Bechukosai

Tame Your Inner Beast

In this week's portion of Bechukosai, the Torah promises us: "And I will remove the wild beast from the land." The Midrash relates an argument between R' Yehudah and R' Shimon as to exactly what this will mean in the times of Moshiach. Will there no longer be wild beasts or will the wild beasts become tame?

How does the Rogatchover Gaon explain this dispute and connect it to the prohibition of chametz on Pesach? How does this give us insight into two approaches to managing the inner conflict with our own wild side? What does the "evolution" of chametz over the 49 days of Sefira teach us about personal transformation?

Likkutei Sichos, vol. 7, pp. 188-197.

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