Understanding the Parsha according to the Rebbe
QUESTION: Who is eligible to light the Menorah of the Bais HaMikdash?
ANSWER: The law is that the lighting of the Menorah is properly done by anyone (even a זר) who cannot enter the Kodesh. For example, the menorah can be brought out of the Azarah, or a Jew from the outside could use a long pole to reach in to light the menorah. The same law applies to who is eligible to light a Jewish soul that lays dormant. Anyone can be a lamplighter of a fellow Jew. (לקוטי שיחות כרך ב, עמ' 317)
QUESTION: Pesach Sheni seems to provide a make-up opportunity for someone that inadvertently fails to bring the original Pesach due to circumstances beyond one’s control (tameh or too far away). How does one understand that someone who intentionally missing the first Pesach offering is eligible to bring the second one?
ANSWER: This is the special point of the Second Pesach. For everyone a possibility exists to fix up the damage, even if one does someone intentionally wrong. ׂ (לקוטי שיחות כרך ח, עמ' 61)
QUESTION: What was the claim of the Jews that were tameh, why should they lose this mitzvah of offering a Pesach sacrifice? Any temah person is not able to offer any korbanos. How did their claim help reveal the unique law of Pesach Sheni?
ANSWER: The previous year (Pesach in Egypt) all Jews participated, including those that were tameh. However, that Pesach was commemorative, thus even a tameh person could partake. No legal basis or precedence existed for the future Pesach offerings to include those that were tameh. Nevertheless, they cried out in anguish to participate, without a legal basis. This essential pain to participate, drew down from Above this special Mitzvah allowing a method to fix up and complete what one lacks. (לקוטי שיחות כרך כח, עמ' 68 )
QUESTION: What is the point of specifying the inclusion of the body in the Mitzvah of Simcha (eating meat, drinking wine, etc.), which is at essence a spiritual activity?
ANSWER: Rambam explains that the limits physical Simcha of the Jew is in order not to block the spiritual, main aspect of the mitzvah of Simcha. The Alter Rebbe explains that combining mitzvah of Simcha (in the time of the festival) of the Korban and of the physical Jew is the purpose of simchah, which is expressed by the soul within the body. )62 'עמ ,לגלקוטי שיחות כרך (
QUESTION: The taste of the Mahn could be the taste of any food. However, since harmful to a few (pregnant ladies) the Jews could not taste a few tastes. How do we understand the Jews’ question that since the Mahn did not have a few tastes, thus, it was lacking?
ANSWER: The complaint about the Mahn was to be free from restrictions that accompanied the mahn, including the denied taste (since it was only harmful to a minority). The denial of this taste reflected the concern and mercy of HaShem for what is harmful to a few. This teaches that one has to always be concerned about every individual Jew, to seek out and educate. (לקוטי שיחות כרך לג, עמ' 17)
BEN CHAMESH L’MIKRA בס"ד
- הענינים מלקו"ש השבועי ועוד -
נשמת אפרים לע"נ ר' אפרים ב"ר אברהם ע"ה האפמאן
▪ Resource to encourage the study of the Rebbe’s sichos ▪
Designed for use in the classroom or at the Shabbos Table
