Aliyos Yerushalayim

Torah InSite: Pesach Prep

By Matt Gleicher, Arnona
Contact: www.JerusalemMassage.com

The Shulchan Aruch says we should start learning about Pesach 30 days before it starts, which is on Purim. I've always felt a special connection to Pesach...I always say that "it's my holiday." Maybe because my birthday is always right around it. But really I think it's because this time of year is the start of expansive energy in the world. Winter is cold, dark and things are contracting. The world literally pulsates and Pesach is when things start to expand and grow again. Shlomo Hamelech says, "For all things there is a season, and there is a time for everything under the heavens." Know the times and ride its waves, don't go against the tide. The Shulchan Aruch says that we must hurry home to do the Seder (although it has to be after dark-unlike Shabbat) to make sure we do it before the kids fall asleep. There is this sense of speed and urgency. It's the energy of the times. And in order to break free from the bonds of Slavery we need to tap into that energy. Those bonds are tight and Pharoah does not want to let us go!! Be quick, strong, and stealth, and get out of their fast. Imagine you're a Slave. You have no energy, you're down on everything, how can you possibly break free? Hashem put Pesach at that time of great expansive energy which if we choose to tap into, we ride the wave to freedom. Have complete Emunah in Hashem and ride that wave to freedom.

Start your preparations now for Pesach. Be open to the signs and wonders, and when Hashem gives you the word...act quick without hesitation.

Torah InSite: Parashas Ki Sisa

By R' Nesanel Rosin

    Our Rabbis tell us, the Torah was not written in chronological order. The first example of this is in the last five Parshios of Sefer Shemos. Following the chronological order of events after Kabolas HaTorah, the story of the golden calf should precede the commandments of how to build the Mishkan and its various components. What is the message of this switch in the order of events?

    Even more ponder some, within this lack of order, before the story begins, Hashem commands Klal Yisroel to guard against chilul Shabbos while constructing the Mishkan. This warning is restated in the beginning of Parashas Vayakel as well. Why does the Torah repeat these warnings twice? What is the significance in their locations in what seems at the surface level to be parshios out of order?

    At the end of the Torah's description of what was needed to build the Mishkan, Hashem commands Moshe to appoint Betzalel ben Uri ben Chur with the Divine Chachma placed within him. His job was to over see all matters pertaining to the construction of the Mishkan, from the donors of the raw materials to the finished products. The Gemara in Maseches Sanhedrin tells us that he was just a thirteen-year-old boy! Even with Divine Chachma, how much responsibility could he have had? Why was it necessary for him to over see it all? What role did he really play?

    It is taught to us by our sages in Pirkei Avos, greater is the reward for someone who is commanded to do a mitzvah than the reward for someone who is not commanded to do a mitzvah. Logic might dictate otherwise, since one will suggest, It came from his heart. He did it all on his own. He himself. Without being asked to. "That is so nice and well meant." Chazal therefore have to tell us on the contrary. Even when he meant well, the reward for his actions is lower. One reason given is, when a person does what Hashem wants it is a commandment from Sinai. When a person does what he thinks his Creator wants he might get it wrong, perhaps even only slightly.

    This is what happened with Klal Yisroels desire for a connection with G-d after they thought Moshe had disappeared. Their desire for a new go-between led to the creation of a golden calf, immodest mingling and the murder of Chur ben Calav. The Ramban explains that their intentions couldn't have been to replace Hashem. After all they just had heard The Ten Commandments the first of which is, "I am Hashem who took you fourth from the Land of Egypt".

    G-d distanced himself from Klal Yisroel until they did proper teshuva. Hashem then gave Klal Yisroel a commandment to build a place for him to dwell amongst them called the Ohel Moad or The Tent of Meeting. He gave them specific details as to the precise measurements and dimensions of the Mishkan and its vessels, the priestly vestments and the ingredients of the incense.

    The warnings to observe the Shabbos teach us that Shemiras HaShabbos over rides their well intended desires for a connection to Hashem and even Hashems own commandments to build the Mishkan. This is Hashems way of insuring the proper results of Klal Yisroels true desire to connect to Him.

    The materials donated to the Mishkan had to first go through Betzalel, whom Hashem had bestowed Divine wisdom as such to understand the building of the world itself. This was important since the Mishkan was a microcosm of Brias Haolam. Therefore he would need to be able to instruct where each piece of building material should be used in the building of the Mishkan. He based his decision on how the donor felt as he or she donated it. The purer the intent the closer it would come in the service of G-d.

    Interestingly his grandfather was Chur, who was killed while directing Klal Yisroel not to seek any other emissary other than Moshe Rabbenu. His death and subsequent creation of the golden calf led to, according to Rashi, a delay of the command to build the Mishkan until after Yom Kippur.

    One important fundamental which we can make part of us in our every day life, is that every approach and every attempt to come close to Hashem will only be rewarded if it is recognizable to Hashem. The only way to be guaranteed of that is by not tampering with His Mitzvahs, putting into it what we feel like with the best intentions, but rather by doing exactly as Hashem has commanded us to do through the Torah Hakedosha.