Why Blame Shlomo HaMelech For Avodah Zara? The Gemara in Shabbos (56) says that although the pasuk seems to imply that Shlomo HaMelech worshipped Avodah Zara, in truth it was his wives whom he did not rebuke, and therefore, he was held accountable. The MiShulchan Govoa brings that the Alter of Slabodka asks, “If his aveira was not rebuking, then he was oveir the obligation of Hochei’ach Tochiach (Kedoshim 19:17). Why does the pasuk say avoda zara?” He answers that when a person sees an aveira, it makes a subconscious impression on him. The way to rid himself of this unnoticeable stain, is to stand up and oppose the action verbally. If he does not, then over time these repeated visions will lead him to also do this aveira. Shlomo HaMelech, by not protesting his wives behavior after witnessing it, left himself vulnerable to Avoda Zara. While on the surface his aveira was Hochei’ach Tochiach, deep within his neshama he had the stain of avoda zara.
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Curses Falling on Deaf Ears The Torah says, “Lo SiKalel Cheireish; Do not curse the deaf.” Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch says that we learn the incredible degree to which the Torah holds a person responsible for his “actions” between himself and his fellow man. “A Klala,” he explains, “does nothing. It’a merely an outward expression of someone’s desire to cause harm to the person he curses. He curses because he knows that he cannot carry out his plan, so he at least verbalizes his plan as his only outlet. No actual harm is caused, however. When the Torah says do not curse the deaf,” he explains, “it doesn’t mean only a deaf person, but even a deaf person. The deaf person does not hear and is not harmed by your curse. He doesn’t even feel any pain from hearing how you desire to harm him. Cursing a deaf person means that on one hand the curser has not done anything, and the cursee has not felt anything. Even so says, this is a Lav min HaTorah.” My Rebbi used to say, “Sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me, is the biggest lie. Well in this case it is true, and still assur!”
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Nothing Like Learning Torah in Yerushalayim! The first 3 years that one plants a fruit tree; one may not eat or have any benefit from the fruit. This is called Orlah. On the 4th year the fruit must be brought to Yerushalayim and eaten there. This is similar to the Mitzvah of Maaser Shaynee where the food must also be eaten in Yerushalayim. The Chinuch (247) explains this Mitzvah of eating this food only in Yerushalayim. He says, by coming to Yerushalayim often to eat your Neta Rivai and Maaser Shaynee, you will come to set up some of your children to learn Torah in Yerushalayim. This is a great thing, since the teachers of Torah and the main wisdom of Torah are found there.
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Do You Want to Know What Real Holiness Is? While we don’t understand the impact and the reward of one mitzva versus another, there are some mitzvos that are put on pedestals by Chazal. From the many mitzvos, certain ones are associated with Kedusha, holiness. Off the top of most people’s heads comes the Mitzva of Shabbos. “Kedushas Shabbos,” is a familiar term. When Shabbos comes around the atmosphere is tangibly different. We bask in the glow of Shabbos. We are uplifted by our honored guest, the holy Shabbos HaMalka. Kibbud Av V’Eim, on the other hand, can sometimes be a test of endurance and tolerance. We know we must honor our parents, but the demands are trivial, and we are not always enthusiastic to accommodate. But we know it is a great mitzva, if not always a spiritual lift. Do we ever think of the mundane acts we do to please our parents as “holy”? It seems that the pasuk in Kedoshim (19:2) is coming to correct this serious miscalculation. The pasuk tells us, “Kedoshim Tihiyu; Be holy.” Immediately after that is says, “Ish Imo V’Aviv Tira’u; Fear your mother and father.” Only after that does it say, “V’Es Shabsosai Tishmoru; Keep Shabbos.”
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The One Class You Cannot Skip The Dor HaMidbar was the Dor Dei’a. They saw Hashem on the Yam Suf and they stood at Har Sinai listening to Hashem and then Moshe give over the Torah. They didn’t have to earn a living or worry about their clothing which grew together with them. It was generation of Torah. What did they do all day? What else was there to do other than learn torah, of course. In the beginning of Parshas Kedoshim there is a very interesting Maharal. We will quote it for you and let you think about it. The pasuk says (19:2), “Daber El Kol Adas Bnei Yisroel”, speak to the entire congregation of Bnei Yisroel. Rashi says that this parsha is particularly important since most of the mitzvos of the torah depend on it. The Maharal says, even though all the other Parshiyos were said to the entire Yisroel (Eiruvin 54b), like Rashi described says in Ki Sisa how they all came in and Moshe taught them… there it is difference because not every person was obligated to come. If they did not have free time they didn’t come… In this Parsha, he gathered all of Yisroel and they needed to come.” Busy? Busy with what?

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