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.
Achrei Mos Kedoshim 5785
Tazriya Metzorah 5785
Tzav-Pesach 5785
Vayikra 5785
Pekudei 5785
Vayikra 5785
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Watch the archived edition of the YouParsha Vayikra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6_0jqTkMI Hashem is Your Buddy
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The Book of Leviticus begins with the details of offering sacrifices in the Temple - Parshas Vayikra - Leviticus 1-6. Three Sacrifices - burnt, mincha and peace offerings - caused a "sweet smell to Hashem - they made Hashem happy." One would think that performing any commandment would make Hashem happy.
Each commandment has its intrinsic purpose in addition to creating a connection between Hashem and us. The entire purpose of the sacrifices was to bring those who brought those sacrifices closer to G'd. Hashem was not happy because someone barbequed a sheep - Hashem is not into ribs, nor was the sacrifice a type of bribe to either get something from Hashem or be forgiven by Hashem. The sacrifices were the vehicle by which the person, who felt disconnected from Hashem, establish a personal relationship with the Almighty. The person bringing these sacrifices understood that by doing so, he was doing what Hashem wanted for no ulterior motive. When we want to get close to Hashem, Hashem wants to get close to us.
Three types of burnt-offerings may be brought on the altar: cattle, sheep, and fowl. A wealthy person is self-assured and prideful, and therefore most likely to sin. For this reason, he must bring the largest and most expensive offering, "from the cattle." A less affluent person, less likely to sin, fulfills his obligation by offering a sheep. The poor man, who is already humbled by his poverty, need only bring birds, the least costly type of offering.
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Two very pious men desired to delve into the secrets of Torah. These two, Reb Elimelech and Reb Moshe, spent weeks fasting and praying trying to fathom the intricacies of the Torah. They became frustrated with their failed attempts. One day, they opened the holy ark containing the Torah scrolls and sincerely began to pray to be allowed to understand the secrets of the Torah.
Suddenly, they heard a voice projecting from the ark and saw a vision of two faces. The voice instructed them, "Find these two people and you will find the secrets of the Torah." The two men set off at once. They traveled from village to town to city, over hill and dale, spending many weeks on the road. While traveling through the town of Mezritch, Reb Moshe looked up at a second story window and saw Avrohom the Moloch (angel). He pointed this out to his associate. Just then, the person in the window said, "If you come inside, you will find the other person, my father, the Mezritcher Maagid, as well."
Reb Elimelech, being the senior of the two went inside, leaving Reb Moshe in the wagon. After many hours, Reb Elimelech finally came out and said, "This is indeed the place." Reb Moshe was quite happy and began to disembark. Reb Elimelech stopped him and said, "There is no time to stay, we must go and tell the world of this place," and they did. These two were the renowned Chasid masters and Rebbes, Reb Elimelech of Lizhansk and Reb Moshe Leib Sassover.
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