5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Kedoshim

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5-Bullet Friday

This week is Parshas Kedoshim! Check out this week's d'var torah here.

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Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday, a quick summary of thoughts I’ve been pondering during the week:
:

  • Question I'm pondering (on the parsha): Logical conclusions. (Part 1) Rashi (19:4) comments on the passuk that not only is one forbidden to make his own idols, one is also forbidden to worship the idols that someone else gives him. What is Rashi adding? If one is forbidden to make one’s own idols why would one think that if someone else provides the idols that it would be okay to worship them? (Part 2) A similar question as the one above could also be asked regarding molech. Rashi (20:3) comments that, “One might think that even though one cannot offer his child to molech avodah zarah, but perhaps it is permitted to give over a  grandchild…” Why would someone make such a mistake to think that? Would someone really think that although one cannot sacrifice a child for avodah zarrah that it would be permitted to sacrifice a grandchild? Why are these two items not logical conclusions on their own that we would need the passuk to further hint to these alternatives? 
  • Concept I am considering: The same to you, sir!  The Gemara in Megilla (27b) brings a story relevant to the Gemara there of various things that rabbanim attributed as the reason for them experiencing a long life. The story involves R’ Huna who came before Rav wearing a string as belt. When Rav asked why he had to wear it, R’ Huna replied that he had no wine for kiddush (something he was meticulous in doing) so he sold his belt to get some. Rav replied with a blessing that that one day R’ Huna should be covered in robes of silk. On the day Rabbah, his son, was married, R’ Huna was was sitting on a bed and all his daughters and daughters in law came in with all their robes of silk and used the bed essentially as a coat rack, covering R’ Huna with silk (demonstrating the fulfilment of the b’racha as his family had clearly become wealthy). When Rav heard this he said to R’ Huna, “Why when I blessed you did you not say, ‘v’chein l’mar’!?” Application: B’rachos are real, not just from someone as great as Rav, but as the Gemara in Berachos (7a) states, “...You should not take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly….” When we receive good wishes and berachos even from ordinary people, we should not just take it seriously for ourselves, but deeply appreciate it and wish it back on the one who blessed - understanding that your “v’chein l’mar” is just as powerful.
  • Hashkafic idea I'm reflecting on: K’riyas HaTorah. Leining in shul is more than just a bridge between shacharis and mussaf or an added piece to make Monday’s and Thursday’s longer. Each portion was picked by chazal based on time of year and season and more than just acting as a way for us to learn about the time and have a seder in going through the Torah, it also functions as a tool the other way as well where the things we as a tzibbur read contributes to the day itself as an element of tefillah/avodah.   
  • Middah on my mind: Holiness. This week’s parsha contains the broad commandment to be Holy. Kedusha could refer to a number of things, but as a midda it is worth pointing out that the Mesillas Yeshaarim describes it as the step in the ladder following p’rishus. P’rishus (seperation) is the middah of separating from physical activities, while kedusha is embracing physical activities with the proper spiritual mindset.
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  • Part of Tefillah I'm concentrating on: AAshrei. “Ve’ezuz  nora'secha...” This passuk in Ashrei translates to: “And the strength of Your awesome deeds they will tell, and Your greatness I shall sing.” 
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What's on your mind? 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Parallely yours, 

Daniel

P.S:
  • Topic I am thinking about: .Maintaining relationships. When one thinks about maintaining meaningful relationships one number should come in mind: 150. 150 is known as Dunbar's number as it was theorized by Robin Dunbar ( an anthropologist and psychologist) as the number of individuals with whom any one person is able to maintain stable relationships. In the times we live in, the average person is distracted with trying to maintain well above Dunbar's number of relationship with the feeling of necessity to collect more - like trophies. century there are literally tens of thousands of buzzes and notification lights seeking attention and connection. 2018 data from Facebook shows that the average person has 338 Facebook friends - that's over twice Dunbar's number! The human brain could only divide itself into so many channels, a person's emotions could only be allocated to so many lanes. Spreading oneself too thin more often than not results in a lot of nothing rather than a little of everything; 'tafasta me'ruba lo tafasta'. How many slots do we reserve for those we really care about and how many are wasted on unreal relationships?   
Have comments or thoughts on this week's bullets? Have other random thoughts on your mind? Send an email to torahparallels@gmail.com. Thank you!

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