Speak to the Children of Yisroel
Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | April 04, 2025
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Speak to the Children of Yisroel

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | June 27, 2025

Speak to the children of Yisroel and you should tell them, “A man who shall bring near from you, a sacrifice to Hashem”...

The Ohr Hachaim explains why the Torah does not write the word מִּכֶּם until after telling us that the person is drawing near. Surely it would have made more sense if the Torah would have written אָדָם מִּכֶּם – a man from amongst you.

He explains that the Torah is hinting to us something deeper than the laws of Korbanos. Hashem chose Moshe Rabbeinu and drew him near to Himself more than all other inhabitants of this earth. He elevated and honored him and crowned him as king. All of this was done because of the special level of Klal Yisroel. Hashem wished to show them that this was only because of Klal Yisroel’s great spiritual level.

Indeed, during the thirty-eight years that Klal Yisroel were considered pariahs in Hashem’s eyes, because of the sin of the Meraglim, Hashem did not speak to Moshe in His customary method. The Possuk is to be read now אָ דָם כִּי יַקְרִּ יב – if a person is drawn near, i.e. to Hashem, מִּכֶּם – it is from you.

Another explanation offered by the Ohr Hachaim is that this possuk is a command to the people of power and influence in Klal Yisroel to draw people close to the service of Hashem. The Torah calls this a Korban to Hashem. When a person does an aveira, he causes the connection of Klal Yisroel and Hashem to weaken. They are somewhat separated from the Shechina, and Hashem is not happy about it. He wants His people to draw close to him and bask in His presence.

The Torah is telling us אָדָם כִּי יַקְרִּ יב מִּכֶּם – a person should draw near one of you. Klal Yisroel should draw each other near as a Korban to Hashem. By helping each other do Teshuva and draw close to Hashem, we bring them as a Korban.

Speak to the children of Yisroel and you should tell them, “A man who shall bring near from you, a sacrifice to Hashem”...

The Ohr Hachaim explains why the Torah does not write the word מִּכֶּם until after telling us that the person is drawing near. Surely it would have made more sense if the Torah would have written אָדָם מִּכֶּם – a man from amongst you.

He explains that the Torah is hinting to us something deeper than the laws of Korbanos. Hashem chose Moshe Rabbeinu and drew him near to Himself more than all other inhabitants of this earth. He elevated and honored him and crowned him as king. All of this was done because of the special level of Klal Yisroel. Hashem wished to show them that this was only because of Klal Yisroel’s great spiritual level.

Indeed, during the thirty-eight years that Klal Yisroel were considered pariahs in Hashem’s eyes, because of the sin of the Meraglim, Hashem did not speak to Moshe in His customary method. The Possuk is to be read now אָ דָם כִּי יַקְרִּ יב – if a person is drawn near, i.e. to Hashem, מִּכֶּם – it is from you.

Another explanation offered by the Ohr Hachaim is that this possuk is a command to the people of power and influence in Klal Yisroel to draw people close to the service of Hashem. The Torah calls this a Korban to Hashem. When a person does an aveira, he causes the connection of Klal Yisroel and Hashem to weaken. They are somewhat separated from the Shechina, and Hashem is not happy about it. He wants His people to draw close to him and bask in His presence.

The Torah is telling us אָדָם כִּי יַקְרִּ יב מִּכֶּם – a person should draw near one of you. Klal Yisroel should draw each other near as a Korban to Hashem. By helping each other do Teshuva and draw close to Hashem, we bring them as a Korban.

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