4 Nissan 5777 – April 1, 2017

Friday night I walk into Shul in the Bais-Mint and needed a boost.  I opened up the Sefer Amud Haemes on the Kotzker and saw a beautiful Kotzker.  Chapter 1 Verse 17 says

בִכְנָפָיו לֹא יַבְדִּיל וְהִקְטִיר אֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֵן הַמִּזְבֵּחָה עַל הָעֵצִים אֲשֶׁר עַל הָאֵשׁ עֹלָה הוּא וְשִׁסַּע אֹתוֹ
אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהֹוָה

“It is a burnt offering, a fire offering [with] a pleasing fragrance to the Lord.”

Rashi on this part of the verse says.

It says regarding animal offerings and bird offerings that the Korban – Sacrifice is a fragrance pleasing to God.  This teaches us that whether one does much or little, [it is equally pleasing to God] provided that he directs his heart to God.

The Kotzker says, “the understanding is that even one who does much also needs Kavana [to direct his intentions and thoughts to God}.

I also opened up a Sefer on Vayikra by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, who has a brilliant Dvar Torah on Holiness, Korbonas (Sacrifices in the temple), purity and impurity.  I recommend reading t it o properly set the tone for Vayikra.

Joe Bulgatz ate over.  We eat in the basement before Pesach every year as our kitchen and dining room has been cleaned for Pesach.

Rabbi Zalmen Eichenstien had a Chanukas Habayis as he moved into the neighborhood.  It was a Chassidic get together.  The songs are beautiful.

Shabbos Morning:

Davened at Mishne Ugemorrah, had Kiddush, went to Yonatan’s house to speak Torah, and then went home to sleep.  Got up at 4:15 PM, went to visit my mother, and then walked to Anshe Sholem, 5.9 miles from my house.  I missed the speech of the scholar in residence, Dr. Shira Berkowitz.  Refer to her attached resume.

Of course, played Jewish geography with her.  She went to Prospect Girls High School and she mentioned a great story about the Rov, Rabbi Abraham Kelmen.  My sister and her family davened in his Shul for over 20 years.  I have been inspired by him and he is Mishpocha to me through the Smiley family (Greenwald).  Dr. Shira Berkowitz had just started at Prospect and something happened that Dr. Shira would be reprimanded.  She had to meet with Rabbi Kelmen, the principal. She was expecting a tongue lashing and when she meets with Rabbi Kelmen, he asks her, How is your integration into Prospect Girls High School going.  That was it, no negativity; just a desire to make sure Dr. Shira is doing well in his school.

Rabbi Wolkenfeld at the Shalosh Seudes meal said that it is the Yahrzeit of Professor Nechama Leibowitz and spoke out a Dvar Torah from her.

She asked why is there a difference in Yeyikra and Tzav in the order of explaining Sacrifices.

            Vayika: Tzav

1) Olah Olah

2) Mincha Mincha

3) Shalomin Chatos

4) Chatos Asham

5) Asham Shalomin

She answers that in Vayikra the conversation is with the entire Jewish people and to the Jewish people the Shalomin takes priority.  In Tzav’s Moshe is talking to the Cohanim directly and to them priority in Holiness is how the sacrifices are mentioned.  Or you can say that in Tzav the last three sacrifices is based on the amount of food the Cohen eats.  They get least by Shalomin.

My son picked me up and went to his apartment after Shabbos and then walked home at 10:50 PM.