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The Torah Learning Library of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Category: Sefer Vayikra

All Who Are Hungry—In And Out Of The House

by Rabbi Eitan Cooper
Posted on March 30, 2023

You’re sitting down at your seder and everyone is enjoying each other’s company, when all of a sudden, you hear a knock at the door. Someone gets up to answer and finds a person who is clearly in need standing at the door.…

Let Go and Let God!

by Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev
Posted on March 23, 2023

Parsha Vayikra opens up with Hashem calling out to Moshe: “Vayikra el Moshe” (Vayikra 1:1). In the word vayikra there is a small letter aleph. This is a unique occurrence because we only find small letters in eight other places in the Torah.…

A Conspiracy of Silence Ends With A Loud Curse: Rereading the Storv of the Mekallel

by Rabbi Aryeh Klapper
Posted on September 29, 2022

The Long Shadow Cast by the Golden Calf: Aharon, Moshe and Vavikra’s Redemption (Audio Only)

by Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz
Posted on September 22, 2022

Why is the Blood of the Hattat Not Offered on the Altar? (Audio Only)

by Dr. Yonatan Grossman
Posted on September 22, 2022

Vayikra and Devarim: Two Religious Models

by Dr. Elana Stein Hain
Posted on September 21, 2022

Tochacha: Cause & Effect

by Eliezer Weinbach
Posted on May 26, 2022

What is the connection between the blessings of Bechukotai and the curses of the tochacha that follow it? Let’s look closely at the blessings. The cause and effect are clear – “Im bechukotai telechu – if you follow my decrees,” then “venatati gishmeichem beitam – I will provide rains in their time” (Lev.…

Constructing Holy Space

by Jason Goldstein
Posted on May 19, 2022

After a long chapter that puts forth the details of Shemita and Yovel, the Torah concludes Parsha Behar with “You shall keep my Sabbaths and revere my Sanctuary” (Lev 26:2). While these are essential mitzvot, why does the Torah conclude its elucidation of the laws of Shemita with two unrelated commands?…

The Ben Ish Mitzri and Halakha

by Jason Goldstein
Posted on May 12, 2022

Sefer Vayikra is a book of laws. However, there are two short narrative sections in the sefer. This sparsity of narrative easily lends itself to a comparison of the two stories. Through an analysis of these stories, we can shed light on the halakhot of Sefer Vayikra in particular, and on the import of Jewish Law in general.…

Striving for Holiness in the Everyday

by Jason Goldstein
Posted on May 5, 2022

In Parshat Kedoshim, we find a plethora of mitzvot. HaShem tells us “You shall each revere his mother and his father,” “Keep My sabbaths,” and “Do not steal” (Lev. 19:3, 19:11). If these mitzvot sound familiar, you are not alone. They are very reminiscent of the Aseret HaDibrot.…

Achrei Mot: Counting Sefirat HaOmer

by Jason Goldstein
Posted on April 28, 2022

What is the purpose of Sefirat HaOmer? We are now well into our yearly journey through Sefirat HaOmer. We began counting on the second day of Pesach and will continue through Shavuot. Day in and day out, week in and week out, we count.…

Metzora: Two Tips I Learned In Yeshiva for Overcoming Lashon Hara (Evil Speech)

by Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev
Posted on April 7, 2022

Parshat Metzora speaks about the healing process of the metzora from their tzara’at skin affliction. The Sages explain that one suffers from this malady due to speaking lashon hara, evil speech, about others. Lashon hara is such a bad thing that it completely transforms the individual for the worse—to the point that their skin starts to show the effects of this negative behavior! …