Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.
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.
Metzora 5784
Tazriya 5784
Shmini 5784
Tzav 5784
Vayikra 5784
Shmini 5784
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This week's YouParsha Shmini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbms-nBjweI Kosher Mammels
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This week is the Parsha of Shmini, Leviticus 9 - 11. The portion is divided into four stories: The consecration of the sanctuary in the desert, the death of Aaron's two sons, the definition of kosher animals, and which animals render a person ritually impure.
The laws of kosher fall into the category of "chok", we do not understand their real significance. Keeping kosher is not a health diet, as is evident as MSG, Red 40 and schmaltz are all kosher. There are undeniable health benefits to keeping kosher: Crustaceans, milk and meat, blood and tallow fats have all been deemed unhealthy. It is not that G'd foresaw the eventually of these things being unhealthy and therefore forbade them, it happens that they are also unhealthy.
The Alter Rebbe, first Lubavitcher Rebbe, explains in his magnum opus, Tanya, the significance of keeping kosher. The word for forbidden in Hebrew is assur. The literal meaning of assur is tied. Those things that are forbidden are tied down to the forces of evil. These forbidden things can never be utilized for holiness. Even if a person inadvertently eats non kosher food with all the proper intentions (to be discussed), that un-kosher food remains within the realm of the unholy.
Kosher food, on the other hand, derives its nurture from an intermediate level. This level can be either elevated to holiness or sink into the abyss of unholiness. A cow is neither holy nor unholy. If a person bows down to a cow, that cow becomes unholy. If a cow is slaughter properly and properly prepared, and used in a proper manner, then the cow does become holy. Proper intentions would include: I need to eat this because I need energy to do some good deed. By utilizing all of the permissible things, in Hebrew, mutar or untied, we realize the purpose of our creation in making the world more holy.
This week is the last of the four special haftoras, Hachodesh. In this special Torah reading we are reminded that we are coming up to the new year and that we need to get ready for Pesach, Passover. There are four new years in the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the seventh month and is the beginning of the fiscal year. The first day of the month of Nissan, which will be celebrated this week, is the first day of the calendar year. All beginnings are appropriate times for reevaluation. This means that during this next week we are to reflect on the past year's events and resolve to improve on them. Because it is the new year, the Almighty facilitates our resolve by providing a new revelation which has never been here before.
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Among the Chasidim of the Alter Rebbe was a doctor known as Avrohom Rofeh of Riga. The Rebbe would send him the leftover matzos and karpas from his seder. The doctor would then grind these and incorporate the powder into his apothecaries.. It once happened that the doctor was summoned to the bedside of a man that his own doctors had given up hope of recovering. The Chasid administered his powders and the patient recovered. A prominent physician of Riga was present and inquired as to what the Chasid had given the ailing patient. Reb Avrohom let him in on his secret.
Years later, the Alter Rebbe was arrest and tried for treason. The file containing the record of his cross examination was forwarded to the censor in Riga. There, the same prominent physician was called upon to give evidence. He affirmed that the accused was an honorable man, and his testimony was treated with respect.
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In memory of Chaim Elozar ben Dovber HaLevi Niftar Lag B'Omer 5783
May their families be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
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