Torah Teasers Parshas Shemini

1. What was the whole purpose of Nadav and Avihu’s deaths? Ans… The Meshech Chochma explains that the whole purpose of Nadav and Avihu’s deaths was to cause a Kiddush Hashem. When the tzadikim are punished for small aveiros, people realize that they themselves need to seriously rectify their own behavior. Hashem’s resting of his Shechina on the Mishkan was a sign that He forgave Bnei Yisrael for Chait Ha’Egel. Therefore, Bnei Yisrael may have gotten the mistaken impression that even when they do a severe aveira like the egel, Hashem will quickly forgive them and that Hashem is a “Vatran”. Therefore, by instantly killing two great tzadikim like Nadav and Avihu for a small aveira, Hashem restored the fear of His judgement among the people. Therefore, their perfectly timed deaths on this very day caused a great Kiddush Hashem.
2. After Nadav and Avihu died it says, “V’Chol Bais Yisroel Yivku Es Hasreifa Asher Saraf Hashem; the entire nation will cry and extinguish the raging fire that hashem burned.” (Shemini 10:6) What are these fires and what does it have to do with the death of a Tzaddik? Ans… The Pninim MiShulchan Gavoa brings that at the Levaya of the Vilna Gaon, the Chayei Adam, Rav Avhrohon Danzig, said that the Midas HaDin, which is like a raging fire, constantly prosecutes Bnei Yisrael. The way to extinguish this fire is with water, the water of Torah. While the tzadikim are alive, their Torah keeps the fire at bay and prevents it from devouring Klal Yisrael. Upon their death, the water stops to flow, and the fire can grow out of control, causing great damage to Klal Yisrael. The only thing that extinguishes this fire are the tears that run from our eyes upon the news of their passing. Hashem tells Klal Yisrael to cry rivers of tears for the Tzaddikim as a way of saving ourselves, despite the loss of our water filled protector.
3. The Pasuk says regarding the kashrus of a pig, “Vihoo Gairah Lo Yigar — A pig may not be eaten because it does not chew its cud.” And if it did chew its cud? Ans…The Or Hachaim Hakadosh explains, that as long as the pig does not chew its cud it is prohibited; but when it starts chewing its cud it will be Mutar to eat. This will take place LeAsid Lavo – in the time of Mashiach. That is why the pig is called a Chazer. Because it will return (Chozer) and become kosher in the future.
4. After the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, Moshe told Aharon (Shmini 10:3) this is what Hashem meant when He said, “Bikrova Ekadesh; I will glorify Myself through My holy ones.” How did Moshe know that their death was the great Kiddush Hashem that was foretold? Where in death lies the greatness of Hashem? Ans…Rav Shimshon Pincus brings the Gemara (Niddah 30b) that says, “Ki Licha Tichra Kol Berech; All knees will bow to You,” means death. When Hashem does Din, people fear Him and His name is glorified. There is no greater Din than death. Rav Shimshon says, “We see that by a levaya even non-religious people put on a Yarmulka and say Kaddish as they stand in awe of Hashem. When there is a dead body present all subjugate themselves to Hashem. This is why,” says Rav Shimshon, “Chilul Hashem is not forgiven even on Yom Kippur, only with death. Only Kiddush Hashem can rectify Chilul Hashem, and there is no Kiddush Hashem like death.”
5. Rebbi Akiva Eiger (see Iturei Torah) says that there is a Remez to a halacha regarding a pregnant woman in the pasuk (Shmini 11:47). “L’Havdil Bain HaTamei U’Bain HaTahor – We can distinguish between the pure and impure.” How? Ans… The Mishna in Yuma says that a pregnant woman who smell food on Yom Kippur and gets a craving, may eat as much as she needs to calm herself down so as not to harm the baby. The Gemara tells a story of two pregnant women who had cravings on Yom Kippur from the smell of food. They whispered into each woman’s ear that it is Yom Kippur. One baby calmed down, and the mother didn’t eat anything. That baby turned out to be the great Amora, Rebbi Yochanan. The other baby did not relax until the mother ate. He turned out to be the infamous Rasha, Shabttai Otzar Peiros. The pasuk continues, “U’Bain HaChaya HaNecheles U’Bain HaChaya Asher Lo Tochel.” Although this literally means between the animals you may eat or not eat, Chaya also means a woman who gives birth. The Tumah or Tahara of the child can be distinguished by their pregnant mothers, and if they ate or not.
6. Most years the Shabbos immediately following Pesach we read Parshas Shemini. Coincidence? Ans… The Shem MiShmuel says that this is no coincidence. Matza is called Nahama D’Asvasa the healing bread and Nahama D’Mihemnusa the bread of faith. On Pesach we take refuge under the Kanfei HaShechina and renew ourselves as the Am Hashem. Therefore immediately after Pesach when we go back to regular food, the Torah warns us that all year round we must avoid eating unkosher foods which are discussed in Parshas Shemini. The Bais Yisroel of Gur says that when a person is on the road to tshuva and cannot suddenly take on everything all at once, it is especially important for him to take on carefully keeping Kashrus. By eating non-kosher food he is being Mitamtem Es HaLev, closing the heart and impeding his progress. By eating kosher food only, he is paving himself a smooth road along which to travel towards his ultimate goal.
7. The Parsha of Kosher and non-Kosher creatures starts in an unusual manner, (Shemini 11:1), “Vayidaber Hashem El Moshe V’El Aharon Laimor Aleihem”. Why does the Torah use the extra word “Aleihem” at the end of the pasuk instead of ending with the usual “Laimor” Ans… The Pasuk in Yoel (3:1) says “V’Nibu Bineichem Uvnoseichem”, in the future all sons and daughter of Am Yisroel will speak to Hashem and be filled with Nevua. Since we will all speak to Hashem, we cannot eat an un-kosher animal, like Moshe could not nurse from Mitzri milk.

A couple that had been married for fifteen years without being blessed by children, decided to divorce, despite their harmonious marriage. Shortly after the get was completed, the woman discovered she was pregnant. The joyous news had a very sad side; the husband was a Kohen and was forbidden to remarry his former wife. Their pain and heartbreak knew no bounds.
The husband poured out his pain to Rav Chaim Kanievesky, who told him that he couldn’t see any way that he could remarry his former wife, but he suggested that he should consult with his father in-law, Hagaon, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
The man went to R’ Elyashiv and repeated his tale of woe. R’ Elyashiv told him with great pain that it’s definitely forbidden for a kohain to remarry his former wife. “The only thing I can tell you is that you should go to the Kosel Hamaravi, and daven to Hashem that he should save you.”
The kohain regarded R’ Elyashiv’s words as a direct instruction, and immediately upon leaving R’ Elyashiv’s house, went straight to the Kosel. When he reached the Kosel, he approached the stones and poured out his heart without restraint. After davening for a lengthy period of time, the kohein felt a hand on his back. He turned around and saw an avreich talmid chacham, who inquired what had happened to him. The kohen repeated his painful story, and the stranger asked him, “Do you have a father?” The kohen didn’t understand the point of the question, but he answered that of course he had a father. His father was very old and was living in a nursing home in America, and barely communicated with those around him.
“In my opinion, you should fly to America, and tell your father what happened to you,” said the man and he turned to leave. The kohein tried to explain to him again that his father’s condition made it almost impossible to communicate with him at all. There was no reason that he should make such a great effort to fly to the States to tell his elderly father the story. However, the stranger brushed off his words and turned to go.
The kohein eventually decided to heed this man’s words. He reasoned that if Rav Elyashiv told him to go to the Kosel to daven, and if this stranger approached him while he was davening and advised him to fly to America, maybe it was worthwhile for him to go. He arranged a flight, and a day and half later, he was already at his father’s side, in the nursing home.
The medical staff had informed the son when he first arrived that his father had not uttered a word for many months, and that he shouldn’t expect his father to speak to him. The kohein began his story, and his father didn’t respond, but he seemed to be listening to what his son was saying. As the son continued his story, he began crying, and couldn’t stop. The unbelievable then occurred; his father began speaking and said clearly that he was not his biological son, but was adopted after the Holocaust; he did not have the status of a kohen, and there was no reason that he couldn’t remarry his former wife.

“Shabbos is the source of our blessing,” Yitzchak Tshuva, one of the investors in the Tamar gas field explaining that no desecration of the Shabbos or Pesach holiday happened with the gas flow.

“Obama’s mother hated her color, she hated being white.” Jesse Lee Peterson, a pastor, appearing on Fox News.
“I’m telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority? Yeah!” CNN host Rick Sanchez alleging that Jews control the media and that Stewart, who is Jewish, does not belong to a real minority group.
“There will be plenty of Israeli geeks looking forward to the challenge — and quite capable of coming out on top.” Dr. Andre Oboler, an expert in online public diplomacy and a technology commentator.news, on a planned new cyber attack against Israel , scheduled for April 7, 2013 which failed.
“How is it possible that Israel, the only country in the region in which artists are given the total right of self-expression is the one being targeted for abuse…by an artist?!” Lionel Leventhal, a Manhattan healthcare private equity fund manager, explaining his relief that Roger Waters, former front man for the 1970′s rock band Pink Floyd, and currently best known for being a rabid hater of Israel, will not be performing at New York City’s 92nd Street Y on April 30th, as had been scheduled.

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