“…When a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy…” (Leviticus 12:2) In the Torah portion Tazriah, the word in the above verse translated as ‘conceives’. This theme coincides with the special Shabbat we will have this week, which is also the beginning of the month of Nissan, the 1st… Read More »LEVITICUS 12:2 – AFTER THE BEGINNING
בס”ד Introduction Leviticus 13:3 describes tzara’at, a spiritual affliction revealing flaws deeper than skin, challenging us to see beyond surface appearances. Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come… Read More »PARSHAT TAZRIA 5784 – SKIN DEEP
“Whatever crawls on its belly…” (Leviticus 11:42). The word for stomach/belly is gachon. The letter vav in this word is always written enlarged in a Torah scroll. It happens to be the middle letter in the entire Torah, the center point. The meaning of vav in Hebrew is a hook.… Read More »LEVITICUS 11:42 – CAPTURING CONNECTION
Rabbi Nachman teaches, To come to complete Teshuvah you must pass through all the places where you were prior to your Teshuvah. When you encounter exactly the same temptations as you experienced before, you must avert your eyes and control your impulses in order not to repeat what you did… Read More »CONTROL YOUR IMPULSES
Rabbi Nachman teaches, When after a life devoted to worldliness a person feels an arousal to G-d, the attribute of Judgment rises to accuse him and does not permit him to follow G-d’s ways. It does this by confronting him with an obstacle. But G-d loves kindness and hides Himself… Read More »WITHIN OBSTACLES
“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. Do not extinguish it” (Leviticus 6:5). The final phrase “lo tichbeh” is normally translated as ‘do not extinguish it’. The Maggid of Mezeritch, however, had a creative spin on how to read this phrase. He took it as an… Read More »LEVITICUS 6:5 – KEEP THE FIRE BURNING
Rabbi Nachman teaches, Everybody wants to revere G-d’s Name but not everyone is able to repent. Sometimes a person feels no arousal whatever. Even one who is aroused to repent may not reach his unique gate of Teshuvah, and even if he does, it could be that the gate is… Read More »“THE MAN WHO RAISED THE YOKE”
“He shall bring an unblemished ram, from the sheep, of the proper value as a guilt offering to the Priest. The Priest will make atonement for him – for the error which he did unintentionally and he did not know, and he will be pardoned.” (Leviticus 5:18) This sacrifice is… Read More »LEVITICUS 5:18 – HE WILL BE PARDONED
בס”ד The Rebbe describes the following as the central teaching of the Baal Shem Tov: Not merely the pirouettes of a leaf falling from a tree or the vibration of grass in the wind, every detail of existence is created, brought to life, and directed every moment from Above, but,… Read More »EVERY DETAIL
“For if a person does not put his trust in G-d, he places his trust in what is other than G-d. (Their doctors, their own cleverness, etc.) And whoever trusts in what is other than G-d, G-d removes His providence from him and leaves him in the hands of whatever… Read More »WHERE IS OUR TRUST?
