From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, April 11,12, 2025/13,14 Nisan 5785
Erev (night) Pesach will be on Saturday. Thus Friday night Shabbat challah will be used. The morning of Shabbat approximately before noon all Chametz (leaven) is destroyed or stored during Passover. There is a unique custom of the search for Chametz where one takes a feather, a candle, and a paper bag to dust the crumbs of Chametz. Then in the morning the paper bag with the Chametz is burnt!
Please keep in mind that if one needs to take medications, please continue to follow your doctor’s order even though some medications have Chametz and even Shellfish!
Once again it is the person’s intent that G-d looks at. Enjoy the Passover Festival!
The Torah has a continuation of the preceding Torah portion, enlarging upon the description of the sacrificial offerings.
The ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests and the dedication of the first sanctuary.
Mishmarot: Watches was a concept based on, “and you shall abide at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep charge of G-d” (Leviticus 8:35). The Israelites divided up the men to guard the Temple.
The holiness of blood is found in this Torah portion. Jewish law forbids the eating of blood as stated: “You must not consume any blood either of bird or animal” (Leviticus 7:26). Most scholars see numerous reasons for the prohibition. One is to drink or eat blood related to pagan beliefs and worship. Nachmanides, a scholar from medieval times, points out that blood is sacred because it contains the soul given by G-d and therefore should not be eaten. The blood also signifies life, and Jews have a reverence for life and human beings, and to shed blood was often a sign of human cruelty.
Kashering meat drains the blood by salting and washing. However, for the people that love to eat liver (which contains so much blood) or chopped liver, the meat must be broiled over an open flame to rid it of the blood.
Both the Torah and Haftarah focus on the sacrifices.
At Passover Jews read the Exodus story. The mentioning of the Levis, Aaron, Miriam, and Moses. Let us Ma’aseh/act of thinking about Miriam the prophetess and the women of Israel dancing and singing songs of faith and hope. Despite the hardship the Israelites went through in Egypt, the women saw goodness and divine kindness around them. Even conceiving and giving birth to the next generation!
Today, a wish for all of us to find strength to sing and dance, even in these challenging dark times. Let us see the light along the way and believe in a better future here, in our country, the world, and Israel.
May all of us draw inspiration from Miriam’s leadership and continue forward with faith. Remember wherever Miriam went water was found! May all of us pray for the return of the hostages, and for peace in Israel.
Shabbat Shalom V’ A Zissen Pesach/ A Sweet Passover,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
