Parshas Behar (Yeshiva 5780) in the middle of the (holy) laws of Eretz Yisroel- all the laws of Kinyan are inserted.A review of many Halachos and Torah-attitudes and a lesson: the ordinary must be holy.

Emor (Yeshiva 5780) The Kehuna teaches that Torah doesn’t believe in parity.The same old story: it’s not fair; why you and not me?The Torah teaches that we are different and have different roles.The “logic” behind this “lack of fairness” is what it motivates and inspires.Parity engenders mediocrity. There are many הבדלות (absolute boundaries) that Hashem…

Tazriah in the Mayaan Chai Series

A Farbrengen, Parshas Kedoshim: Viyaraisa MaiElokecha (He knows the secrets).This form is unique to this Parsha.One can only be properly careful about דברים המסורים ללב if there’s קדושים תהיו which means אתכפיא.

(Yeshiva 5780)Acharei- Kedoshim, negative side (protection) of holiness and purity; the repetition of ideas for אזהרה ועונשיםJews have more expected of them.We don’t behave so as not to be punished, but to be holy, thus the punishments are separate from the prohibitions.

Tazria-Metzora (5780)Sefer Vayikra is about holiness from the top down: Kedusha (Korbanos) then Tahara (laws of Kashrus and all Tumos) then Zeraim [Tzedaka in Eretz Yisroel] (Terumos Maasros etc).The 6 orders of Mishna are different levels of “down-to-earth”.The most down to earth is Nezikim, then Nashim, then Moed, then Zeraim, then Taharos and highest is…

Parshas Tazria (5780, Farbrengen) the Metzorah cares little what people see, but Hashem caresThe lesson of Metzorah, what is on the outside doesn’t matter as much as what is on the inide, but it does matter.

This class for Parshas Vayikra on the topic of Korbanos was recorded in 2005. Unfortunately the sound quality is poor. It is possible to hear the shiur and it is a very good class so we decided to put it up.

The Glorious and Beautiful Clothing of the Kohanim. Mayaan Chai Series on Parshas Tetzaveh (5759/ 1999)

Parshas Teruma: Mishkan and Mikdash (Yeshiva 5780)Why the two words, two levels, Schechina (manifest) and Kedusha (hovering), משכן דאקרי מקדש ומקדש דאקרי משכןWhy is Moshe’s house called (primarily) Schechina and the subsequent houses are called (primarily) Mikdash.Several explanations. משכן is lowerמשכן is more permanent (He goes into Galus גלות השכינה) while קדושה departs (קוב”ה סליק…