvah by himself. Yet because of his tremendous love of his fellow, he wanted to share the mitzvah, and thus made money appear in the pockets of all those present. That, I think, is the message of the story.”
“May I suggest,” the Maggid said, “that this story is not about the Baal Shem Tov at all. I think that the story is truly about the greatness of his disciples. Even though Shabbat had just ended and none of them had any money with them, they nevertheless inserted their hands in their pockets, following the directive of their rebbe with complete faith and trust . . .”
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