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engaged in Torah merits the Shechinah talking from within him and vaikra 2 Since Am Yisrael had not yet received the Torah in the Desert, how were # 26347-EYAL-6
joining him in learning. they blamed for becoming lax in the study of Torah, causing Amalek to
attack? They should have observed their leaders and learned from their
Chazal add that the term implies (chance). Moshe did not wish
to attribute greatness to himself by implying that Hashem specifically behavior. Because they did not do so, it was considered as if they had
sought to speak to him. Therefore, because of Moshe’s great humility the become lax in learning Torah.
Torah makes it sound as if Hashem “chanced” to speak to him. The mabul is called “the waters of Noach” since Noach neglected his duty
and did not arouse Heavenly mercy for the people of his generation. Had
Hashem did not teach the entire Torah to us Himself. Had He taught us he not behaved in a passive manner, his generation could have been saved.
the whole Torah, we would not have the opportunity to make our own
contributions to it. Hashem desires that we exert effort in learning Torah
by probing deeply into it and adding our own original insights.
Amalek acquired their strength to battle and enact decrees against Am
Yisrael as a result of laxity in Torah learning. Therefore, there is a strong
connection between parashat Vayikra and the evil Haman and Amalek.

Whenever there is not enough effort being invested to explore the depths
of the Torah, causing the sound of Torah to be still, then a “coolness” sets “Hashem called to Moshe, and spoke to him
in. As soon as there is laxity in Torah study, Amalek appears. from the Tent of Meeting saying: Speak to the
Children of Israel and say to them: When a
Why did the Mizbeach not have steps leading up to it, whereas the
Menorah did? This can be explained according to the Zohar: We light a person from among you will bring an offering
candle for a mitzvah in this world; its light ascends to Heaven and creates to Hashem: from the animals – from the cattle
an effect on High, causing spiritual light to return to the world and and from the flocks you shall bring your
illuminates it. Certainly, when the Kohen Gadol lit the candles of the offering”
Menorah, he was very careful not to expose his nakedness while ascending (Vayikra 1:1-2)
the stairs, in order not to reduce the spiritual light descending from
Heaven. On the other hand, when he sacrificed a korban, the Kohen was
involved in atoning for the sins of the nation. While experiencing extreme
remorse over these sins, he might not pay adequate attention to his steps,
and his nakedness would be revealed. According to this, we can explain
that the Menorah is compared to the Torah, which requires constant
ascent, hence the stairs. On the other hand, climbing stairs was not suitable
for the Mizbeach, which symbolizes humility and submission, causing
man to approach Hashem with his head bent in remorse in order to merit
atonement.