This week's Parsha is called Vayikra. Vayikra means to call out, "And Hashem called out to Moshe". Many times in life, Hashem calls out to us, but sometimes we miss the message. R' Yitzchok Zilberstein, in the sefer Aleinu Leshabeach who says in the name of R' Chaim Shmuleitz zt"l,a story about a person who totally misunderstood the message that Hashem was sending her.
There was a rabbi who had a daughter who was a very special girl, with all the greatest character traits. When she became of marriageable age, a good boy who was known for his learning and his diligence in his relationship with G-d, was suggested for her. This young man had one problem, because of a car accident earlier in his life, he broke a leg in an irreparable way, and he therefore had a slight limp. The rabbi’s wife would not hear of the match. She felt that her daughter deserved only the very best in body and in soul, therefore they rejected the young man.
A short while later, the rabbi became very sick and needed to drink before Shacharit, which is 100% permissable according to Shulchan Aruch. His wife doubted him, yet, she got up every morning to make him his tea. One day, while preparing the tea, she fell and broke a leg, she told her husband, “See, this is because of your tea that you drink before davening”. She totally didn’t realize that this was a punishment for turning down that Talmud Chacham as a son in law and instead blamed her husband.
Friends, many times we get messages from Hashem but our signals get confused, let us try to pay attention to what Hashem is really saying to us and learn from it.
So let’s please join together to pray with all our hearts, for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, police officers, medical professionals, firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat and Happpy Purim.
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 16
MITZVOT ASEH: 11
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 5
NUMBEROF PESUKIM: 111
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1673
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 6222
This year, (5784 / 2024) Vayikra is a special Shabbat. It is Shabbat Parshat Zachor: The Shabbat immediately preceding Purim is called Shabbat Zachor.
The Maftir, from Devarim, Parshat Ki-Teitze, (25:17-19), deals with the commandment to "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, upon your departure from Mitzrayim.... ... how they perpetrated a cowardly and unprovoked attack... You shall erase the memory of Amalek from the heavens, you shall not forget."
This commandment, to remember Amalek, is one of the 613 commandments. It is incumbent, therefore, upon every person to attend services on Shabbat Zachor in order to hear this special reading and remember its message.
What is the connection between erasing the memory of Amalek and Purim?
The wicked Haman, who intended to destroy all the Jews in one day and claim their spoils, was the descendant of Agag who was the king of Amalek in the time of King Shaul. Thus we know that Haman was an Amalekite. This is why our sages ordained carrying out the commandment of remembering to erase the memory of Amalek before Purim. Zachor means remember - "Remember... do not forget!"
HAFTORA
Ashkenazim & Chabad: Shmuel I 15:2-34
Sephardim: Shmuel I 15:1-34
PURIM is Motzei Shabbat / Sunday and in Jerusalem onSunday night / Monday. Please feel free to check out our Halachot and Minhagim sheets available on our website.
