Fighting To Be Chazan? “Lo SisHashemidu.” The simple meaning of the pasuk is that one should not make scrapes in his body when mourning over a dead person. The Gemara also learns from these words – “Lo Saasu Agudos Agudos; Do not make Klal Yisrael inyo many different groups by having Divergent Halachic Practices. What is the connection between the simple meaning, which concerns mourning, and the Drash, which has to do with the unity of Klal Yisrael?
Some say pshat that we find that when it comes to Availus each person tries to show that he is in greater mourning than another person. This can bring us to Machlokes; when for example 2 people want to Daven for the Amud, or when 2 people have Yahrtzeit and each one feels that his Availus is more important. For this reason we connect the 2 Limudim of the pasuk, “Lo SisHashemidu.” When mourning, do not cause separation and Machlokes in Klal Yisrael. This can also be the reason why concerning Availus we go according to the Maikel – in order to lessen strife and Machlokes among the Jewish nation.
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Why The High Flying Shalach Took A Plunge In Parshas Shmini (11:17-18) when listing the non-Kosher birds, the Shalach bird is listed 3 positions before the Racham. In Parshas Re’eh (14:16-17) the Shalach slides down the list four places and is listed after the Racham. Why?
Rav Chaim Kanievsky answers that the Gemara (Chulin 63a) says that when Rebbi Yochanan saw a Shalach he said the pasuk, “Mishpatecha Tihom Rabba; Your judgement is a deep abyss.” When he saw a Racham he said, “Rachamim came to the world.” The Shalach represents Din and the Racham represents mercy.
In a perfect world Din which is perfectly just, rules. That is how Hashem wanted to create the world until He saw that world needed Rachmanus to survive. Now the world is not perfectly just since mercy is mixed in. LeAsid Lavo Din will reign supreme once again.
Before the Chait of the Meraglim, Moshe was supposed to enter Eretz Yisrael and Moshiach would have come. Until the Chait the world was set to march towards perfection and Din ruled. Therefore, in Parshas Shemini, the Shalach which is Din, is listed before the Racham. In Parshas Re’eh, as the Bnei Yisrael are set to conquer Eretz Yisroel without Moshe, and destined to go to Galus once again, Hashem shines his Rachamim on the world, and the Shalach is pushed down the list, letting the Racham come out on top.
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A Good Head Start From Above Hashem tells Bnei Yisrael that He placed before them Bracha and Klallah. The pasuk then says (Devarim 11:27), “Es Habracha Asher Tishmi’u El Mitzvos; The bracha that you will listen to the mitzvos.” Shouldn’t it say the bracha “if” you will listen, like it says by the Klallah?
The Netziv answers that in the beginning Hashem helps every Yid do the mitzvos. Then he leaves you on your own to see how you will fare. If you continue on the path that Hashem already placed you on, you will earn additional reward. Therefore, it says, “Asher Tishmi’u,” because everyone listens at first.
This could be pshat in the Tomer Devorah who says (Middah 13 MiMei Kedem), that when you come across a person that has nothing good about him, still you should be kind to him. The reason is because every Jew had a time in his life where he was innocent and pure.
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The Secret Location Of The Bais HaMikdash “LiShichno Sidrishu Uvasa Shama; Seek His Presence and come there (Re’eh 12:5).” Moshe gave over the commandment to build a Bais HaMikdash but did not reveal the location. The Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim (3:45) says that after Avrohom Avinu went to Har HaMoriah for the Akeidah he called it Har Yeira’eh and this holy ground was revealed as the place for the Bais HaMikdash. Moshe surely knew this, so why did he purposely hide its location and not reveal it? The Rambam gives three reasons why.
1. He didn’t want the other nations to know about this. He was worried that they would get thetr first and build a Temple to their idols because of the Kedusha of the area. This would give them a historical precedence.
2. The local people might destroy the area knowing that it is designated to be the pinnacle of Jewish spirituality and authority.
3. “The most important and true reason,” says the Rambam, “is that Moshe did not want the Shevatim to know where the Bais HaMikdash would be because he was scared the Shevatim in whose territory it wasn’t, would wage war on the Shevet that received that territory. Moshe wanted to avert a civil war. Therefore, only after there was a King with firm control over Am Yisrael, did Hashem reveal the location to Dovid HaMelech.”
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Yerushalayim, A Place Where The Levi Can Feel At Home “USimachtem Lifnei Hashem Elokeichem Atem UVneichem UVnoseichem…V’HaLevi” (Re’eh 12:12). The Torah tells us that we should build a Bais HaMikdash and bring all our Korbanos there. Then we can be happy with our family and the Levi. Where does a Levi come into the picture? We do not give him any gifts from the Korban, or specially in Yerushalayim, only the Kohein receives these gifts.
Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz explains that the Levi is always out of place and feels like an outsider, since he has no territory in Eretz Yisrael to call his own. He lives in cities borrowed from other Shevatim that are scattered throughout the land. Yerushalayim is a city that is open to all and belongs collectively to Bnei Yisrael. In this great city, when you come to be joyful with your korbanos, the Levi can also celebrate with a full heart since here he has equal standing, and is no less a Baal HaBayis then anyone else.

Created By Avrohom Sherman
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