Wednesday 12 Adar I 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Tetzaveh, Revi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 66-68. Tanya: If so (p. 125)...end of Ch. 13. (p. 127).

It is written: "The gift of man makes room for him and leads him before the great." [1]

Some are renowned for their wisdom or wealth.

But "the gift of man" - when an individual gives his "man," i.e., devotes himself to an undertaking to strengthen Judaism, then not only will he "make room for himself" (releasing him from constrictions and bounds), but it "leads him before the great" (his position will be superior to the great).

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Mishlei 18:16.

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Friday Adar Sheini 12 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Vayikra, Shishi with Rashi. Tehillim: 66-68. Tanya: Ch. 37. This (p. 167)... G-d forbid. (p. 169).

The Torah portion dealing with altar offerings begins: "A man who offers (Yakriv) of you an offering to G-d." [1]

The logical order of the words should be, "A man of you [2] who offers, etc."

The Alter Rebbe answers: [3] "A man who offers" - in order that a man become closer [4] to G-d - "of you, an offering to G-d" - he must bring the offering, of himself. He must sacrifice his personal "animal," the desire for evil that is called the animal soul. [5]

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Vayikra 1:2.

2. (Back to text) I.e., "from among you."

3. (Back to text) Likutei Torah, Vayikra, beginning.

4. (Back to text) Yakriv ("who offers") literally means "draws close."

5. (Back to text) Tanya, Ch. 1.