Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Vayikra

The Rebbe says:

1. As a preparation to the upcoming inauguration of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) which begins in next week’s Torah portion (Parshas Tzav) and continues through the portion after that (Parshas Shemini), this week’s Torah portion talks all about the various offerings.

2. The order in which the Torah decides to tell us about the offerings is first to discuss the offerings which were voluntary offerings, such as the Burnt Offering (Korban Olah), the Meal Offering (Korban Mincha), and the Peace Offering (Korban Shelamim), and then to tell us about the obligatory offerings, such as the Sin Offering (Korban Chatas), and the Guilt Offering (Korban Asham).

3. The Rebbe now questions this order of instructions:

Did you say the ‘Nasi’ Today? (Yom Daled)

From the Safer Haminhagim: [Every day from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the twelfth of the month, usually after Shacharis,] one reads the passage [from Bamidbar 7-8:4] that describes the offering brought on that day by a particular Nasi, or tribal prince, for the dedication of the altar of the Mishkan. [In common parlance, each day’s passage itself is often referred to as “the Nasi.”] This daily reading is followed by the prayer which opens with the words yehi ratzon (and which appears in Siddur Torah Or [as well as in Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 371]). This prayer is recited even by a Kohen or a Levi [despite its seeming relevance only to tribes other than the Tribe of Levi]. [284]

Try it you’ll like it!
 – Kabbalah Of Self Sacrifice

A presumptuous group of people decided that there was no longer a need for G-d’s involvement with planet earth. They proceeded to appoint a representative whose mission it was to ask G-d to kindly turn over the reins and step aside.

After thanking G-d for having created this marvelous world, the representative proceeded to petition the Almighty that He honor the will of the people and consider retirement.

G-d was surprisingly amicable; but for one stipulation. G-d would need to be assured of man’s ability to run things for himself. By way of assurance, the spokesman offered to match G-d in whatever He should decide to do.

Upon accepting the proposition, G-d said that he would begin by creating a human being. The man indicated that he was prepared do the same. G-d took some dirt and started to form a man. Confidently, the man grabbed a handful of dirt and started to do the same. “One minute!” cried G-d. “You can’t do that; you’re using my sand! How about you begin by making your own!