Moshe Rabbeinu complained to Hashem that Aaron his brothers honor was compromised: ‘Is this befitting the honor of my brother Aaron to examine people’s afflictions?’

Hashem’s response seems callous. He responds that Aaron was had to do this because he benefitted by receiving the 24 Gifts of Kehuna.

The Medrash provides a shocking analogy to explain how Aaron earned these 24 gifts.

The Baal Haturim wants us to see this connected to Yaakov’s discovery that he married Leah not Rochel.

Sources

פרשת תזריע פרק י״ג פסוקים א׳ - ה׳

פירוש בעל הטורים פסוק ה׳

בראשית פרשת ויצא פרק כ״ט פסוק כ״ה

מדרש רבה ויקרא פרשה ט״ו סוף אות ח׳

מדרש רבה ויקרא פרשה י אות ג׳

דעת זקנים בראשית פרק כ״ט פסוק כ״ה

ליקוטי שיחות חלק כ״ז תזריע ב׳

The Midrash and Zohar seem to struggle with understanding why Megillat Ruth was even written.The family of Dovid Hamelech merges with Amon and Moav and the results seem disastrous.SourcesMidrash Rabba Ruth Parsha 2 Perek 14Zohar Chodosh on Megillat Ruth Chapter 31 Part 1Megillat Ruth Perek 4 Pesukim 1 - 6Commentery of Rashi on Pesukim 1 and 6Gemara Chagiga Daf 4 BGemara Brochas 31 BCommentery of Tosfos 4 B ‘D’leika Milsa…’Commentery of Mishbetzos Zohov on Megillat Ruth Chapter 4 Possuk 6. (Page 117)Leshem Shvo V’achlama Hakdamos U’Shearim Shaar Haponeh Kodim Perek 41 ‘V’Zehu Sod’Gemara Sanhedrin 101 B Rashi Nismachmech B’BinyanGemara Sanhedrin 110 B

Parsha Shiur Shemini 2025Nosson Hanavi gave Dovid Hamelech an analogy about a wealthy man who steals a poor man’s lamb. Dovid insists that wealthy man receive the death penalty and pay the poor man 4 times the value of the lamb. The Baal Haturim sees this reflected in Aaron Hakohen offering the sacrifices of the Jews on the final day of the inauguration of the Mishkan.Sources:Shmuel B Perek 12 Pessukim 1- 14Parshas Shmini Perek 9 Pessukim 1 - 16Baal Haturim Perek 9 Possuk 16Midrash Rabba Vayikra Parsha 11 Chapter 6Midrash Rabba Shemos Parsha 3 and Parsha 4Tanya Perek 29

Shiur on Haggadah Shel Pesach 2025

Description

In the Haggadah we say that if Hashem had brought us to Har Sinai and not given us the Torah - we would be satisfied.

This is probably the most shocking statement in all of the Haggadah and perhaps in all of Judaism.

What in heavens name could it mean?

Sources

Haggadah Shel Pesach Dayenu paragraph

Talmud Baba Metzia 59 B

Chumash Otzar Hatorah Shemos page 155 in the name of Harav Elyashiv

Likkutei Sichos volume 17 first Sicha for Chag Hapesach

Parsha Shiur Parshas Bo Parshas Hachodesh 2025The Egyptians RUSHED the Jews out of Mitzraim. The Jews RUSH out of Egypt. But when Moshiach comes, there will be no Rushing.SourcesShemos Perek 12 Possuk 11Commentery of Baal Haturim on the PossukLikkutei Sichos Volume 17 pages 82 - 88See Footnote 74

Parsha Shiur Parshat Vayakhel Parshat Parah 2025

Rabban Yochonan Ben Zakkai debates a Non Jew regarding the reason and meaning of the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah.

Midrash Rabba Bamidbar Parsha 19 Perek 8

Likkutei Sichos Volume 24 Page 7

Purim 2025 Shiur 3

Mordechai insists that the Jews will be redeemed whether Esther helps them or not. But, he agrees that the Jews should fast on Pesach or they will all not survive.

The Midrash insists that the Jews are never in ‘distress for more than 3 days’ and has 5 proofs from across all of Jewish history.

Sources

Megillat Esther Perek 4

Midrash Rabba Esther Parsha 8, Perek 6 and 7

Midrash Rabba Esther Parsha 9, Perek 2

Commentery of Rashi on Bereishis Perek 22 Possuk 4

Likkutei Sichos Volume 16 page 119

Likkutei Sichos Volume 21 page 210

Purim 2025 Shiur 2

The Jews are miraculously saved in the greatest miracle story of Jewish survival. Yet, the death sentence is never removed from them. Why?

Sources

Midrash Rabba Esther Psichta Perek 7

Commentary of Maharalin Ohr Chadash in this Medrash

Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 26 first Sicha

Purim 2025 Shiur 1

The Midrash insists that the opening word of the Megilla is one of sadness and pain. This is difficult to understand. After all, the Megilla is that happiest of all our Holy books and Purim is the greatest Yom Tov of the year.

Sources

Midrash Rabba Esther Psichta Perek 11

Midrash Eliyohu Zuta

Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 26 first Sicha

Parsha Shiur Tetzaveh 2025Achashverosh issues a royal decree that every man is the head of his house, in doing so he saves the Jewish People. The Mitzvah of reading the Megilla takes precedence over the Mitzva of Torah learning and working in the Bais Hamikdash.SourcesGemara Megilla 12 B with Rashi CommenteryParsha Tetzaveh Perek 28 Pessukim 31 - 35Rashi Commentery on Possuk 35Commentery of Baal Haturim on Possuk 35Gemara Megilla 3BGemara Shabbos 88 A