This week's portion is the source for the idea that we should seek medical treatment when in need of healing. But if Torah says we should go to doctors, why does the Talmud say: "the best of doctors are bound for purgatory? Clearly this does not mean what it seems to.
We need to also understand how healing actually works. Also, when should one listen to the doctor and when should one not listen?
Based on Toras Menachem vol. 16, pp. 100-101; Likkutei Sichos, vol. 36, p. 274; Toras Menachem, vol. 15, p. 16; Likkutei Sichos, vol. 31, pp. 264-267.
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Why is this name of this portion "Terumah" (lit. "donation") when the main point of the portion is what the donations were used for—namely the construction of the Sanctuary?
To understand this, we examine the unique transformational effect of giving.
Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 21, pp. 146-155.
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According to a sketch made by the Rambam, the decorative goblets on the Menorah were upside down. How can we understand this when the halacha is that all items in the Sanctuary need to be right side up? The answer requires us to turn some of our assumptions on their head.
Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 21, pp. 164-171.
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Why were the Ten Commandments given on two tablets? What does this teach us about the equal importance of the "do's" and the "dont's" of Judaism?
We look at the often overlooked importance of the things that we don't do, offering the great Jewish baseball player Sandy Koufax as a prime example.
Based on Hisva’aduyos 5751, vol. 2, pp. 353-354; Sichos Kodesh, Yom Simchas Torah 5733, pp. 81-83.
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This week's Torah portion contains the prohibition against kindling a fire on Shabbos.
What does this teach us about the role of spiritual inspiration in Jewish life?
Based on Sicha of 22 Shvat, Sefer HaSichos 5749 vol. 1, pp. 225-237.
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What does it really mean to make a sacrifice? What is true selflessness?
In addition to the regular animal and flour offerings brought to the Holy Temple, people could also volunteer to donate wood to be used as fuel on the altar. These "wood offerings" give us insight into what selflessness really means.
Based on Likkutei Sichos, vol. 22, pp. 7-13.
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What does it mean to be truly alive? Based on one understanding of the laws of the thanksgiving offering, the greatest life is actually when life is challenged, disrupted, and threatened.
Based on Hisva'aduyos 5745 vol. 4, pp. 2520-2526.
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When should we expect Moshiach to arrive? What should be the basis of our faith in his arrival?
An answer can be found in this week's portion where we read about the prohibition against a kohen drinking wine before entering the Holy Temple. According to the Rambam, this prohibition stands today, which means that Moshiach can arrive with a fully functional Temple in less than twenty-four minutes.
Based on Likkutei Sichos, vol. 2, pp. 618-9 and Sichos Kodesh 5715, p. 335.
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Before Moshiach’s coming, says the Talmud, “all governments will turn to heresy. ”Why should wholesale moral degradation be a sign of imminent redemption? The Talmud explains by citing a counterintuitive law from this week’s Torah reading: “He has turned completely white; he is pure," meaning that if one's whole body turns the color of the tzara'as malady, he is actually pronounced ritually pure.
How are we to understand the Talmud’s prediction about Moshiach as well as this strange law of tzara’as?
Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 32, pp. 77-83.
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The Kohen Gadol's special clothing on Yom Kippur was never used again, even on a future Yom Kippur. What does this teach us about the “mechanics” of atonement. How can a person “undo” his past?
To understand this, we must come to a better understanding of what the Rambam writes that a true penitent is actually not the same person he was when he sinned.
Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 28, pp. 224-5.
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The mitzvah of orlah, not eating the fruit of a tree for the first three years has an element which is difficult to understand. For the first three years, the fruit is forbidden; in the fourth year, it is holy; finally, in the fifth year and after, it is spiritually neutral. Why is the ultimate state not holy but ordinary?
To understand this, we must explain why it's better to have more money than to go to a higher place in heaven.
Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 7, pp. 134-8.
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In the parsha of Emor, we learn about many rules of kohanim including that their slaves can eat terumah. Since we don't give terumah to kohanim today and we don't have slaves, what can we possibly learn from this?
According to our Sages, eating without a blessing is like misappropriating consecrated property. How is it possible that making a blessing can change this status?
To understand this, we have to answer the question: With all his money, what is the only way that Bill Gates could ever get to fly an F-15?
Based on Sefer HaSichos 5751 vol. 2, p. 847.
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