Special Features
for Parshat Vayikra

From the virtual desk of the OU VEBBE REBBE 

The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... 

Question: We plan to spend all of Pesach with family. Do we still need to clean for Pesach and do bedikat chametz at our home or our hosts? 

Answer: This response assumes you will not be going home during Pesach and that you realize that it isn’t a detailed account of your Pesach preparations. Please do not make inferences from what we left out. 

People are used to mechirat (sale of) chametz for the chametz itself, including the area of the home where the chametz is located, but not for entire homes. In truth, those who will be away may “sell” their house, making a full cleaning and bedika (checking) unnecessary. Just as one does not have to destroy chametz which he has sold and no longer owns, so too, he need not check a house which is no longer under his control. Some people have the minhag not to rely upon mechirat chametz because of the problems involved in it (one of which is that it may appear fictitious) and because many people are not significantly affected financially by the need to dispose of their remaining chametz. In some ways, our issue is more lenient and in some ways more strict (this forum does not allow for a full discourse). The desire to avoid many hours of back-breaking work (some of which might be halachically unnecessary in any case) is reason enough for many to want to use a legitimate, halachic device. 

There are two problems unique to this type of sale. First of all, while most people can seriously sell $100 of chametz and live with the possibility that the non-Jew will not sell it back, who would sell their house to avoid checking it thoroughly for chametz? Thus, selling the house raises questions about the seriousness of the transaction. In Israel, there is an additional problem of selling land to non-Jews. Therefore, it seems preferable to rent the house out for Pesach, rather than sell it. Another issue is the timing. It is important to sell chametz before it becomes forbidden, which is late morning of Erev Pesach. In contrast, the obligation to check the house begins on the previous night. There is a machloket if the fact that you plan to sell the next day is sufficient to exempt from bedika that night (see Mishnah Berurah 436:32). (Remember, your dealing with the rabbi is not the sale but the appointment of the rabbi as an agent). The Chatam Sofer (Orach Chayim 131) says that it is sufficient to check one room the night before leaving to fulfill the obligation of bedikat chametz. It is best to find a rabbi who does an early sale or rental (before the night of bedika- some call it a “mechirat yud gimmel”) for this purpose. The rabbi, upon being aware that this is not the standard type of sale, should be able to guide you about other issues regarding your situation (which is difficult in this forum). 

Since bedika is the homeowner’s responsibility, you do not need to join your hosts for it. 

Ask the Rabbi Q&A is part of Hemdat Yamim, the weekly parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. And/or you can receive Hemdat Yamim by email weekly, by sending an email to lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message: Join Hemdatya - Please leave the subject blank.

Ask the Vebbe Rebbe is partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel 

Hasidic Wisdom from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins) 

Even the pouch that holds the T'filin is holy. If it falls to the ground, even by mistake, you must pick it up immediately and kiss it. 

And a Jew who puts on those T'filin - how much more is that person holy! 
- Rabbi Avraham Mordechai of Gur 

Every person should have two pockets. In one should be a piece of paper on which is written: "I am but dust and ashes." 

In the other: "For my sake was the world created." 
- Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Pshish'cha 

There is a spark of holiness even in heresy. One who sees others stumble and fall must strive to help them, and not say: "They are on the brink of falling - that is the will of G-d."
- “The Holy Jew” of Pshis'cha

A sigh will make you a whole new person, in body and soul. 
- Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav 

Rite and Reason by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard 

Some (many) people follow the custom of eating the equivalent of two olives (K'ZEITIM) of the Afikoman (Magen Avraham) 

REASON One KAZAYIT is eaten to commemorate the Korban Pesach, and the second one is to recall the matza that was eaten with the Korban Pesach. 

REASON The Afikoman is more preciousthan other mitzvot (in people's eyes). Although other mitzvot involving eating require a minimum of a KAZAYIT, the Afikoman because it is so beloved, must be a double portion (TAZ). 

ArtScroll Series • Mesorah Publications Ltd. WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WIT • by Shmuel Himelstein 

The community leaders of Radin once came to the Chafetz Chayim and complained that the contributions to the Ma'os Chitim fund for the poor at Pesach were inadequate. The Chafetz Chayim agreed to their request that he address the town's Jews. 

When everyone had gathered in the shul, the Chafetz Chayim got up and said: “As you all know, I'm a very old man, and will soon be called to the Other World — the World of Truth. There I will have to give a full accounting. When I am asked about the people of Radin, they will want to know everything about Radin, including how the people of Radin gave to the Ma'os Chitim campaign. I will then be faced with a dilemma. If I state that the people gave generously, it would be a lie, and I have never told a lie in my life. On the other hand, if I say that the people of Radin were not generous, that would be LASHON HARA, something of which I have also never been guilty.There is only one solution to my dilemma — for you to give generously to the Ma'os Chitim fund. That way I will be able to report with complete truth that the people of Radin did indeed support the Ma'os Chitim fund fully.” 

Excerpted with the permission of the copyright holder

(Let the buyer beware). Of several things to be careful about when shopping for Pesach products, this one is top of my list. EGG MATZA. In the States, egg matza is made in essentially one form, matza- like squares whose boxes are labeled egg matza and even come with a warning about the restrictions for Ashkenazim. Basically, healthy Ashkenazim do not eat MATZA ASHIRA (egg matza’s halachic name) whenever it is forbidden to eat chametz. Egg matza is NOT chametz, but we have a long-standing tradition not to eat Matza Ashira. 

In Israel, because of the many S’faradim who live here (and are allowed to eat Matza Ashira), there are many products in many different forms that are the halachic equivalent of Matza Ashira. Specifically (but not exclusively), there are many cookies for Pesach that are labeled either Matza Ashira or UGIYOT YAYIN (wine cookies). These are off-limits for the healthy Ashkenazi. These products are NOT labeled with any kind of warning for Ashkenazim. We’re just supposed to know. To make matters worse, there’s this: KEMACH MATZOT is a flour-sub- stitute made by grinding Pesach matza. If you eat G’brokts, products with matza meal are okay. On the other hand, KEMACH L’MATZOT, is raw flour that is used in matza AND in the various wine cookies mentioned above. Not for Ashkenazim. Be careful. 

Even though Ashkenazim (with exceptions) are not allowed to eat Matza Ashira, it isn't chametz, and makes an excellent snack for little children before Pesach - because crumbs and squirreled away pieces do not present any problems. Toddlers may eat these cookies during Pesach too, but you might want to consult your Rav on this matter. 

From the Desk of the Director 

In Vayikra’s opening passuk Hashem calls to Moshe and explains about the sacrifices. The word “Vayikra” is written with a small Hebrew letter Alef, seemingly inviting us to ask where the concept of “I” enters into the notion of Korban. 

In the following passuk we encounter the phrase, “Adam ki yakriv mikem korban Lashem…” – ‘When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem, from the cattle or flock you shall bring your offering.” The question that comes to mind is that since anything brought to Hashem belongs to G-d in the first place, how can we talk about our offering any sacrifice at all? 

In his commentary “Devasha Shel Torah,” Daniel Ginsberg stresses that the word “mikem” implies that the main purpose of the sacrifice is not the animal but that part of you which is your inner self. The korban thus has meaning only when one’s total essence is purposefully immersed in the service of Hashem. 

According to Rashi the korban in our passuk is the nedava or free-will offering. One’s heart is elevated through the generous giving back to Hashem of that which was rightly His. Curiously, at the end of the passuk, the term “you shall bring your offering” is repeated without any mention of G-d. Because having offered up the korban with simcha, Hashem now counts the offering as if it did indeed belong to you. What a sublime idea! 

Shabbat Shalom, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center