D’var Torah - Behukotai

Shabbat Shalom,

 

This week we read the torah portion of Behukotai, the last Sidra in the book of Leviticus.

אם בחוקותי תלכו ואת מצוותי תשמרו ועשיתם אתם

It starts with the word If to represent the concept of free choice. And then the portion continues with the rewards and punishments depending on how we use our free will to choose between good and bad.

 

The verb Telehu, is translated: to follow. It literally means walk or go. Human “walk” in G-d’s way and And angels “stand” in the presence of G-d. Human beings unlike angels have the ability to grow and change after doing something wrong.

 

Jewish law is known as Hallakha הלכה and is understood as “the way to go/walk”. Using the verb walk instead of follow G-d commandments, makes it more active, as a leader.

 

The curses are known as Tokhehah: reproof, reprimand. You are not expected only to walk in G-d’s way but also correct others if they stir from his way. It’s a commandment! Mitzvat Tocheha which appears in Parashat kedoshim 19:17: הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך

Meaning: When you see someone who is not acting right you are commanded to correct/ reprimand them.

 

This Torah portion teaches us that we are very special and different not just from angels but especially from animals, because of our brain inside our head (Rosh).

We read in verse 26:13 – “…..ואשבור מוטות עולכם ואולך אתכם קוממיות

I the Lord am you G-d who brought you out from the land of the Egyptians to be their slaves no more, who broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect!

 

The bars of the yoke were tied to the neck of a work animal by means of thongs. We are no longer slaves, who are tied up and bent over, the bars are broken, and we can stand straight and strong to make our own decisions between right and wrong.

 

The wordקוממיות:  – from the word קום – stand up straight, is in plural to which Rashi explained that there are two ways to stand straight: physically and emotionally. We can also see that in the order of Berachot hashchar: The blessings of Dawn. First, G-d released us from slavery and then make us walk straight.

 

רוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. זוקֵף כְּפוּפִים:

 

We are very different from animals since when an animal stands, her head (brain), heart and liver are all in the same level and the head is even lower for most of the time but a human standing straight has his head (brain) higher from his heart and liver.

 

If we take the first letters of the body parts in order:

Mem for Moach (brain), Lamed for Lev (heart) and Chaf for Kaved (liver) which connected make the word Melech – king (מלך). when we walk straight in G-d’s ways we walk like kings in the shadow of our Melech – Ruler.

Counting the Omer is another helpful practice to help us to aspire to grow upwards to acts of kindness.

 

Over the weekend we celebrated Memorial Day. For few days we had different planes flying over our heads, breaking the speed of sound as they were practicing for the air show. One of my students that lives close to the beach, on the path of the passing planes was a little fearful with the loud noise. I told him that for me the loud noises make me feel safe and secure since I look up at the American planes and in spite of the scary noise I chose to see the vehicle that represent the power of good against evil – which makes it the sight and sound of freedom! I converted the scary noise to comforting noise. Can we do the same with Curses? Can we manage to turn a curse to a blessing?

 

Yes, we can!

Because what is a real curse?

A curse is to be afraid from something that is not there. When there is no real threat.

G-d gave us a moach – brain that has that power to control our thoughts and actions.

We have the free choice and power to act positive and see the positive.

 

The book of Vayikra started with G-d calling Moses since he was afraid to approach the tent of meeting which represented the holy tabernacles. G-d had to call him and reassure him that they existed to benefit Israel and not to threaten them (Rambam).

The Torah is our life guide – Torat Chaim, its our blessing.

 

We are now at the end of the book of Vaikra when the Israelities need to understand their power and believe in G-d’s power as they are about to embark on their long journey in the wilderness (Bamidbar), where they are going to face many dangers and hostile situations. They need to be prepared as our great commentator, Rashi, explained: strong Physically and Mentally.  

 

Let us pray that today we are not just finishing the 3rd book of our Torah, but we are about to start a journey united and strong with our heads up high, as we say:

 

חזק, חזק ונתחזק: Strong, Strong and together we will be stronger!