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When instructing the Kohanim regarding the details of bringing an עולה — elevation-offering, G-d departs from using the verb most often used when communicating to Moshe to 'say' or 'speak' to them, and instead tells him צו — to 'command' them. Rashi adds that this more emphatic term is intended to urge extra zeal in dispatching this duty and should be conveyed constantly to future generations.   This verb is used in the very first command in the Torah — after the creation of Adam — where it describes how, ויצו — And G...
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Baltimore, MD - Mar. 27, 2024  - Misaskim of MD Blood Drive, This Sunday. To register, click here
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We're thrilled to announce our return to Baltimore, Pikesville. A fantastic team of experts from Israel will update you on buying real estate in Israel. Ben Levene, CEO of CapitIL Real Estate, is proud to reach nearly his 200th event globally. "Our events and expert have greatly assisted in helping Anglos purchase property in Israel, with October 7th and its impact these events are even more important today " he says. At the event we will be presenting a special feature on buying Real Estate in Jerusalem, Netanya and Ramat Beit Shemesh for less than 1 Million Dollars . For security reasons only general event location will be made public; specific venue details will be shared privately with verified registrants 24-28 hours before the event. We are looking forward to welcomi...
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Baltimore, MD  - Mar. 28, 2024: Dear Friends, Our hearts and souls have been with our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel since the start of this war on Simchas Torah. We have supported our people and our land with our teffilos, talmud Torah, chessed and ahavas chinam. This coming Wednesday, April 3rd will mark the 180th day of the war, which means 180 days that our precious hostages have been away from their families and nation.  The OU has initiated a campaign to deliver 180,000 letters to the White House on the 180th day of the war. I have been asked to be part of the delegation delivering these letters to the White House and will have the zechus to personally bring our kehilla’s letters to the leadership of the United States. I am...
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 28, 2024  - A flash crime spree rocked a northwest Baltimore community early Tuesday morning. Watch the video interview of  Beazer residents   The Baltimore County Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred on Pebble Brooke Road near Kehillas Meor HaTorah synagogue. County police responded to the 911 call despite the incident taking place in Baltimore City. Elliott Klein, who lives in the neighborhood, said he was returning home just before 7 a.m. after attending early morning prayer services. “I was on my way back [into the neighborhood], and as I was driving in, I saw some things that didn’t make sense for a random Tuesday morning,” Klein said. "I passed the getaway car."
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Jeruslaem, Israel - Mar. 28, 2024  - Daylight Saving Time went into effect in Israel early Friday morning. At 2:00 a.m., clocks were moved forward one hour, making the time 3:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time will be in effect until October 27, 2024, when Standard Time will take effect. While Israelis will be losing an hour of sleep tonight, they will receive an additional hour of daylight for the next six months. Energy savings have been mentioned among the economic benefits of Daylight Saving Time, as well as an expected increase in the sales of the leisure, entertainment and tourism industries. The Ministry of Health also says that the added hours of daylight will have a positive effect on mental and physical health. In addition, the additional hours of daylight lead to a decrease i...
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Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 28, 2024  - Every year before the spring holidays, the National Security Council (NSC) publishes an estimation of the threat of terrorism for Israelis traveling abroad. This is done to raise awareness among the Israeli public to the threat of terrorism in various locations around the world, because of the heightened threat of attacks against Israelis abroad, and in particular in light of Operation Iron Swords. In the last few years there has been an ongoing escalation in the threat against Israelis abroad, which has only become more severe since the beginning of Operation Iron Swords (October 2023), as there is increased motivation on the part of terrorists around the world to carry out attacks. Most apparent is the growing threat from Iran, along with Hamas ...
And the flesh of his thanksgiving peace offering shall be eaten on the day it is offered up; he shall not leave any of it over until morning.” (Vayikra 7:15)  Among the various sacrificial details contained in this week’s Parsha, the Torah teaches us the laws of the Korban Todah (thanksgiving offering). This offering was brought when a person was saved from a life-threatening or inherently dangerous situation. It was a sacrificial rite which enabled the individual to thank God for deliverance and salvation.    The Imrei Emes (Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter of Gur, 1866-1948) raises a fascinating question.  Every korban (sacrificial offering) has a consumption window. You are permitted to eat the sacrifice for a certain amount of time. Afte...
Baltimore, MD  - Mar. 28, 2024  - On Purim, Rabbi Sholom Reindorp, director of Jewish Incarcerated Family Services (JIFS), a Chabad of Maryland organization, mobilized a team of volunteers to spread a sense of joy and community to Jews in confinement all across Maryland.Splitting into four teams, the 8 volunteers departed Baltimore early Purim morning to embark on their remarkable journey. Their stops included state prisons, county detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, juvenile detention centers, and rehab centers, with back-to-back Megillah readings from morning all the way up until sunset.Abby H., in Maryland Correctional Institute for Women, whose journey back to Judaism strengthens with each passing day, shared her appreciation: “Thank you for sending great people t...
Joe Lieberman, one of the highest-ranking Jews in American politics, a pro-Israel senator and Al Gore’s running mate (and vice-presidential candidate) in the 2000 election, has passed away. It is important to remember Lieberman’s unique voice within the Democratic party, which stood in sharp contrast to the opinions voiced by some party members today. But I would like to focus on his other very significant, non-political legacy. The last time I met him was in New York. His book, The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath, had just been translated into Hebrew and he explained how much this translation meant for him. Lieberman said that he had written a book about Shabbat because he wanted to communicate to young Jews around the world that they don&r...
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Parshas Tzav - Checkmate?

When instructing the Kohanim regarding the details of bringing an עולה — elevation-offering, G-d departs from using the verb most often used when communicating to Moshe to 'say' or 'speak' to them, and instead tells him צו — to 'command' them.


Rashi adds that this more emphatic term is intended to urge extra zeal in dispatching this duty and should be conveyed constantly to future generations.  


This verb is used in the very first command in the Torah — after the creation of Adam — where it describes how, ויצו — And G-d commanded, the man… The Zohar says that embedded in the verse are the original seven commands incumbent on mankind, with this very first צו — 'command' referring to idolatry. In the words of the Zohar, לית צו אלא עבודה זרה — the word 'command' alludes only to idolatry.


It would seem there is a difference of opinion whether צו implies simply 'zeal' or an accentuated avoidance of the sin of idolatry.


Further adding to the intrigue is a teaching of the great and loyal disciple of the Arizal, Rav Chaim Vital, who reveals that the word צו is numerically equivalent to המן — the evil Haman, when adding 'one' for the כולל — its 'whole'.


What are we to make of all this?


When Haman plotted to annihilate the Jewish people the Megillah records that he sought to accomplish that remarkably difficult undertaking ביום אחד — in one day!aman=Ha


In another display of the ונהפוך הוא — 'and it was turned about' principle, the Jews gathered on Haman's intended day of genocide and did away with 75,000 of their enemies in 'one day', gaining relief and celebrating the following day.


There clearly seems to be an intended contrast between the hateful zeal of Haman and his 'divine' mission to destroy the Jewish people, and the loyal eagerness of the Jews to fulfill their 'command' to quash their enemies.


The Olah sacrifice requires an extra measure of zealousness in getting it done. Rashi quotes in the name of Rebbi Shimon who taught that the Scripture especially needs to urge people to meticulously fulfill commandments במקום שיש חסרון כיס — 'monetary loss' in involved.  


There is much discussion about what loss they are referring to. Perhaps it reflects the fact the Kohen does not consume any part of the offering, as an Olah is totally burnt upon the Altar and the Kohen is only entitled to its hide.


The first Rebbe of Gur, Rav Yitzchak Meir Alter, popularly known as the Chidushei HaRim, offers a novel understanding of what type of חסרון כיס Rebbi Shimon is referring to.


An Olah we are taught atones for several types of sin, and more specifically for הרהורי הלב — improper thoughts of the heart. (תרגום יהונתן)


The Rebbe observes that our bodies' physical portals that are exposed to sin; our mouth; our eyes; our ears; each have a barrier to prevent infiltration. We can close our mouths by shutting tight our lips and prevent speaking inappropriately. We can shut our eyelids in avoiding sightly temptations. We can take the lobe of our ears and plug up our ears from hearing seductive words. Only the mind is vulnerable to open thoughts with nothing to obstruct them from influencing us.


This is what Rebbi Shimon is addressing. All the avenues for sin have a כיס — covering, a blocker. The most dangerous entry into our soul though, our mind and its wandering thoughts, have nothing to assist us in fending them off.        


The only way one can overcome invading thoughts is by remaining focused on relationship with G-d, reiterating our love for Him by carrying our His will with alacrity, that leaves no room for lapses of consciousness that leave us vulnerable to creeping thoughts of doubt.


We must take a lesson from Haman's playbook. His hatred was so powerful it blinded him to the consequences of his actions.


Why did he need to wipe them out in one day? 


The great ethicist, and disciple of the school of mussar of Nevardok, Rav Chaim Zaitchik, suggests that Haman knew that the Jews were experiencing a period of concealment from their G-d and thus vulnerable to the 'measure of judgment' befalling them. But he knew it may not last. He foolishly miscalculated thinking he could win the ultimate game of chess with G-d, and do them in. What was he thinking? Obviously when driven by blind hate one is incapable of clear thinking.


In the 'turnabout', the Jews regained a deepened appreciation of their Father who would never abandon them and came to the realization that their former rationalizations that led them to compromise their ideals is what nearly doomed them. With renewed zeal they ran blindly to the embrace of their loving Father, never leaving any lapses of consciousness that might allow poisonous thoughts to enter their minds.


The sinful impulses we sometimes submit to are mindless instincts we have yet to conquer. They do not, in and of themselves, represent an abandonment of G-d.


Our הרהורי עבירה — improper thoughts of the heart, though, are doubts that truly question G-d's providence and dominion. It is tantamount to worshipping other 'foreign forces' that defy His will. It is these dangerous invaders we can only defeat by submitting ourselves to His will with a blind and zealous love that leaves us no room for doubt.


We can never be checkmated. But we can certainly ride the rollercoaster of emotions when we veer off course, forgetting our Father in Heaven's ceaseless devotion to us.


We must embrace G-d with our eyes closed, knowing that in the game of life with our zealous devotion we can never lose!


באהבה,


צבי יהודה טייכמאן



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