Bostoner Torah Insights: Bostoner‘Chassidus’ in English and Hebrew: Parshas Emor – 10 Iyar 5784
Bostoner Torah Insights - Yerushalayim
Bostoner Torah Insights
Bostoner ‘Chassidus’ in English
Parshas Emor – 10 Iyar 5784
Bostoner Rebbe shlit”a – Yerushalayim
Secretariat Email: bosto...@gmail.com
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The end of Parshas Emor puts a spotlight on the Mo’adim, the Jewish Holidays that are of Biblical origin, “These are the appointed festivals of Hashem, designated with sanctity, which you shall designate in their appropriate time.” (Vayikra 23:4). The Moadim begin with Pesach on the 15th of Nissan and continues with the counting of the Omer until Shavuos on the fiftieth day of that count. Next, we have the festivals of Rosh Hashana on the first of Tishrei, Yom Kippur on the tenth of Tishrei and finally Succos on the fifteenth of Tishrei.
The Meshech Chachma explains that there are Mitzvos between man and Hashem that serve to foster that relationship by connecting Yisroel to their Father in Heaven. These are Mitzvos like Tzitzis, Tefillin and Mezuzah. Other Mitzvos between man and his fellow man were designed to enhance the interpersonal relationships between Jews. Mitzvos such as those under the category of Gemilut Chasidim, or Terumos and Maaseros, were commanded with this in mind.
Similarly, the Meshech Chachma continues, when it comes to the Jewish holy days (holidays), they can be divided into these two categories. Shabbos was designed for man to connect with Hashem. It is forbidden to cook on Shabbos and it is forbidden to transfer from the private to public domain, or to carry in the public domain. These laws form a framework, where individuals and the family unit should focus inward on their relationship with Hashem. In contrast, Yom Tov connects the members of Yisroel to one another. Carrying allows families to share with one another, while cooking allows one to adjust for unexpected guests who may join us (see Pesachim 46b). On Pesach, Shavuos and Succos there is a directive for all Jews to come visit the Beis HaMikdash known as Aliyah L’Regel. Each village would travel together and join up with other communities, streaming towards Yerushalayim all together in camaraderie.
Historically, in Egypt, before Yetziyas Mitzrayim, Bnei Yisroel were not united together as a nation. That Pesach, each home and family that Hashem Passover-ed (passed over) was separate from the other. There was a unique command on that night that no one may leave their home until the morning. Only those who register as members of a Korban Pesach may eat from that Korban Pesach. These details and others of that first Pesach explain why the first day of Pesach is called Shabbos in regard to the Mitzvah of Counting the Omer, “You shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the Shabbos, from the day when you bring the Waved Omer, seven weeks” (Vayikra 23:15). By counting the Omer in unison, we transform in seven weeks from a group of individuals and families into one unified nation, ‘like one man with one heart’, receiving Torah on Har Sinai which connects us all. Shavuos also coincides with the harvest festival, which puts into practice the Mitzvos of Pe’ah, Leket, etc. facilitating Chesed for one another.
Later in Parshas Emor, the Meshech Chachma, wonders why only Yom Kippur and Succos have the termאך ‘However’ juxtaposed with their calendar dates. “However, on the tenth day of this month it is the Day of Atonement” (Vayikra 23:27). “However, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the crop of the Land, you shall celebrate…” (Vayikra 23:39). He suggests that one might think that only one who hears the call of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana, and wakes up from his spiritual slumber, will receive atonement on Yom Kippur, and thereby experience happiness on Succos. Therefore, the Torah stresses ‘However’, to signify that even if one does follow the intended path of Teshuva and Happiness paved by Hashem from Rosh Hashana to Shmini Atzeres, the laws of the festival are independent and are still in effect. Even if one does not repent during the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, one must still fast and refrain from Melacha on this Yom Kadosh. Furthermore, even if the crimson thread does not turn white in the Beis HaMikdash on Yom Kippur, we are still obligated to rejoice with our Lulav and Esrog and sit in our Sukkahs.
One could suggest, based on the words of the Meshech Chachma, that just like there are fifty days (29 days of Elul and 21 days of Tishrei) from Rosh Chodes Elul until Shmini Atzeres, so too, there are fifty days from Pesach, when we begin to count the Omer, until Shavuos. Just as Elul starts with an awakening from below, where the people are stirred to Teshuva until the festival of Shmini Atzeres, one additional day for Hashem to awaken from above with those he is closest with, so too, the period of Pesach begins with each family and household awakening from below through the Pesach Seder and culminating with the tremendous outpouring from above with the receiving of Torah each year on Shavuos.
May it be His will that we that the Sefirah period this year culminates in a celebration of Chag Shavuos together with Moshiach Tzidkeinu in the Beis HaMikdash HaShlishi
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