וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי

Day: February 19, 2026

תוכן העניינים

תוכן העניינים

Contrasting two theories s of Lo Sachmod

This shiur examines the prohibition of Lo Tachmod (do not covet) through two competing readings: one that treats desire itself as the root of all evil and calls for its suppression, and another that insists goodness is defined by external moral reality—knowing what actually belongs to you and what doesn't—rather than by internal emotional refinement. The discussion opens with how the mazal of Chodesh Adar and the thirteenth month illustrate that celestial influences reach humans only through human mediation and the decisions of Beis Din, then applies this principle of channeling to argue that real moral progress requires detailed knowledge of obligations and property rights (Choshen Mishpat), not just the squashing of desire, since a person free of passion but ignorant of what he owes others remains a thief.

Bamidbar Chapter 8

Bamidbar Chapter 8 covers the mitzvah of placing the lamps on the menorah — a command repeated multiple times in the Torah, likely because it belongs to the broader Chanukas HaBayis (dedication of the Mishkan) narrative. The chapter then details the purification and dedication of the Levi'im, who undergo a three-step purification process (sprinkling of mei chatas, shaving, and washing) followed by korbanos and tenufah, essentially functioning as a korban offered by the Bnei Yisrael to replace the Bechorim in the Mishkan's service. Finally, the chapter establishes the Levi'im's service ages — 25 to 50 for active duty, with continued guarding permitted after retirement from the physically demanding work of carrying the Mishkan.