Posted on 03/23/18
This week's shtikle comes with some sad news. My wife's grandmother, the matriarch of the family, Rebbetzin Faigie Frankel, passed away Monday evening in Toronto at the age of 102. The shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmasah, Leah Feiga bas Aharon Tzvi.
I must also mention the passing of Rebbetzin Shlomis Eisenberg, daughter of Rav Mordechai Gifter, z"l, and wife of Rav Ephraim Eisenberg, z"l, after whom our son is named, just a day earlier. The shtikle is also dedicated le'iluy nishmasah, Shlomis Feiga bas Mordechai.
Parshas Tzav is certainly not an easy parsha to mine for lessons relating to the events of this week. Dealing mostly with routine procedures regarding korbanos, one of the favourite targets for discussion is the korban todah, the special offering that is brought to give thanks for various different special occasions and circumstances. An interesting nuance occurred to me recently. With regards to some (although not all) offerings related to sin, we do find that the Torah provides options for people who cannot afford the full animal offering. Even though the full menu for the korban todah is quite extensive, featuring 40 loaves on top of the animal offering, there is no "lower cost" option provided.
To explain this we can suggest, at least on a homiletic level, that if someone were to have entered the mikdash in a state of tum'ah, for example, but could not afford the required animal sacrifice, it would be very difficult for him to collect the necessary funds. Imagine, for a moment, one of those tzedakah collectors walking around a shul with a note stating he is collecting for his korban asham. If one were to find himself in a similar predicament while trying to arrange a korban todah, however, the situation would almost certainly be different. To celebrate joyous occasions friends – and certainly family – always come together to help out and enhance the event. So there was never a fear that someone would be unable to put together what is necessary for a korban todah.
Of the many wonderful memories that friends and family have of Rebbetzin Frankel – Boobie, as she was known to family – perhaps the most overt and visible to all was her persistent presence and participation in family semachos near and far. She was fortunate to have most of her family nearby in Toronto. But when the situation arose she would not let distance get in her way. Even in her 90's she made difficult sojourns to Eretz Yisrael and New York for grandchildren's weddings. Even in recent years when movement and transportation became far more difficult, her presence at family events and yamim tovim continued and will certainly leave a lasting impression on us as well as our children. She will surely be missed. Yehi zichrah baruch.