(Leviticus: 25:1-26:2)

(Haftara: Yermiahu 32:6-27)

(Pirkay Avot: Chapter 3)

(Sfirat Ha’omer)

1. [25:12,13] “Because the Jubilee year will be holy for you…each man will return to his hereditary property.” What is holy about the Jubilee year? What is holy about a person returning to his inherited property?
2. [25:17] “Don’t cheat each other…I am God your Lord.” Our tradition tells us that real spiritual and religious progress is impossible for immoral people. Why should a person’s business ventures affect his spiritual and religious life?
3. [25:30] “The house which is in a walled city will belong to its purchaser forever…” Our Chassidic texts tell us that walled cities and unwalled cities symbolize 2 types of personalities. What type of personality does each type of city symbolize? Which type of person is more praiseworthy?
4. [Yirmiahu 32:18] “…He repays the sin of the fathers into the lap of their children after them…” The Torah tells us that children will not be punished for the sins of their fathers (Dvarim 24:16). How can we understand that the children do suffer for the sins of their fathers?

5. [Pirkay Avot 4:1] “Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has.” Many rich people would probably agree with this statement. If so, why do they continue pursuing wealth?

Commentary

The firmer a person’s vision of universality, the greater the joy that he will experience, and the more he will merit the grace of divine enlightenment. The reality of God’s providence is seen when the world is seen in its totality.

–R. Avraham Y. H. Kuk, 1865-1935, Lithuania and Israel.

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Gad Eliahu ben David and Kochava—Eli Zucker

And this study page is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Bella bat Yitzchak Kummer, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer