Likkutei Sichot

In the famous 19th chapter of Vayikra, which is a summary of many essential principles of the Torah, the laws about fruit-trees are stated. The produce of the first three years of the tree’s life (orlah) is forbidden. The fourth year produce (neta revai) ...

Acharei Mot begins by mentioning the death of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. Their death, related in the Sidra of Shemini, is something of a mystery, for on the one hand they seemed to be punished for their faults, while on the other, a Midrashic com...

Forbidden Fruit Parshas Kedoshim mentions the prohibition against orlah, which forbids benefitting from the fruit of a tree for the first three years after it is planted. This prohibition applies even if such a tree becomes confused with ordinary trees. T...

The Death of Aharon's Sons Our Torah reading begins with the verse:Vayikra 16:1."G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of Aharon's two sons [Nadav and Avihu], who drew close to G-d and died." One might ask: Why does the verse conclude "and died"? It begins b...

Robbing is akin to slaying someone, but if the aggressor has remorse we let him off the hook!?

The Torah portion of Acharei beginsVayikra 16:1-3. See also commentary of Rashi. with G-d instructing Moshe — after Aharon’s two elder sons died as a result of their unauthorized entry into the Holy of Holies — to warn his brother against making the same ...

The Torah portion of Acharei begins with the words:Vayikra 16:1. “G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of Aharon’s two sons, [Nadav and Avihu] upon drawing close to G-d and they died.” Why does the verse conclude “and they died” when it had already stated “...

We learn in the Torah portion of Kedoshim:Vayikra 19:35-36. “Do not falsify measurements, whether in length, weight or volume. You must have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure.” The Gemara explainsBava M...

According to the interpretation of the Or HaChayim, the Torah portion of Acharei beginsVayikra 16:1. as follows: “G-d spoke to Moshe [of] the death of Aharon’s two sons [Nadav and Avihu], who drew so close to G-d that they died.” The verse thereby indicat...

Two Forms of Ahavas Yisrael One of the commandments in the portion of Kedoshim is Ahavas Yisrael — loving one’s fellow as one loves oneself.Vayikra 19:18. There are two famous comments regarding this command. R. Akiva said: “This is an important principal...