VOLUME 120 NUMBER 4
Iyar 7, 5786
April 24, 2026
Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim
Candlelighting Time 7:29
The sacrifice termed the Peace Offering or the ‘Shlamim’ is unlike other offerings because its allowed time for consumption is the day it was brought, the following night and the day after. All other sacrifices are only for that day and the following night based upon Torah standards. The Sages minimized the allotted time only until midnight. However, what is the significance of the extended period of consumption allowed by this sacrifice?
Chasam Sofer delves into this subject with an extremely timely message. He emphasizes that in the secular world the night is defined by the day which precedes it. Therefore, the day starts at sunrise and ends at the end of the night right before the sun begins to appear. In our consensus, the day actually starts at sunset and the daytime follows afterward with the day ending before the sun begins to set. Although this would seem to be a rather unpretentious benchmark variance of defining days, it has a very astute and profound denotation.
The daytime period alludes to this world and its involvement. In the secular domain their lives and objectives relate only to and are clearly defined as per their goals within this sphere of activity. Upon death, there is no reality of which to speak and resultantly their agenda is only focused on the gains and development of life in this world and its accomplishments. Therefore, their day begins at sunrise and the night, one of total darkness not only in a physical sense but in the philosophical outlook is one of pure oblivion.
We subscribe to an absolutely diverse perspective. We aspire to utilize our lives in this world and its domain solely for the purpose of realizing an anticipated position of a relationship with Hashem based upon our performance of mitzvos and study of Torah. Additionally, we strive to improve our relationships with our respective families, community and the global society as well. Our nighttime, when we depart from this world, that is the main component of our lives whereas the daytime is a preliminary interlude of formulation for that goal. Therefore, in effect, our lifetime can be construed as a time of darkness since its objective is not for now but for the thereafter, Olam Habo. As a result, the nighttime, when we depart from this existence, is really our point of reference, when we reap the rewards of our efforts in this world, our daytime period where the aura of our accomplishments are recognized. Therefore, our ‘day’ begins at night.
The extremely righteous people value their stay in this realm knowing that every moment is valuable and precious, seconds and minutes where gems of mitzvos and Torah can be garnered. The sacrifices can be likened to such giants of the spirit and consequently the point of origin of the offerings is during the actual daytime period. As our Sages state that one moment of this world’s activities are more treasured than the entire period of the next world. Only during one’s lifetime can a person earn merits to secure his place in the next world, but upon one’s departure from this existence, there are no longer opportunities. Therefore, this offering alludes to the daytime experience of serving Hashem, the harvest of those efforts upon a person’s demise and the eventual resurrection when we will again serve Hashem in an entirely altered scope of presence.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Shabbos is referred to as the bride, the kallah and we are considered the groom, the chasan. When the chasan honors and treats the kallah favorably, then he is treasured by the father of the kallah and receives gifts. That is the meaning of the verse that Hashem consecrated the seventh day, Shabbos. We have received the kedusha, the holiness of Shabbos as our gift since we honor Shabbos.
CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABBOS
