Rabbi
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi,
Kehillat NewHempstead
Kehillat New
Rebbe/Guidance
Counselor – ASHAR
Counselor – ASHAR
Principal
– Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
– Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
STAM
TORAH
TORAH
PARSHAS VAYIKRA/ZACHOR
5776
5776
“THE FISTFUL”
In 1940, the Nazi war machine was a virtually
unstoppable force. It had already annexedCzechoslovakia ,
Austria
and Alsace-Lorraine without firing a single bullet. Then beginning in September
1938 they decimatedPoland
in four weeks, overran theNetherlands ,
Belgium , and Luxemburg, and
broughtFrance
to its knees. The only country still holding out wasBritain
initiated the ‘battle ofBritain
unstoppable force. It had already annexed
and Alsace-Lorraine without firing a single bullet. Then beginning in September
1938 they decimated
in four weeks, overran the
brought
to its knees. The only country still holding out was
initiated the ‘battle of
Despite innumerable casualties and damage caused
by relentless bombing,Britain
refused to capitulate. Their resolve was maintained because of the rousing
oratory of its legendary Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and by the courage
of the RAF (Royal Air Force) fighter pilots, who valiantly upheld the battle
against the fierce Nazi onslaught by repeatedly bombing strategic Nazi military
positions.
by relentless bombing,
refused to capitulate. Their resolve was maintained because of the rousing
oratory of its legendary Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and by the courage
of the RAF (Royal Air Force) fighter pilots, who valiantly upheld the battle
against the fierce Nazi onslaught by repeatedly bombing strategic Nazi military
positions.
On August 16, 1940 Churchill addressed the House
of Commons, delivering one of his signature rousing speeches, in which he stated
one of his most renowned quotes:
of Commons, delivering one of his signature rousing speeches, in which he stated
one of his most renowned quotes:
“The great airbattle which has been in progress over this
for the last few weeks has recently attained a high intensity. It is too soon
to attempt to assign limits either to its scale or to its duration. We must
certainly expect that greater efforts will be made by the enemy than any he has
so far put forth.…
“The gratitude of
every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world,
except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who,
undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are
turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never
in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few…”
every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world,
except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who,
undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are
turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never
in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few…”
There were many different classifications of
offerings brought in the Mishkan[2]. Some of the offerings were
voluntary while others were obligatory. While most offerings required different
types of animals, a Mincha (Meal) offering consisted of nothing more than
finely ground wheat flour, oil, and frankincense. There were different forms of
this offering, depending on the type of pan used, and how it was baked, but
essentially all Minchos were the same.
offerings brought in the Mishkan[2]. Some of the offerings were
voluntary while others were obligatory. While most offerings required different
types of animals, a Mincha (Meal) offering consisted of nothing more than
finely ground wheat flour, oil, and frankincense. There were different forms of
this offering, depending on the type of pan used, and how it was baked, but
essentially all Minchos were the same.
After the ingredients were mixed together, a kemitzah
(fistful) had to be removed from the mixture. “He shall bring it to the sons of
Aaron, the Kohanim, one of whom shall scoop his threefingersful from it, from
its fine flour, from its oil, and from its frankincense; and the Kohen shall
cause its memorial portion to go up in smoke upon the Altar – a fire offering,
a satisfying aroma to G-d. The remnant of the meal-offering is for Aaron and
his sons; most holy, from the fire-offering of G-d.[3]” Once the Kohain removed the
fistful and offered it upon the altar, the remaining majority of the mixture
was given to the Kohanim to eat.
(fistful) had to be removed from the mixture. “He shall bring it to the sons of
Aaron, the Kohanim, one of whom shall scoop his threefingersful from it, from
its fine flour, from its oil, and from its frankincense; and the Kohen shall
cause its memorial portion to go up in smoke upon the Altar – a fire offering,
a satisfying aroma to G-d. The remnant of the meal-offering is for Aaron and
his sons; most holy, from the fire-offering of G-d.[3]” Once the Kohain removed the
fistful and offered it upon the altar, the remaining majority of the mixture
was given to the Kohanim to eat.
The gemara[4] relates that when Haman was
ordered by Achashveirosh to parade Mordechai through the streets of Shushan and
proclaim before him, ‘Such shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to
honor’, Haman dejectedly complied. When he entered the study hall to summon
Mordechai, he found him studying with his disciples. Haman asked Mordechai what
he was teaching. Mordechai explained, “When the Bais Hamikdash stood one who
would offer a Mincha offering would bring it to theTemple
fistful and offer it upon the Altar to serve as atonement for its owner.” Haman
replied, “Come and get up, for your fistful of flour has outweighed the ten
thousand talents of silver that I offered Achashveirosh (in order to destroy
you).”
ordered by Achashveirosh to parade Mordechai through the streets of Shushan and
proclaim before him, ‘Such shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to
honor’, Haman dejectedly complied. When he entered the study hall to summon
Mordechai, he found him studying with his disciples. Haman asked Mordechai what
he was teaching. Mordechai explained, “When the Bais Hamikdash stood one who
would offer a Mincha offering would bring it to the
fistful and offer it upon the Altar to serve as atonement for its owner.” Haman
replied, “Come and get up, for your fistful of flour has outweighed the ten
thousand talents of silver that I offered Achashveirosh (in order to destroy
you).”
Rabbi
Mordechai Rogov zt’l explains the deeper meaning behind the exchange between
Mordechai and Haman. After Haman convinced Achashveirsoh to pronounce the
heinous decree calling for the destruction of the Jewish people, Mordechai was
very concerned. On the one hand he knew that a national wave of repentance
could alter the decree in heaven. But on the other hand the nation was so
broken and traumatized by the events that Mordechai feared he would be unable
to jolt them out of the psychological paralysis that had consumed them. At that
point Mordechai truly feared for the salvation of his people.
Mordechai Rogov zt’l explains the deeper meaning behind the exchange between
Mordechai and Haman. After Haman convinced Achashveirsoh to pronounce the
heinous decree calling for the destruction of the Jewish people, Mordechai was
very concerned. On the one hand he knew that a national wave of repentance
could alter the decree in heaven. But on the other hand the nation was so
broken and traumatized by the events that Mordechai feared he would be unable
to jolt them out of the psychological paralysis that had consumed them. At that
point Mordechai truly feared for the salvation of his people.
As Mordechai learned the laws of the fistful
however, he began to feel optimistic. The Mincha was brought as an offering to
G-d, however, only one fistful was offered on the Altar. Yet that one fistful
was sufficient to effect a status change in the remainder, for now everything
left in the bowl was worthy of consumption by the Kohanim. Mordechai saw in
that a symbolism of a powerful idea. Perhaps there were indeed only a handful,
a fistful, of truly devout Jews who remained steadfast to Mordechai’s message.
Perhaps those who were truly G-d-fearing were merely the minority, but that
quantitative minority can serve as the one fistful offered on the Altar, which can
transform the remainder.
however, he began to feel optimistic. The Mincha was brought as an offering to
G-d, however, only one fistful was offered on the Altar. Yet that one fistful
was sufficient to effect a status change in the remainder, for now everything
left in the bowl was worthy of consumption by the Kohanim. Mordechai saw in
that a symbolism of a powerful idea. Perhaps there were indeed only a handful,
a fistful, of truly devout Jews who remained steadfast to Mordechai’s message.
Perhaps those who were truly G-d-fearing were merely the minority, but that
quantitative minority can serve as the one fistful offered on the Altar, which can
transform the remainder.
When Haman heard Mordechai explain the procedure,
he too understood the implications of the Service. He obsequiously bowed before
Mordechai and admitted that his fistful – which symbolized the handful of righteous
valorous individuals – was enough to outweigh Haman’s efforts to destroy the
entire nation.
he too understood the implications of the Service. He obsequiously bowed before
Mordechai and admitted that his fistful – which symbolized the handful of righteous
valorous individuals – was enough to outweigh Haman’s efforts to destroy the
entire nation.
There are times when we may wonder how Klal
Yisroel can persevere. The vastly overwhelming majority of our people are
completely unaware of their rich heritage, if they even know (or admit) to
being Jewish at all. Most of our brethren are ignorant of Shabbos and have
never heard of Rashi. Tragically most of them never had the opportunity to know
better. Still-in-all, we can take comfort in knowing that we – the Torah
loyalists – are the fistfuls who validate the remainder. However, along with
that incredible merit comes the realization of what an awesome responsibility
we shoulder, for the fistful had to be offered properly.
Yisroel can persevere. The vastly overwhelming majority of our people are
completely unaware of their rich heritage, if they even know (or admit) to
being Jewish at all. Most of our brethren are ignorant of Shabbos and have
never heard of Rashi. Tragically most of them never had the opportunity to know
better. Still-in-all, we can take comfort in knowing that we – the Torah
loyalists – are the fistfuls who validate the remainder. However, along with
that incredible merit comes the realization of what an awesome responsibility
we shoulder, for the fistful had to be offered properly.
The truth is that at times we may become
disheartened even by viewing the state of our own communities, for we too have
much that needs to be improved. But amongst us too we have ‘a holy fistful’,
our great leaders and visionaries who guide us and lead us along the path of
Torah observance. As long as we allow ourselves to be part of ‘their offering’
we can become elevated through our connection with them.
disheartened even by viewing the state of our own communities, for we too have
much that needs to be improved. But amongst us too we have ‘a holy fistful’,
our great leaders and visionaries who guide us and lead us along the path of
Torah observance. As long as we allow ourselves to be part of ‘their offering’
we can become elevated through our connection with them.
The renowned hymn sung on Purim commences, “Shoshanas
Yaakov – The Rose of Yaakov was cheerful and glad, when they jointly saw
Mordechai robed in royal blue.” Their extreme joy was rooted in the image of
seeing their Torah leader resplendent with glory and honor. “Mordechai left the
King’s presence clad in royal apparel of turquoise and white with a large crown
and a robe of fine linen and purple; then the city ofSushan
Yaakov – The Rose of Yaakov was cheerful and glad, when they jointly saw
Mordechai robed in royal blue.” Their extreme joy was rooted in the image of
seeing their Torah leader resplendent with glory and honor. “Mordechai left the
King’s presence clad in royal apparel of turquoise and white with a large crown
and a robe of fine linen and purple; then the city of
We did not become the Chosen People because of our
qualitative numbers. We were chosen because we are the fistful which validates
all else. And within us we have our leaders, for whom we pray in Shemoneh Esrei
thrice daily that G-d preserve and strengthen, for they are the fistfuls who
give us our validity. Indeed, “so many owe so much to so few.”
qualitative numbers. We were chosen because we are the fistful which validates
all else. And within us we have our leaders, for whom we pray in Shemoneh Esrei
thrice daily that G-d preserve and strengthen, for they are the fistfuls who
give us our validity. Indeed, “so many owe so much to so few.”
“One of whom shall scoop his threefingersful from
it”
it”
“The Rose of Yaakov was cheerful and glad”