Addtions to Chaim and Gavi Dov on Vaykira

Please Append to previous Dvar Torah Post:

Rav Grossman brings up numerous relevant messages, both in his analysis of life in the Midbar, but messages that can also be applied to our lives today. The message of R’ Grossman in this shiur is twofold - both of recognizing the different relationships that everyone in Klall Yisrael have, and how H-shem has arranged the nature of the relationship in the form of the camp to ensure that everyone is included in sharing this relationship. Furthermore, he shows how this is reflected in the nature of the Sefer as well - textually, he points out how just as the Leviim were surrounded by Am Yisrael, as the focal point of their relationship with H-shem, so too is Vaykira bracketed by passages highlighting the role and relationship of Bnei Yisrael. And even the Sefer Of Vaykira, the middle Sefer of the 5, is the core of the 5 Books of the Torah. However, this is not only applicable to the idea of the Machaneh Shechinah in the Midbar - this same idea of recognizing and utilizing everyone's level of connection to H-shem is still highly prevalent in today’s world, albeit on a slightly altered way. Instead of Leviim, who stand at the center of the spirtual life and help maintain the spirtual growth and initiative, instead we have Rabbeim, teachers, madrichim, and other spirtual role models, that much in the same way as R’ Grossman highlights the differences between the role of the Leviim and Bnei Yisrael, and how the Leviim needed to make an effort to bring in and include Bnei Yisrael into the world of Torah, so too as students and Talmidim we need to recognize both our own role in the world and the oppertunity to learn from our teachers, to allow them to bring us into their world of Torah, and ultimatl,y as R’ Grossman points out, reach the level later achieved in Sefer VYkaira of Kidoshim Tihiyu. 

Overall, the shiur from a textual and intelluctual standpoint is an excellent shiur. R’ Grossman does an excellent job in identifying a problem, establishing the differences between the two areas in the sefer, and explaining those differences in a compelling way that highlights the nature of the relationship of Am Yisrael, particularly in the changed nature of it following the Eigel HaZahav and the needed balance that resulted in the relationship of H-shem and Bnei Yisrael. However, while an interesting discussion, the shiur is more of a “shuir” and less of a Dvar Torah that can be delieved at the Shabbos table without members of the family passing out into their soup. (We kid.) Both the extremely textual nature of the shiur, relying heavily on citing specific differences between the two areas of Korbanot, a subject that in and of itself tends to not end up at a Shabbos table due to it’s lack of modern relevance and dry Halachik nature, as well as the comparative length of it makes it a less popular choice to share at a Shabbos meal.