Rituals of Purification

 Parshat Tazria-Metzora

by Rabbi Avi Billet

There are 4 rituals in the Torah that bear similarities in how they are presented. Three of them are associated with the categories of people mentioned by Baal HaTurim (as will be noted below) – Leviim, Nazir, and Metzora, and the 4th category are Aharon and sons, the Kohanim, at the time they are initially turned from Leviim to Kohanim, as they are consecrated to work in the Mishkan. 

 This chart summarizes (incompletely) the components of those respective rituals and where they appear in the Torah. 

Aharon's Silence

Parshat Shmini 

by Rabbi Avi Billet 

 Immediately after the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, Moshe tells his brother, “This is what God meant when he said ‘I’ll be sanctified with those closest to me and before the nation I’ll be honored,’ and Aharon was silent.” 

 Aharon’s silence in response to all of this is legendary, such that much has been written about it. How we learn from him how to mourn, how to accept tragedy as God’s will.

 But is it really as simple as that? Is Aharon really accepting of the tragedy? Does he have no questions? Is there no anger in his heart? No feeling of “Why my sons, God?” And is his silence in reaction to the tragedy he experienced? Or is it a response to Moshe’s words?

Eliyahu HaNavi and Night Time Salvation

Pesach 5786

A Sermon by Rabbi Avi Billet

Beyond Israel’s now 78 year war with its local enemies, the current military action in Iran is the first time another power has gotten involved on the offensive, advancing shared interests with the Jewish State. In the past some countries have provided weapons to Israel to help Israel fight her own fight. And the Patriot missiles, a not-as-good-as-Iron Dome method of intercepting missiles was used in the 1991 Iraq War. That war, as many surely recall, started after Iraq invaded Kuwait. And while Israel was not involved, Saddam Hussein had threatened that if the US invades, he’d shoot missiles at Israel. Which he did. 

That war put Israel on alert to put bomb shelters in all new construction, including houses and apartment buildings. Some are actually in apartments and are for the use of the family living there, while some are in the basements of buildings and are more communal. 

Put in the Time to Prepare for the Big Day

Parshat Tzav  / Shabbos HaGadol

 by Rabbi Avi Billet 

In the last four verses of the parsha, we see the warning and instruction given to the Kohanim as to where they are supposed to be for the 7 days leading up to the “Yom HaShmini” that will be described in the coming Parsha with chapter 9. 

 Verse 33 - And you shall not leave the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the day of the completion of your investiture days, he will inaugurate you for seven days. 

Verse 35 - And you shall stay day and night for seven days at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. You shall observe the Lord's command, so that you will not die, for thus I was commanded. 

I would argue that the message is clear. But is it? Are they stuck at the opening of the Tent of Meeting (Ohel Moed) for 7 days? What if someone needs a break? Or to relieve oneself? 

The Leader and the People

Parshat Vayikra

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Vayikra chapter 4 presents a few scenarios where either an individual or a leader sins or causes others to sin. What is the penalty? Who is responsible? 

ויקרא פרק ד - (ג) אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתוֹ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיקֹוָ֖ק לְחַטָּֽאת:

4:3 – “If the anointed Kohen sins, to the blame of the people, he is to bring a sin offering for the sin he perpetrated…”

 This seems pretty straightforward. The man is responsible to bring the offering in question. And while 4:13 introduces a scenario in which all of the people do something wrong, and thus must bring a communal sacrifice, it does not follow that that case is specifically connected to the one in the verse above.

Let us explore three ways of looking at what happened here, causing this breakdown in behavior. 

Even the Accidental Sin 

A. This verse (4:3) is meant to be a warning to the Kohen, of how he is to conduct himself on account of his being in such a position. People look to him, people admire him, people see him as a model of behavior, a leader to emulate on account of his position, his stature, and the role he plays in their lives. Rabbi Yaakov Loiberbaum of Lisa explained the verse to suggest that if he sins, even by accident (בשוגג), this is to the detriment of the congregation and the community, because what they see him doing is seen as being upright, ethical, proper, and allowed. This gives people license, even unwittingly and unwillingly, to do the wrong thing, simply because they saw this behavior or this action perpetrated by the anointed Kohen. 

Why is Kindling Fire Mentioned Exclusively as a Shabbos Prohibition?

Parshat VAYAKHEL - Fekudei

by Rabbi Avi Billet

In opening the parsha with an announcement about Shabbos, Moshe Rabbenu singles out the kindling of fire as something that should not be done on the holy day. Some of the commentaries note that this singling out demonstrates that just as this is forbidden, all of the categories of Melakha (creative labors) are forbidden on Shabbos. 

 This is a classic rabbinic analysis which simplifies a more complex issue, while essentially side-stepping the question of why was this prohibition singled out? 

The Pesikta (and Chizkuni and others) note that the Torah’s indication that you are not to kindle fire “in your dwelling places” excludes the Mikdash, where handling and dealing with fire, for the sake of the sacrificial order, is permitted on Shabbos. (אש תמיד תוקד על המזבח) 

Ramban quotes Rabbi Nosson, in a statement found in the Mechilta, who says that when Moshe gathered the people, the assumption everyone made was that it would be permitted to light a candle and to heat up food, and to make a fire on Shabbos (probably because inherently, fire by itself is not a creative labor), so Moshe needed to single it out. Rabbi Nosson (Ramban explains) says the Torah is not needed to tell us that baking, cooking, and other activities for food preparation are forbidden because we are told that in the context of the Mon (manna), that it would need to be prepared before Shabbos. 

Moshe's Mask

Parshat Ki Tisa

by Rabbi Avi Billet

It is important to read the verses in question, to understand what the Torah says. The following text and translation can be found here: 

29And it came to pass when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand when he descended from the mountain and Moses did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while He had spoken with him 30that Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses and behold! the skin of his face had become radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the princes of the community returned to him, and Moses would speak to them. 32Afterwards all the children of Israel would draw near, and he would command them everything that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he placed a covering over his face. 34When Moses would come before the Lord to speak with Him, he would remove the covering until he left; then he would leave and speak to the children of Israel what he would be commanded. 35Then the children of Israel would see Moses' face, that the skin of Moses' face had become radiant, and [then] Moses would replace the covering over his face until he would come [again] to speak with Him.		כטוַיְהִ֗י בְּרֶ֤דֶת משֶׁה֙ מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּשְׁנֵ֨י לֻחֹ֤ת הָֽעֵדֻת֙ בְּיַד־משֶׁ֔ה בְּרִדְתּ֖וֹ מִן־הָהָ֑ר וּמשֶׁ֣ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֗ע כִּ֥י קָרַ֛ן ע֥וֹר פָּנָ֖יו בְּדַבְּר֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ: לוַיַּ֨רְא אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן וְכָל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־משֶׁ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קָרַ֖ן ע֣וֹר פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ מִגֶּ֥שֶׁת אֵלָֽיו: לאוַיִּקְרָ֤א אֲלֵהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ אֵלָ֛יו אַֽהֲרֹ֥ן וְכָל־הַנְּשִׂאִ֖ים בָּֽעֵדָ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר משֶׁ֖ה אֲלֵהֶֽם: לבוְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן נִגְּשׁ֖וּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְצַוֵּ֕ם אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְ-הֹוָ֛ה אִתּ֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר סִינָֽי: לגוַיְכַ֣ל משֶׁ֔ה מִדַּבֵּ֖ר אִתָּ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֥ן עַל־פָּנָ֖יו מַסְוֶֽה: לדוּבְבֹ֨א משֶׁ֜ה לִפְנֵ֤י יְ-הֹוָה֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ יָסִ֥יר אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶ֖ה עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ וְיָצָ֗א וְדִבֶּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְצֻוֶּֽה: להוְרָא֤וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י משֶׁ֔ה כִּ֣י קָרַ֔ן ע֖וֹר פְּנֵ֣י משֶׁ֑ה וְהֵשִׁ֨יב משֶׁ֤ה אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶה֙ עַל־פָּנָ֔יו עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ:

 A few points are worthy of note:

Special Clothing To Serve God Best

Parshat Tetzaveh 

by Rabbi Avi Billet

So much attention is given to the special clothing of the Kohanim, as they are described as being לכבוד ולתפארת, for honor and glory – on the one hand it is glorifying the Kohanim, putting them in a very clear position of honor, while on the other hand their uniform also glorifies God as it is a fulfillment of God’s instruction. The seeming white “simplicity” of their garments, as well as the beautifully ornate extra garments of the Kohen Gadol, stand as a testament to Whom the Kohanim are serving. 

The Sochatchover Rebbe asked what should be an obvious question. There is a whole other group that is present as well when it comes to serving in the Mishkan, namely the Leviim. And yet they do not have special garments! Why? 

Did the Ark Have Legs?

Parshat Terumah

by Rabbi Avi Billet

The first time I learned the book of Shemos, I was fascinated by the Mishkan. We had a project in 5th grade in which groups of kids made presentations about the different vessels of the Mishkan – you could make a poster, a slide presentation, or even build a mini-model – in some cases “to scale” and in some cases “actual size.” While I remember my project being the Kerashim (the beams that make up the walls of the Mishkan), I am pretty sure I limited my presentation to posterboard and diagrams, and not a model. An actual size “Keresh” would not have fit in our small classroom! 

In my fascination, I studied at length the pictures in the book “HaMishkan/The Tabernacle” (rather pricey at that link!) for which the author had made mini models, and the book was a crossover between the black and white photos that were part of the book and the color photos that were pasted into the book throughout the progress of the building of the Mishkan (it must have been much cheaper to print and assemble the book that way as color printing then was certainly not like it is now). *

This is the Aron (Ark) I remember 

Subsequent to that I (and I’m sure many readers) watched the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – Steven Spielberg’s early film demonstrating his hatred for Nazis, in which the hero, Indiana Jones, survives the superpowers of the opened Ark, while the Nazis and their sympathizers all meet a beyond-nature end. 

What the Doorway Represents

Parshat Mishpatim

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Those who study Mishpatim are well aware that the first mitzvah in the parsha is Eved Ivri. Rabbis often make this the topic of their sermon because of its “leading the pack” status, and it makes for good “Drasha material” because it bespeaks of the need to look out for our fellow man, ideally so that he not come to have the need to sell himself to be the “Hebrew slave” in the first place. 

As the old Chinese proverb goes “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” [There are political jokes about if you give someone too much the person will vote for a certain political party for a lifetime…] 

The Torah’s instruction is that the Hebrew slave goes free after 6 years of service. However “if he says ‘I have come to love my master, my wife and my children, and I don’t wish to go free, then his master brings him to the court, and he is brought to the door and to the Mezuzah and hole is bored into his ear and he remains a slave forever.” The Rabbis teach us that “forever” means “until the Jubilee year.” 

The Purpose of Our Existence - Lidrosh Elokim, To Seek Out God

 Parshat Yitro

by Rabbi Avi Billet

It’s the day after Yisro has arrived, and Moshe sits down to judge the people. R Hirsch writes: 

“These and the following verses teach us of our forefathers’ way of life during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Their food was provided for them each day by the fall of the Manna, and their other needs were also provided for (see Devarim 8:4, 29:4-5 and 2:7). Thus, meeting their basic needs was simple and easy, and did not take up much of their time. They were not engaged most of the day in those activities – labor, trade, household chores – that normally occupy the life of a people. In what, then, were they engaged most of the time? They would come to Moshe, or – as we will now her – to the men who acted as his deputies, “to seek God” (or perhaps judgment). לדרש א-לקים means: to seek instruction and help from God. It encompasses all the ways in which we are to seek God in all our activities in life and lot, ways in which we must persist if God is indeed to be our God. 

Masah U'Mrivah

Parshat B'Shalach

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Before the battle with Amalek in the latter half of chapter 17, there is a story that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. There are likely several reasons for this inattention, including the following:

 1. There is so much action in the Parsha as it is

 2. There is a complaint about water, and the complaint about water that happened in Marah is so much more dramatic

 3. Moshe hits the rock to bring out water and nothing bad happens in the aftermath

 4. While the people complained, there doesn’t seem to be a negative outcome from their complaining 

Let us look at the tale in question – please note the words highlighted in bold in the Hebrew and English: 

Cell Phones in Shul

 I admit I've been on the warpath. It has gotten so ridiculously out of control. Sounds emanating from cell phones during davening are distracting and disturbing. And people laugh it off as if "There's nothing that can be done."

I've heard of shuls who "fine" people (as in a donation to the shul, money to tzedakah) when their phone disturbs the davening.

But really I just want people to be mindful, aware, and to be "an adult" about this.

Because there's a simple solution. Other than not bringing it to shul - which is a great solution too!

Train yourself to put it on airplane mode as soon as you step into the building for davening. You don't need to use your phone down to the wire until davening begins. You certainly don't need it during davening. "Siri, turn on airplane mode." "Google, turn on airplane mode." It avoids the dreaded "turn off" and it also blocks ALL notifications (except your alarm which you forgot to turn off).

Draining Egypt of Its Wealth? Honest, Dishonest, or God's Plan?

 Parshat Bo

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Many years ago I read an article (perhaps Ynet? Perhaps Times of Israel?) that had me wondering if it was satire or real. While I can’t find it online, the headline said something like “Egyptian politician claims Israel owes Egypt money for what the Israelites stole from Egypt at the time of the Exodus.” 

Many things are ludicrous about this claim, particularly in light of a number of anti-Semitic tropes which include:

  • The people of modern Israel aren’t “real Jews.” They are descendants of Khazars.

 • The people of modern Israel aren’t “real Jews” indigenous to this land, as they are European colonialists

  • The Bible is a myth. None of its stories ever happened. 

 Leaving aside the irony of people claiming the Exodus never happened then claiming that those who participated in it (but I thought it never happened!?) owe reparations for money they never took because it didn’t happen…. no one could claim that the citizens of modern Egypt are descendants of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt and its imprint on history is only that… history… and the Arabs who are now the stewards of that land have ZERO connection to events of 3,000+ years ago. 

Did Moshe Have a Speech Impediment?

Parshat Va'era

by Rabbi Avi Billet

There is no question that the person who does the most talking in all of the Torah is Moshe Rabbenu. The Book of Devarim alone comprises 3 large and several smaller speeches delivered by Moshe to the people. Combine that with all the things he says throughout the Torah, and the things we are told that he told and taught the people (all of the Mitzvot, all of his teachings, all of his presiding over court cases), and we have quite the loquacious individual. 

 And yet, because of 3 comments he makes (2 of which are essentially the same comment twice), people assume he had a speech impediment or even a physical deformity. Aside from the argument presented above, consider two more points. When Moshe is born the Torah informs us ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא – “it was seen about him that he was good.” This is hardly a description of someone born with a physical defect. Secondly, at the Burning Bush, while Moshe has many objections to why he doesn’t want to be God’s messenger, basically the last one he brings up is that he is a כבד פה וכבד לשון – that he has a “heavy mouth and a heavy tongue.” (4:10) If I had an inability to speak, and I was being tasked with being a representative whose main job was to use language of persuasion before a king, that would be my FIRST excuse for my being unfit for the job. 

נקרה v נקרא - Subtle Text Changes Teach Far More Than Subtle Behavior Changes

Parshat Shemot

by Rabbi Avi Billet 

One aspect of the Torah that requires attention is when something is repeated, and yet subtly changed in the way either a narrative is presented, or in how a mitzvah is re-presented, or in how a text appears that second time. What is the reason for the changes? What are we to learn from the changes? 

A few simple examples for your own homework (if you are interested) include:

 •  The way Avraham’s servant meets Rivkah v. how he tells over the story to her family

 •  Pharaoh’s dreams as they happen v. how Pharaoh relates his dreams to Yosef

 •  Aseres HaDibros in Shmos 20 v. Aseres HaDibros in Devarim 5

 • The way the event of the spies transpires in Bamidbar 13-14 v. how Moshe revisits that tale in Devarim 1