Vayikra

'Vengeance' - an important but misunderstood concept - is relevant not only to the recent Purim holiday, but also to this week's Torah portion of Tzav (Lev. Chapters 6-8), which discusses laws and procedures of sacrificial offerings...

...There are things that must be kept in Sod (Secret), and if someone reveals them, he thus abuses and wastes their greatness. One who has no secrets is one who is shallow and external - but 'Israel was redeemed from Egypt in the merit of not having revealed their inner secrets' (Midrash Tehillim 114,1)...

Learning from our ancient sources the clearest sign that Redemption is near...and showing us the realization of the prophecy today!

In this week's Portion, the Torah describes the reaction of the People of Israel to the scourges which they suffered. It's amazing to see how we reacted during thousands of years, and how we react today…. with all of the strength and power that the Lord gave us.

A nation that sees itself as responsible for the evils that befall it, is also a nation that has an inextinguishable power of recovery and return.

As long as Yisrael does not dwell on its Land, the Land does not give her fruits as she is accustomed. When she will begin to flower again, however, and give of her fruits, this is a clear sign that the end — the time of the Redemption — is approaching when all of Yisrael will return to its Land.

“Temura” has the same letters of both trauma & Teruma: The trauma threatened by our enemies only leads to the Teruma, the contribution we bring to the world, & ultimately contributes to our triumph. Am Yisrael Chai!