To Be or Not To Be

One of the most special sacrifices is that of the burnt offering. The entire animal is consumed on the altar, obviously an indication of absolute and exclusive consideration to serve Hashem. Only the outer skin, the hide is not given to Hashem but rather presented to the Kohanim, the priests, our representatives in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash.

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Ascending Forever

  Nachmonides on the other hand explains that this beginning verse in Vayikra is a continuation of the end of parshas Pekudei. There the Torah states that the Cloud of Hashem enveloped the Mishkan both from the outer perimeter and even the interior of the Mishkan was infused with the glory of Hashem.

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Jewish Joke of the Week: The Knight

A Jewish man is being knighted by the Queen of England. It’s a huge honor, and he’s carefully briefed on the ceremony. When he kneels before the Queen, he’s supposed to recite a short phrase in Latin to complete the knighting.

So he practices. And practices. Weeks of practice. Latin flashcards. Saying it in the mirror. Saying it in the car. By the time the ceremony arrives, he’s sure he has it down perfectly.

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Ready or Not

We know that the nation traveled under the guidance of the special clouds that surrounded it. They were not allowed to go forward unless they were directed so by Hashem through the clouds. The Torah further states that if the clouds did not begin their preparatory formation to leave, then the people did not prepare to leave either. That we followed the clouds’ direction is clearly stated at the very end of sefer Shemos.

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Making Ends Meet

Klal Yisroel made donations for the construction of the Mishkan and also for purchasing sacrifices. There was a specific amount to be given for the offerings, a half shekel. The Torah clearly states that each and every individual must give the exact same amount.

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The Real Me

The Kohanim that served in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash wore extremely fashionable clothing. Even a superficial perusing of the parsha will clue you in on their wardrobe. Was exquisite clothing such a necessity to fulfill their obligations such as was required? After all, the main objective was to accomplish their roles and attend to the myriad details involved in the daily routine in the Mishkan and later the Beis Hamikdash.

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