דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

Parshat Vayikra teaches us about the Oleh offering. There are many reasons to bring the Korban Olah. It could be brought by someone who has committed a sin, someone who has not done Mitzvah, someone going to Yerushalayim for the Shalosh Regalim, orjust by someone who wants to connect with Hashem. It is a korben that is completely burnt on the mizbe'ach to Hashem. 

The Torah lists that the Korban Oleh can be from an Ox, a Sheep/Goat, or a bird. These are mentioned in order of expense and the best one. The ox is the most expensive and the most ideal, and bird least expensive.  Interestingly the "Torah list the three in separate paragraphs which are separated completely. Why would the Torah spend the time to separate these animals if they are for the same Korban?

According to the Abarbenal, the Torah is showing us that each Oleh is important, no matter it is made of. The important part is that the person is serving Hashem within his means, and the offering is obviously appreciated.  

In a few days we will celebrate Purim and we have mitzvot of Megilah, Mishloach Manot, Matanot Levyinim, and the Meal. We have such a great opportunity to perform these mitzvot. Each mitzvah should be done within our means, however we are able to do them, and if we try and do what we can, Hashem will be happy with the mitzvot that we do. 

דבר תורה פרשת פקודי

דבר תורה פרשת פקודי

וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל משֶׁה אֶת הָאֹהֶל וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו קְרָסָיו קְרָשָׁיו בְּרִיחָיו וְעַמֻּדָיו וַאֲדָנָיו

 (שמות לט:לג)

Now they brought the Mishkan to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings its clasps, its planks, its bars, its pillars and its sockets.

After all the parts of the Mishkan were completed, Bnei Yisrael brought those parts to Moshe so that he could assemble the Mishkan himself. Why couldn't they build it on their own? Why did they need Moshe's help in assembling the Mishkan?

Rashi asks these questions above - Bnei Yisrael could not build the Mishkan themselves? 

He gives an amazing answer from which we could a valuable lesson. Bnei Yisrael could not build the Mishkan because the parts were so incredibly heavy. Since Moshe had not done any work for the Mishkan, Hashem had told Bnei Yisrael to bring the parts to Moshe so that he could build it, and therefor take part in the Mishkan. 

After receiving the parts, Moshe asks Hashem, "How am I going to be able to build this Mishkan if it is not able to be built by the hands of a human being? (since it is too heavy)"

Hashem replys, "Keep your hands busy - make it look like you are building it - and it will get built." 

And, as Hashem had said, the Mishkan rose up and was built. This is why a few psukim later it says "הוקם המשכן" - "The Mishkan was erected."  It uses a passive voice - to say that Moshe tried to build it and make it stand - but it stood up by itself, miraculously. 

In our lives we all have areas that we work hard in - our jobs, our hobbies, our families, and our friends. We must continue to try our best in those areas, but it is also important to know that Hashem is there every step of the way. He gives us the illusion that we are doing all of this work, so that we feel we are playing our part, but He is carrying us through these difficult times, we just have to notice Him.