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©
1996-2010 Torah Tots, Inc.
PARSHA ON PARADE IS DEDICATED TO
THE MEMORY
OF MY DEAR FATHER AND REBBI:
HARAV HAGAON RAV YESHAYA SHIMANOWITZ Z'TZL ,
ROSH YESHIVA
IN
YESHIVAS RABAINU YAAKOV YOSEF
(RABBI JACOB JOSEPH YESHIVA - RJJ)
IN NYC FOR OVER 23 YEARS.
NIFTAR ON 20 ADAR 5758 - MARCH 18, 1998.
MAY HE BE A MAYLITZ YOSHER FOR ALL OF KLAL YISROEL.
AND
MY DEAR MOTHER
REBITZEN BRACHA ETEL SHIMANOWITZ A'H
WHO DEVOTED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO MY FATHER AND HIS TORAH,
NIFTERA ON 21 TEVET 5770 - WED EVE. JANUARY 6, 2010.
MAY SHE BE A MAYLITZA YOSHER FOR ALL OF KLAL YISROEL
Menachim Z. Shimanowitz
You too can
dedicate a Parsha or any other section of Torah Tots in honor or in
memory of someone close to you.
For further info, click here.
PARSHA
FACTS
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NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 6
6 MITZVOT ASEH (POSITIVE COMMANDMENT)
0 MITZVOT LO TAASEH (NEGATIVE COMMANDMENT - PROHIBITION)
NUMBER OF PESUKIM (SENTENCES): 168
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1887
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 7853
HAFTORA: (Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha)
Yirmiyahu / Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 Divrei Yirmiyahu דברי ירמי
(The three Haftorot of the three weeks preceding the Ninth of Av, are called the — שלש דפורענותא - the "Three (Haftorot) of Punishment").
This week we study Chapter 1 of Pirkei Avot - "Ethics of the Fathers"
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פרשת פינחס
PINCHAS
MAKES
A SHARP
POINT |
In
our last episode a new superhero appeared: Pinchas, son of Elazar,
grandson of Aharon. While Moshe and the judges stood stunned at Zimri's
rendezvous with a Moabite woman, Pinchas rushed into Zimri's tent
and pierced a spear through both of them!
As our Parsha
opens, there is controversy in the camp. Zimri is not just some
sinner off the street; he is a Nassi, a Prince of Israel,
and the leader of his tribe. Pinchas, on the other hand, is a
descendant of Yitro on his mother's side. Yitro was an idol worshipper
before Moshe came along. How can the descendant of an idol worshipper
kill a Nassi?
In Hashem's
name, Moshe declares that Pinchas has single-handedly saved the
Jews from a plague that would have wiped out all of Bnei Yisroel.
Not only was Pinchas right about killing Zimri but he has earned
extra points for quick thinking and taking personal risk. Thanks
to Pinchas a great Chillul Hashem has been avoided.
Hashem rewards
Pinchas with a very long life. 400 years later, in Shoftim,
(the Book of Judges), Pinchas is still alive. Indeed, Pinchas
never dies, he just changes his name to Eliyahu Hanavi
(the prophet). Eliyahu is later taken up to heaven alive.
See the Book of Melachim
(Kings). He will one day soon
blow the shofar that signals the coming of Moshiach.
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MAKING
A NEW
KOHAIN
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Until
now, only those grandsons born after Aharon became the Kohain Gadol,
are to be Kohanim. Pinchas, who was born before Aharon became
the Kohain Gadol, is to remain a Levi. Hashem rewards Pinchas
by making him a Kohain. Hashem rewards Pinchas by making
him a Kohain. At that point, no one can use the "descended
from idol worshipper" theory on him. Hashem also decrees
that most of the Kohanim Gedolim will descend from Pinchas.
During the time of the first Bait Hamikdash eighteen Kohanim
Gedolim were Pinchas' grand children, and eighty Kohanim
Gedolim descended from Pinchas during the second Bait Hamikdash.
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MAKING
A MOVE
ON MIDYAN
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Once Hashem
finishes dealing the blows to the complainers and sinners, and blessings
to Pinchas, it's time to move on to Midyanite matters. Hashem
lets Moshe know that Midyan is an enemy. Their dastardly attempt to
make Bnei Yisroel sin with the Midyanite women is worse than
murder. Furthermore, Midyan is undoubtedly hopping mad because the
princess, Kozbi, was killed and they are plotting their revenge right
now. In the next Parsha, with Hashem's help, Bnei
Yisroel will take care of Midyan. Tune in.
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UP FOR
THE
COUNT
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Between
Bilam, Balak and the Midyanite women, many Jews have died from the
plague. Now, as Bnei Yisroel prepares to cross into Eretz
Yisroel, it's time to take stock of the nation.
Moshe and Elazar are put in charge of counting every man between
the ages of twenty and sixty. Once again the half-shekel coin
is the key to the count. Each candidate must contribute one half
shekel to the committee. The Leviyim are counted separately.
Each Levite male from the age of one month and up is included.
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AND THE
RESULTS
ARE IN...
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Elazar
tallies the figures from each Shevet (tribe) and comes up
with 601,730 - not much higher than the last census 40 years before.
Shevet Shimon has sustained the deepest drop, going from
59,300 men to 22,000. The recent plague brought on by the Midyanite
women is to blame. The biggest increase is Shevet Menashe.
An honorable mention goes to Serach, the righteous daughter
of Asher who has survived since Yaakov and his family went down
to Egypt. She will enter the Promised Land together with Bnei
Yisroel and live on for many years.
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THE DEED
GOES
TO THE
DAUGHTERS
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It's time to hand out the portions of land to the men of Bnei
Yisroel. This idea doesn't sit well with a family of five sisters
from the tribe of Menashe. Machla, Noah, Chagla, Milka and Tirtza.
They feel they're being duped out of land because their father, Tzelafchad,
has passed away and has left no sons. Since the land is passed down
from father to son, these women stand to lose their share of Eretz
Yisroel.
Women's lib takes on the land committee as these five daughters
bring their case before Moshe. They ask Moshe to allow them to
inherit their father's portion. Furthermore, they want a double
portion since their father was a first-born.
Moshe consults with Hashem
on the matter. As far as he understands, only sons can inherit
the land. But Hashem tells Moshe that if a man has no
sons, his daughters can inherit the land.
So the daughters of Tzelafchad
inherit a double portion of Eretz Yisroel.
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YEHOSHUA
HAS AN
APPOINTMENT
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Remember
when Moshe hit the rock? His dreams of entering Eretz Yisroel
were dashed when Hashem told him he would never set foot
in the land of Israel. He would die, instead, in the desert. As the
Jews prepare to enter Eretz Yisroel, Moshe realizes that
the end is near. He is concerned that the Bnei Yisroel needs
a leader to take his place - one who has courage and is wise.
Moshe has two candidates in
mind: his sons, Gershom and Eliezer.
But Hashem has other
plans.
He's humble... he's learned...
he's one of only two spies to bring back a good report about Eretz
Yisroel...
Introducing Yehoshua Bin Nun!
Hashem
asks Moshe to appoint Yehoshua, his prize student. Moshe should
tell Yehoshua how lucky he is to be chosen by Hashem to
bring the nation into Eretz Yisroel. First Moshe is to
put his hands on Yehoshua's head to transfer his greatness. Then
Yehoshua is to speak to the nation in Moshe's presence. When Moshe
approaches Yehoshua, Yehoshua turns down the position on grounds
of humility. But that only gives Moshe a stronger case. Humility
is a great quality in a leader. Moshe puts both hands on Yehoshua's
head and the spirit of Hashem flows from Moshe's fingertips
into Yehoshua's body. Yehoshua is now filled with the wisdom to
guide the Bnei Yisroel when Moshe is gone.
Moshe teaches Yehoshua how to
pronounce the holiest name of Hashem. He teaches Yehoshua
the mysteries of the Torah. Moshe drapes Yehoshua in
beautiful garments and brings him before the Bnei Yisroel
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STARTING
OFF THE
DAY
WITH A
TAMID
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We wrap
us the Parsha with the laws of the Korban Tamid, the daily
sacrifice, and the laws of the Korban Mussaf.
Hashem commands that
every morning the Kohanim will offer a lamb on the Mizbayach
(Altar). First the lamb is slaughtered, then the entire animal
is burnt as an Olah together with a Mincha (flour)
offering and Nesech (wine) offering.
In the afternoon, the Kohanim offer the same lamb,
flour and wine combination. This is called the afternoon Tamid.
These Korbanot are
offered twice a day every day, including Shabbat. They
are paid for with the half shekels collected from the nation once
a year. Therefore, at each offering, representatives of the community
- Kohanim, Leviyim and Yisroel are present as
the Korban Tamid is offered.
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EXTRA...
EXTRA...
KORBAN
MUSSAF!
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Every
day you've got your standard Tamid offerings in the morning
and afternoon. But when it comes to Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and
Yom Tov, the "community" chips in for an extra set of Korbanot.
Mussaf means "additional."
Here's a chart of all the Korbanot that are added to the
daily Tamid on those special days.
| MUSSAF
OFFERINGS |
| DAY
|
OLAH
|
CHATAT
|
| BULL
|
RAM
|
LAMB
|
MALE
GOAT |
| SHABBAT
|
no
|
no
|
2
|
no
|
| ROSH
CHODESH |
2
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
| PESACH
daily for 7 days |
2
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
| SHAVUOT
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
| ROSH
HASHANA* |
1
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
| * Plus
Rosh Chodesh offerings since Rosh Hashana
is also Rosh Chodesh |
| YOM
KIPPUR |
1
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 1 |
13
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 2 |
12
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 3 |
11
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 4 |
10
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 5 |
9
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 6 |
8
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
SUKKOT
- day 7 |
7
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
| SHIMINI
ATZERET |
1
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
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To print
out this chart click here
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KORBAN
WRAP UP |
The Korbanot are
so important that any melacha needed to offer korbanot
on Shabbat and Yom Tov is permitted. Moshe tells the Bnei
Yisroel that the laws of Korbanot should be studied before
Yom Tov to make sure that the right korbanot are offered.
These days, Davening (Praying)
takes the place of these Korbanot. In our tefilot (prayers)
we add the Mussaf on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Yom
Tov, reciting verses from the Torah that mention these Korbanot.
On Rosh Chodesh we read the
Torah portion that deals with the Korbanot of Rosh
Chodesh.
When the Bait Hamikdash is
once again standing, Korbanot will be back in business.
Until then it is up to all of Klal
Yisroel to remember these holy rituals.The words from the Torah
that we read in Mussaf about the Korbanot are very powerful
indeed.
And speaking of the power of words, don't
make any promises until you tune in next week to the next exciting episode
of: |
See
the Midrash Maven on Pinchas
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