Sorry this is a week late. It was last Shabat’s parashah. But still good learning.
The Ohr ḪaHayim Hakadosh O.B.H.M. (Of Blessed & Holy Memory) enlightens our eyes & teaches us an important point regarding HaShem’s change of choice of words between the sacrifices of bulls & rams to the sacrifices of doves & pigeons. Regarding the former we have “sacrifices”, but with the latter we have “sacrifices to HaShem”. Let us see what he says is the meaning for this change. After all we all know that HaShem’s choice of words has definite intention, & is never mere poetic license. Here is his insight; for a man of means it was no great financial difficulty to bring an ox or a ram, even specially fattened up ones, especially since they were only yearlings. However since the poor man due to his poverty must make do with a mere common small bird for his sacrifice, it is more difficult than the ox or ram of the wealthier man. This is both because of the monetary expense & the embarrassment he feels that all those around see the low state of his status’ & these points subdue him, break his heart, all the more. Therefore his sacrifice is termed by Torah as being higher - “a sacrifice to HaShem”.
The Torah & its lessons are eternal. So what is in this for us to learn in today’s world? Part of the innovations of the Baal Shem Tov O.B.H.M., & Rabbi Naḫman of Breslov O.B.H.M. was to encourage the “small” people of our holy nation that they/we have a higher level, are closer to HaShem, in ways than many of those who consider themselves & are considered by others as “big” & “high up”. Well known is the story of how the Baal Shem Tov O.B.H.M. praised the service of HaShem of the simple illiterate shepherd who prayed via special tunes he played on his flute. Too is known how Rabi Levi Yisḫak of Berditchov O.B.H.M. praised the wagoner who greased the axles of his wagon while praying the Shaḫarit service wrapped in his Talit (prayer shawl) & crowned with his T’filin (phylacteries).
There were, & still are, those who laughed at & degraded these great pious Ḫasidim on their “freakish inventions without any foundation in Torah” etc. And here we have from none less than “the powerful hammer”, “the western lamp”, “the pillar of fire” - Holy Ohr HaḪayim O.B.H.M., proof from the Torah itself that yes indeed their words were drawn from the Holy Torah itself. For are not those examples in the same light as “a sacrifice to HaShem” of the dove or pigeon which the impoverished man brought! May it be HaShem’s will that in the very near future the divisive ones will be stopped from their derision of the true righteous tsadikim, & the baseless intramural hatred within Bnei Yisrael, the Jewish nation, be put to end, & the true Mashiaḫ be publicly known & come to rule with the final complete redemption & bring the 3rd Holy Temple, so be HIS will AMEN!
The Ohr ḪaHayim Hakadosh O.B.H.M. (Of Blessed & Holy Memory) enlightens our eyes & teaches us an important point regarding HaShem’s change of choice of words between the sacrifices of bulls & rams to the sacrifices of doves & pigeons. Regarding the former we have “sacrifices”, but with the latter we have “sacrifices to HaShem”. Let us see what he says is the meaning for this change. After all we all know that HaShem’s choice of words has definite intention, & is never mere poetic license. Here is his insight; for a man of means it was no great financial difficulty to bring an ox or a ram, even specially fattened up ones, especially since they were only yearlings. However since the poor man due to his poverty must make do with a mere common small bird for his sacrifice, it is more difficult than the ox or ram of the wealthier man. This is both because of the monetary expense & the embarrassment he feels that all those around see the low state of his status’ & these points subdue him, break his heart, all the more. Therefore his sacrifice is termed by Torah as being higher - “a sacrifice to HaShem”.
The Torah & its lessons are eternal. So what is in this for us to learn in today’s world? Part of the innovations of the Baal Shem Tov O.B.H.M., & Rabbi Naḫman of Breslov O.B.H.M. was to encourage the “small” people of our holy nation that they/we have a higher level, are closer to HaShem, in ways than many of those who consider themselves & are considered by others as “big” & “high up”. Well known is the story of how the Baal Shem Tov O.B.H.M. praised the service of HaShem of the simple illiterate shepherd who prayed via special tunes he played on his flute. Too is known how Rabi Levi Yisḫak of Berditchov O.B.H.M. praised the wagoner who greased the axles of his wagon while praying the Shaḫarit service wrapped in his Talit (prayer shawl) & crowned with his T’filin (phylacteries).
There were, & still are, those who laughed at & degraded these great pious Ḫasidim on their “freakish inventions without any foundation in Torah” etc. And here we have from none less than “the powerful hammer”, “the western lamp”, “the pillar of fire” - Holy Ohr HaḪayim O.B.H.M., proof from the Torah itself that yes indeed their words were drawn from the Holy Torah itself. For are not those examples in the same light as “a sacrifice to HaShem” of the dove or pigeon which the impoverished man brought! May it be HaShem’s will that in the very near future the divisive ones will be stopped from their derision of the true righteous tsadikim, & the baseless intramural hatred within Bnei Yisrael, the Jewish nation, be put to end, & the true Mashiaḫ be publicly known & come to rule with the final complete redemption & bring the 3rd Holy Temple, so be HIS will AMEN!