Parshas Vayikra: Stronger Together

Last Week’s

Ezra Wiener (’23) Sefer Vayikra is radically different from the other seforim in the Torah, initially creating a sort of pause in the Torah's narrative; it instead primarily focuses on various commandments. The only two narratives found in Sefer Vayikra are the dedication of the Mishkan, which tragically ends with the deaths of Aaron's two sons Nadav and Avihu, and the story of the mekallel who was executed for his blasphemy. The lack of a narrative in Sefer Vayikra turns a lot of people off towards the Sefer, as many find it boring and slow. Now, while it may not be as narratively exciting as the other Seforim in the Torah, Vayikra is full of fascinating mitvzos and procedures that help guide our life, and upon deeper examination reveal deep lessons and powerful takeaways.

׃אָֽטָח.” What these pesukim are telling you is that when someone unwittingly sins he should bring an unblemished female goat as a korban. At first glance this seems to be a pretty standard pasuk telling

Despite being perceived by many as “boring,” Sefer Vayikra is ful of fascinating mitzvos and procedures. Source: evenshesiya.com

Starting off the Sefer is Parshas Vayikra, which has the most words out of any other Parsha in the Sefer. One of the many things this Parsha contains is the laws of korbanos for those who sin, whether it be intentional or unintentional.

When discussing the korbanos required for those who unwittingly sin, Parshas Vayikra in the 4th Perek writes, “ you a basic halacha, yet something is off with the first pasuk: it seems to have an extra word, “תחאַ,” or “one.” The pasuk could have very easily just been written as “שׁפנ־םאו תחאַ הּתשׂעבּ ץראה םעמ הגָגשׁב אטחתּ םשׁאו הנישׂעת־אל רשׁא הוהי תֺוצמּמ” and it would have meant the same thing. Why does the torah add the word “תחאַ?”

There was once a Rabbi of a shul who noticed that a member of his community who used to frequently come to minyan had been missing for a few weeks. The Rabbi was concerned and decided to pay the man a visit and check up on him. The Rabbi knocked on the man’s door and was greeted by his wife, who guided him to her husband sitting quietly near the fireplace alone in his living room. The Rabbi sat down next to the man and politely asked him why he had been absent from shul. The man responded that he found shul to be too noisy and crowded and felt that he could daven more meaningfully alone at home. Upon hearing this the Rabbi quietly stood up and went towards the fireplace filled with glowing coals. He grabbed one coal from the fireplace and placed it on the floor. He then turned to the man and told him he hoped to see him back in shul shortly. He then left without another word. At first the man was very confused with the Rabbi’s actions, but then it all became clear to him. He realized that the Rabbi was showing him that there is strength in unity. When coals are together they keep each other glowing, but when a coal is removed, it quickly dies out.

This is what the Torah was teaching us with the extra “תחאַ.” When a Jew is with the Klal they are part of an identity that keeps them strong and helps prevent them from violating the will of Hashem. But, if a Jew wants to be “תחאַ,” alone and singular, then it becomes much easier for them to violate the Torah.

Sponsor an Issue

A sponsorship is a great way to honor the memory of a loved one, celebrate an accomplishment, or just show appreciation to the CYHSB Weekly. We reach hundreds of people each week, helping to get your announcement out for just $20.

CYHSB Weekly Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Ezra Wiener | ezra.wiener@mhafyos.org

Layout Editor

Ezra Davidovics | ezra.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Editors

Ethan VanderWalde | ethan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Nathan Greenbaum | nathan.greenbaum@mhafyos.org

Raanan Vanderwalde | raanan.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Complaint Manager

J.J. Stein | jacob.stein@mhafyos.org

CYHSB Weekly Staff

Akiva Levine | akiva.levine@mhafyos.org

Amit Zalman | amit.zalman@mhafyos.org

Avi Becker | avi.becker@mhafyos.org

Baruch Finkleman | baruch.finkleman@mhafyos.org

Rafi Davidovics | rafael.davidovics@mhafyos.org

Joshua Parcover | joshua.parcover@mhafyos.org

Yaron Weiss | yaron.weiss@mhafyos.org

Benny Freiden | benny.freiden@mhafyos.org

Rafi Goldkin | rafael.goldkin@mhafyos.org

Yosef VanderWalde | yosef.vanderwalde@mhafyos.org

Nadav Lowell | nadav.lowell@mhafyos.org

Jojo Ardestani | jonathan.ardestani@mhafyos.org

Yonah Lynn | yonah.lynn@mhafyos.org

Administrative Advisors

Mrs. Ashley Brown

Rabbi Dov Rossman

From the Editor

“United we stand, divided we fall.” This quote from John Dickinson is over 200 years old but still hold true today. While we learn many important things from Vayikra, one very important lesson we get from this week’s parsha is the power of unity in Klal Yisrael. While there is of course value in independence and solitude, like most things in life you need a balance, and a balance between one’s independence and be unified with those around him is very important.