The amazing story of the Ohr HaChaim's 42 interpretations of the phrase "IM BECHUKOSAI TEILEICHU / IF YOU WILL WALK/TRAVEL IN THE WAY OF MY DECREES", and what we learn from this story about our mission in this world. 

The day of Lag Ba'Omer is a day we celebrate the torah of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, who came out of his cave of hiding and was incensed to see a Jew working when he could be learning Torah. It is also the day of "Hod She'be'hod" - a day that CHAZAL bring down corresponds to Aharon Hakohen, who brought peace and resolved disputes amongst Am Yisrael. 

Are we to be like RASHBI and be strong in our convictions and beliefs, or are we to be like Aharon HaKohen and aim to nullify our egos in order to leave space for the other? 

Gd freed the Jewish people from Egypt in a miraculous way despite having been underserving of such great miracles. Explains the Ba'al Shemtov, Gd propped us up initially, then, when he gave the Jewish people the Torah, he wanted us to make "it" our own. To find our own unique path to Him, both as a nation and as individuals. 

Inherent in the command "V'ahavta L'rei'echa Ka'mocha," to love others as you love yourself, is to love yourself. We can't love others sufficientlyunless we learn to have what the holy Baal Shem Tov refers to as "Ahavas Atzmis" - loving our essence, the Gdliness inherent in each of us. Explains the Netivos Shalom, we must come to peace with our imperfections and flaws, because even those such as the great tzadikim that we perceive as perfect are far from it. 

The Shvilei Pinchas explains that the two korbanos/sacrifices that Aharon HaKohen was instructed to bring on Yom Kipper each atoned for a different category of sin: One atoned for sins bein Adam L'Makom (sins between man and Gd), and one atoned for sins bein Adam L'Chaveiro (sins between man and his fellow man). The Shvilei Pinchas explains that sins between man and his fellow are the root of all sins because they are rooted in GAAVAH (pride, arrogance), and GAAVAH leads to sinful behavior. The Piascezna Rebbe explains a novel way of how we are to uproot GAAVAH from our character. 

Counting the Omer: The importance of Teshuva

How the four parshiyos we read leading up to Pesach prepare us and cleanse us for the Geulah (redemption) of Pesach.

The Maharal's answer to the famous question, "why did the Jews have to rush out of Egypt", and the Shem Mishmuel's explanation of the purification ritual  of a metzora (leper), teach us an imperative lesson about our identity and purpose as Jews. 

The connection between the law of milah (circumcision), the letter HEI, and Avraham Avinu, as elucidated by the Shvilei Pinchas on this week's parasha.

What is greatness? Is it being perfect? Flawless? Void of internal struggles? The Ohr HaChaim provides us with an answer through his explanation of the first word of the parasha, VE'HAYA. The Ohr HaChaim explains that this word elucidates Moshe Rabeinu's nature, and it provides us with an example of what made Moshe Rabeinu the greatest of the great.