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       Dr. Akiva Gamliel

The best Seforim {Books} discussing sacrifices are The Artscroll Tanach Series - Vayikra 3a and 3b by Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman The Artscroll Tanach Series - (Brooklyn New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 1st Impression 1989).  However the best Sefer discussing what B'nei Yisroel refers to as the Akeidah in Bereisheit 22.1-19 {Genesis} is The Artscroll Tanach Series - Bereishis Vol. I(a) by Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman(Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989).

We request that anyone one who purchase books from Artscroll do so through our link at:

http://www.bnti.us/learning_store/the_learning_store.html

Presently Artscroll is have their annual summer sale with 20% off from now through 06-25-08.  It's a great time to purchase seforim and save money.  When you use our link we receive a commission.

G-d Willing we will add additional information to this posting soon.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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Parshat Tazria: Closeness to Hashem ©

Lee's Parsha Journal

This parsha study is dedicated to the loving memory of Sue Elder, may she rest in peace and her memory be for good.

Perek 12, passuk 8 states: 

But if she cannot afford a sheep, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young doves, one for an      elevation-offering and one for a sin-offering; and the Kohen shall provide atonement for her and she    shall become purified. The Stone Edition The Chumash, ArtScroll Series; Rabbi Nosson Scherman/Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, General Editors (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Third Edition) p 609.

The commentary offered by the Stone Chumash on the phrase one for an elevation-offering is as follows:

Although the service of the sin-offering is performed first, the Torah Mentions the elevation-offering first, because it symbolizes the goal of the entire service: to achieve closeness to [G-d] and become dedicated to Him. Ibid.

The goal of the entire service is to achieve closeness to G-d. Our offerings also have the goal of achieving closeness to Hashem. What are our offerings? Repentance is one. A friend pointed out that davening (prayer) is an offering. Meditation is another. When I see a beautiful sight in nature, sometimes an offering of gratitude wells up from within my heart and I feel a certain closeness to Hashem. There are moments in prayer and meditation that I experience a closeness to Hashem. Baruch Hashem. I am so grateful for those moments! 

Do you ever experience a kind of closeness to G-d? Would you share it with us?

A side note, you may have noticed that I bracketed  [-] Hashem's Name in the above quote. That's because the Stone Chumash, like other siddurim and seforim, spell out the Name of G-d because the author and publisher have the expectation that the publication will be a permanent part of a library, not something the purchaser would ever throw away; something to be passed on, not destroyed.

Thank you for reading my thoughts. I hope you will join the discussion with questions and/or comments.

Blessings & peace to you,

Lee

          By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

This study is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Miriam Deckelman Goodman, may they rest in peace.

There are three words that tell us of the Great Holiness of the Minchah Offering. 

awhi µrvid...q; vdoq yKi   .......   hj;n"MihæAta, Wjq]

In Vayikra {Leviticus} 6.9,10 Ha Torah Teaches there are three offerings that are Most Holy. They are:

The Meal Offering - Vayikra 2.3

The Sin Offering - Vayikra 6.18

The Guilt Offering - Vayikra 7.1

The Meal Offering is a ˆB;r"q; Karbon which is translated sacrifice.  So even though there is no blood shed with a Meal Karbon {Sacrifice} Ha Torah Does not separate the Meal Karbon from that of the Sin or Guilt.  Notice Vayikra 1.2

Each are described as This is the Law of...the Meal Offering, the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering.  Other offerings are also described with these words.  However only the Meal Offering, the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering are described as Most Holy!! This is very significant.  The Meal Offering has the same status as the Sin Offering and as the Guilt Offering.  In other words the Meal Offering is like a Sin-Offering. - Rashi

What is the intent when bring an offering?  Intent is everything!

If there was there was no repentance of the heart the offering in and of its self will not bring about forgiveness. Zevachim 7b  Proverbs 21.27 says, The offering of the wicked is an abomination...

The offering is a Gift to G-d brought after receiving repentance.

Blessings and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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Naomi Leah's Parsha Journal

Hello Friends,

This study blog is created in the loving memory of Mr. Arnold Student Litman, my beloved father; Mr. George Belk, my beloved father-in-law, and Mrs. Ethel Channah Sakash Belk, my beloved mother-in-law, may they rest in peace and may their memories be for good!

Welcome to my corner! I thought I would join the blogosphere by sharing something about my Parsha studies, what I am learning and thoughts on what I am learning. I hope you will join in by sharing your thoughts on the same verse or verses I am referencing. This way we could study Ha Torah together informally. I hope to hear from you on this blog! Happy studying in Ha Torah!

Parshat Tzav: The Awesome Power of Repentance

This week's study is in the loving memory of Gershon Yitzchok Belk and Don Yaakov Belk, my beloved brothers-in-law, may they rest in peace and may their memories be for good! 

Let's start with this week's Parsha, Tzav. Verse 6.2 is about the [Law] of the elevation-offering. (This translation is quoted from The Stone Edition The Chumash, ArtScroll Series; Rabbi Nosson Scherman/Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, General Editors (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Third Edition) p 569. Part of the The Stone Edition The Chumash (also referred to as The Stone Chumash for short) commentary is as follows:

On this verse, the Midrash comments that if a person repents, it is regarded as if he had gone up to Jerusalem, rebuilt the Temple and the Altar, and brought on it all the offerings of the Torah (Vayikra Rabbah 7:2). Every Jew should be a human temple. If he is holy, his personal temple is holy; if he sins, he contaminates it. When someone repents, therefore, it is as if he rebuilds himself and recreates a temple within himself.

Isn't this powerful? Our Sages in the Midrash impart to us the power of true repentance, powerful enough to be regarded as first going to Yerushalayim, then rebuilding the Temple and rebuilding the Altar and then bringing not one or two offerings but all the offerings of Ha Torah! What a beautiful meditation, self as a human temple, and true repentance having the power to rebuild the self and recreate the temple within. This speaks of the Renewing Radiance of Ha Torah and the precious gift of repentance that Hashem Gave us all. 

Thank you for reading and sharing my learning and thoughts. 

Blessings & peace,

Naomi Leah