Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS B'HAR from 5763 BS"D

Ch. 25, v. 2: "V'shovsoh ho'oretz Shabbos laShem" - When one sanctifies himself by cutting back on his physical pursuits, "v'shovsoh ho'oretz," then his involvement in physicality on Shabbos, which is required of him as "oneg Shabbos," is also elelvated, "Shabbos laShem." (Rabbi Yisroel Dov of Yazsnitza in R'vid Hazohov)

Ch. 25, v. 2: "Shabbos LaShem" - We can derive from these words that the purpose of leaving the land fallow on the seventh year is not to allow the earth to regenerate its minerals, but rather "LaShem," to fulfill Hashem's wishes. (Kedushas Levi)

Ch. 25, v. 6: "V'hoysoh Shabbas ho'oretz lochem l'ochloh" - The Holy Zohar writes that the blessing for the six weekdays stems from Shabbos. We can thus interpret: "v'hoysoh Shabbas," and Shabbos will be for you as a source of, "ho'oretz lochem l'ochloh," that you will have earthly sustenance. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 25, v. 17: "V'lo sonu ish es amiso" - And you shall not deceive your own honesty (Ayin and Alef are interchangeable). You must be hones when doing a spiritual self-assessment. (Rabbi Zvi Hersch haKohein of Riminov)

Ch 25, v. 21: "V'tzivisi es birchosi" - If you would not ask, "What will we eat," then you will eat to your satisfaction (25:19), as the blessings will naturally be upon you for hearkening with full trust to Hashem's mitzvos. However, when you question, "What will we eat," then you have damaged the conduit of blessing with your lack of full trust. Since you are keeping the mitzvoh in any case, Hashem will still send you the blessing, but this requires a new infusion of blessing. Therefore, "v'tzivisi es birchosi," I will again command my blessing to descend upon you, and give you sustenance for three years. (Noam Elimelech in the name of his brother the Rebbe R' Zisha)

Ch. 25, v. 23: "V'ho'oretz lo simocheir litzmisus" - A person should not be sold to "artzius," physicality, to the level of "tzmisus," being totally joined and connected, as in "tzo'mes hagidin," junction of the veins. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 25, v. 23: "Ki geirim v'soshovim a'tem imodi" - Just as a convert usually does not find himself totally integrated with the society he has joined, as he has a different social and value system background, and upon finding another convert immediately bonds with him because of their having a common bond, so too, Hashem's Presence on this world is foreign to its inhabitants. However, with the bnei Yisroel He finds a likeminded people. That is why Hashem says that we are like "converts with Him." (Degel Macha'neh Efrayim)

Ch. 25, v. 49: "O dodo o ven dodo yigo'lenu - Either King Dovid himself ("dodo" contains the letters Dalet-Vov-Daled) or his descendant ("ben dodo") will bring about the redemption. (Degel Macha'neh Efrayim)

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS B'CHUKOSAI 5763 BS"D

Ch. 26, v. 3: "Im b'chukosai teileichu" - Rashi explains that this refers to toiling in Torah study. Why is Torah study considered? Doesn't the mishneh in Pirkei Ovos say that the only truly free person is one who engages in Torah study? The answer is that the verse expresses itself in the plurl form, "teileichU." Beyond a person himself studying Torah, there is the responsibility to see that others do the same. This responsibility involves great toil. (question raised by Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov, answer offered by Rabbi Chanoch Zvi haKohein of Bendin in Y'cha'hein P'eir)

Ch. 26, v. 6: "V'nosati sholom bo'oretz ...... v'cherev lo saavor b'artzchem" - If you have internal peace within the land then you will have no enemy from the outside disturbing your peace. (Toldos Yaakov Yoseif)

Ch. 26, v. 9: "Ufonisi a'leichem" - An outstanding Chasidic leader gave much of his time to guide and advise his followers. He was questioned by someone regarding this practice, as he gave up precious time that could have been used to pursue his own Torah study and to increase his Torah knowledge. He responded that in T'hilim 34:11 it says, "Ki ein mach'sor li'rei'ov," - there is no lack (of time) for those who fear Him. Hashem makes sure that such a person is given ample opportunity to pursue all his spiritual quests. This is the meaning of "ufonisi a'eichem," - I will give My "free time" to you who give of their time to help others. (Chidushei HoRi"m)

Ch. 26, v. 13: "Vo'olich es'chem kom'miyus" - We find the word "kom'miyus in our daily prayer of "Ahavas Olom" (alternatively "Ahavoh Raboh" in nusach Ashkenaz). We pray "V'soli'cheinu KOM'MIYUS l'artzeinu." A similar expression with a slight variation appears in "birkas hamozone." It is well known that even people who live outside of Eretz Yisroel want to be buried in Eretz Yisroel. They are transported there after their death in a casket. We pray to Hashem, "May it be Your will that You will bring us KOM'MIYUS l'artzeinu," upright in a vertical position to Eretz Yisroel, rather than after death in a horizontal position. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 26, v. 30: "V'go'aloh nafshi es'chem" - How can it be that by virtue of the bnei Yisroel's transgressing the Torah Hashem will be disgusted with them? Does not the verse say "lo m'astim v'lo g'altim"? "V'go'aloh" does not mean "I will be disgusted," but rather, "I will purge." I will extract the sins from within you. (Baal Shem Tov in K'so'nes Pasim on parshas B'haalos'cho)

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