Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, the Torah continues with the halachos of the Levi'im, specifically addressing a Levi who comes from his city to serve in the Beis HaMikdash. The Torah establishes his right to serve and receive an equal share in the avodah and the menachos, even when it is not his designated mishmar (shift). This section ensures that every Levi has a portion in the holy service when he comes to the place that Hashem chooses.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וְכִיAnd whenיָבֹאshall comeהַלֵּוִיthe Leviteמֵאַחַדfrom one ofשְׁעָרֶיךָyour gatesמִכָּלfrom all ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֲשֶׁרwhereהוּאheגָּרsojournsשָׁםthereוּבָאand he comesבְּכָלwith allאַוַּתthe desire ofנַפְשׁוֹhis soulאֶלtoהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁרthatיִבְחַרwill chooseיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

וכיAnd ifיבאshall comeהלוי.the Leviteיָכוֹלone might thinkבְּבֶןof a son ofלֵוִיLeviוַדַּאיdefinitelyהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureמְדַבֵּר,speaksתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysושרתand he shall minister,יָצְאוּexcluded areלְוִיִּיםLevitesשֶׁאֵיןwho are notרְאוּיִיןfitלְשֵׁרוּתfor serviceספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ובאAnd he shall comeבכלwith allאותthe desire ofנפשו,his soulושרת.and he shall ministerלִמֵּדThis teachesעַלconcerningהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenשֶׁבָּאwho comesוּמַקְרִיבand offersקָרְבְּנוֹתthe sacrifices ofנִדְבָתוֹhis free-will offeringאוֹorחוֹבָתוֹhis obligationוַאֲפִלּוּand evenבְמִשְׁמָרduring a watchשֶׁאֵינוֹthat is notשֶׁלּוֹhisבבאBavaקמאKammaק"ט109;דָּ"אַAnother explanation—עוֹדfurtherלִמֵּדit teachesעַלconcerningהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe Kohanimהַבָּאִיםwho comeלָרֶגֶלfor the festivalשֶׁמַּקְרִיבִיןthat they may offerבַּמִּשְׁמָרin the watchוְעוֹבְדִיןand perform serviceבַּקָּרְבָּנוֹתwith the sacrificesהַבָּאוֹתthat comeמֵחֲמַתon account ofהָרֶגֶלthe festivalכְּגוֹןsuch asמוּסְפֵיthe additional offerings ofהָרֶגֶלthe festivalוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁאֵיןthat is notהַמִּשְׁמָרthe watchשֶׁלָּהֶםtheirsספרי;SifreiסוכהSukkahנ"ה55:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְשֵׁרֵתAnd he shall serveבְּשֵׁםin the name ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהָיוhis Godכְּכָלlike all ofאֶחָיוhis brothersהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesהָעֹמְדִיםwho standשָׁםthereלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָה׃Hashem

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

חֵלֶקportionכְּחֵלֶקlike portionיֹאכֵלוּthey shall eatלְבַדbesidesמִמְכָּרָיוhis salesעַלofהָאָבוֹת׃the fathers

רַשִׁ״י

חלקportionכחלקlike portionיאכלו.they shall eatמְלַמֵּדthis teachesשֶׁחוֹלְקִיןthat they shareבָּעוֹרוֹתin the hidesוּבִּבְשַׂרand in the flesh ofשְׂעִירֵיthe he-goats ofחַטָּאוֹת,sin-offeringsיָכוֹלone might thinkאַףalsoבִּדְּבָרִיםin thingsהַבָּאִיםthat comeשֶׁלֹּאnotמֵחֲמַתon account ofהָרֶגֶל,the festivalכְּגוֹןsuch asתְּמִידִיןcontinual-offeringsוּמוּסְפֵיand additional-offerings ofשַׁבָּתShabbosוּנְדָרִיםand vow-offeringsוּנְדָבוֹת,and free-will offeringsתַּ"לֹScripture teachesלבדexceptממכריוhis salesעלbyהאבותthe fathersחוּץexceptמִמַּהfor whatשֶּׁמָּכְרוּthat they soldהָאָבוֹתthe fathersבִּימֵיin the days ofדָּוִדDovidוּשְׁמוּאֵלand Shmuelשֶׁנִּקְבְעוּwhen were establishedהַמִּשְׁמָרוֹתthe shiftsוּמָכְרוּand they soldזֶהthis oneלָזֶה,to that oneטֹלtakeאַתָּהyouשַׁבַּתְּךָyour Shabbosוַאֲנִיand Iאֶטֹּלwill takeשַׁבַּתִּיmy Shabbosשםthere:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

כִּיWhenאַתָּהyouבָּאenterאֶלintoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלָךְto youלֹאyou shall notתִלְמַדlearnלַעֲשׂוֹתto doכְּתוֹעֲבֹתlike the abominations ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָהֵם׃those

רַשִׁ״י

לאnotתלמדyou shall learnלעשות.to doאֲבָלbutאַתָּהyouלָמֵדmay learnלְהָבִיןto understandוּלְהוֹרוֹת,and to teachכְּלוֹמַרmeaningלְהָבִיןto understandמַעֲשֵׂיהֶםtheir deedsכַּמָּהhowהֵםthey areמְקֻלְקָלִים,corruptוּלְהוֹרוֹתand to teachלְבָנֶיךָto your childrenלֹאdo notתַעֲשֶׂהdoכָךְthusוְכָךְ,and soשֶׁזֶּהfor thisהוּאisחֹקthe practice ofהַגּוֹיִםthe non-Jewsספרי;SifreiסנהדריןSanhedrinס"ח68:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

לֹאnotיִמָּצֵאthere shall be foundבְךָamong youמַעֲבִירone who passesבְּנוֹhis sonוּבִתּוֹor his daughterבָּאֵשׁthrough the fireקֹסֵםa divinerקְסָמִיםof divinationsמְעוֹנֵןan astrologerוּמְנַחֵשׁor one who divinesוּמְכַשֵּׁף׃or a sorcerer

רַשִׁ״י

מעבירone who passesבנוhis sonובתוand his daughterבאש.through the fireהִיאthis isעֲבוֹדַתthe worship ofהַמֹּלֶךְ,the Molechעוֹשֶׂהhe makesמְדוּרוֹתpyres ofאֵשׁfireמִכָּאןfrom hereוּמִכָּאןand from hereוּמַעֲבִירוֹand passes itבֵיןbetweenשְׁתֵּיהֶםboth of themעי'seeסנהדריןSanhedrinס"ד64b:

רַשִׁ״י

קסםone who divinesקסמים.divinationsאֵיwhichזֶהוּis heקוֹסֵם?a divinerהָאוֹחֵזone who holdsאֶת—מַקְלוֹhis staffוְאוֹמֵרand saysאִםshallאֵלֵךְI goאִםorלֹאnotאֵלֵךְ,shall I goוכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysהושעHosheaד'chapter 4עַמִּיMy peopleבְּעֵצוֹof its woodיִשְׁאָלinquiresוּמַקְלוֹand its staffיַגִּידdeclaresלוֹto itספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

מעונן.Me'onenרַבִּיRabbiעֲקִיבָאAkivaאוֹמֵרsaysאֵלּוּthese areנוֹתְנֵיthose who assignעוֹנוֹתtimes–שֶׁאוֹמְרִיםwho sayעוֹנָהa timeפְּלוֹנִיתsuch and suchיָפָהis goodלְהַתְחִיל,to beginוַחֲכָמִיםand the Sagesאוֹמְרִיםsayאֵלּוּthese areאוֹחֲזֵיthose who holdהָעֵינַיִם:the eyes

רַשִׁ״י

מנחש.A divinerפִּתּוֹhis breadנָפְלָהfellמִפִּיו,from his mouthצְבִיa deerהִפְסִיקוֹinterrupted himבַדֶּרֶךְ,on the wayמַקְלוֹhis staffנָפַלfellמִיָּדוֹfrom his handספרי;SifreiסנהדריןSanhedrinס"ה65:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְחֹבֵרand one who castsחָבֶרspellsוְשֹׁאֵלor one who consultsאוֹבa ghostוְיִדְּעֹנִיor a familiar spiritוְדֹרֵשׁor one who inquiresאֶלofהַמֵּתִים׃the dead

רַשִׁ״י

וחברAnd a charmerחבר.of a charmשֶׁמְּצָרֵףwho gathersנְחָשִׁיםsnakesאוֹorעַקְרַבִּיםscorpionsאוֹorשְׁאָרotherחַיּוֹתcreaturesלְמָקוֹםto a placeאֶחָד:one

רַשִׁ״י

ושאלAnd a consulter ofאוב.a spiritזֶהthisמְכַשְּׁפוּתis sorceryשֶׁשְּׁמוֹwhose name isפִּיתוֹםPithomוּמְדַבֵּרand it speaksמִשִּׁחְיוֹfrom his armpitוּמַעֲלֶהand it raisesאֶת—הַמֵּתthe deadבְּבֵיתin the area ofהַשֶּׁחִיthe armpitשֶׁלּוֹ:his

רַשִׁ״י

וידעני.And a yidoniמַכְנִיסinsertsעֶצֶםa bone ofחַיָּהan animalשֶׁשְּׁמָהּwhose name isיַדּוּעַYadoaלְתוֹךְintoפִּיוhis mouthוּמְדַבֵּרand speaksהָעֶצֶםthe boneעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofמְכַשְּׁפוּתsorceryשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ודרשAnd who inquiresאלofהמתים.the deadכְּגוֹןsuch asהַמַּעֲלֶהone who raisesבְזַכְרוּתוֹon his genitalsוְהַנִּשְׁאָלor who inquiresבְּגֻלְגֹּלֶתof a skullשםthere:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

כִּיforתוֹעֲבַתan abomination ofיְהוָהHashemכָּלis everyone whoעֹשֵׂהdoesאֵלֶּהthese thingsוּבִגְלַלand because ofהַתּוֹעֵבֹתthe abominationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמוֹרִישׁdrives outאוֹתָםthemמִפָּנֶיךָ׃from before you

רַשִׁ״י

כלallעשהdoesאלה.theseעֹשֶׂהhe who doesכָּלall ofאֵלֶּהtheseלֹאnotנֶאֱמַר,was it saidאֶלָּאbut ratherכָלallעֹשֵׂהwho doאֵלֶּה,theseאֲפִלּוּevenאַחַתoneמֵהֶןof themספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

תָּמִיםWholeheartedתִּהְיֶהyou shall beעִםwithיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָ׃your God

רַשִׁ״י

תמיםWholeheartedתהיהyou shall beעםwithה'Hashemאלהיך.your Godהִתְהַלֵּךְwalkעִמּוֹwith Himבִתְמִימוּת,in wholeheartednessוּתְצַפֶּהand hopeלוֹ,for Himוְלֹאand do notתַחֲקֹרinvestigateאַחַרafterהָעֲתִידוֹת,the future eventsאֶלָּאbut ratherכָּלallמַהthatשֶּׁיָּבֹאwhich will comeעָלֶיךָupon youקַבֵּלacceptבִּתְמִימוּתwith wholeheartednessוְאָזand thenתִּהְיֶהyou will beעִמּוֹwith Himוּלְחֶלְקוֹ:and of His portion

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah then transitions to a strict warning for Bnei Yisrael as they prepare to enter Eretz Yisrael, forbidding them from learning or imitating the abominable practices of the Chana'anim. The Torah explicitly prohibits passing one's children through fire for Molech, as well as various forms of sorcery, divination, consulting ghosts, and inquiring of the dead. We are commanded to distance ourselves entirely from these dark practices, which are the very reason Hashem is driving these nations out, and instead we are given the positive mitzvah to be tamim—wholehearted and simple in our emunah—with Hashem.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us in this Aliyah that when a Levi wants to serve in the Beis HaMikdash, he can come and do so "b'chol avas nafsho", with all the desire of his soul. Right after this, the Torah warns us not to turn to sorcerers, diviners, or those who inquire of the dead, and concludes with the famous yesod: "Tamim tihyeh im Hashem Elokecha", you must be wholehearted and simple with Hashem.

Lichoira, what is the connection between the Levi's burning desire to serve and the prohibition against seeking out fortune-tellers and sorcerers? The Tanna is teaching us a deep sevara about how a Yid is meant to live. The goyim are always looking for shortcuts, predictions, and magical ways to control their future because they lack a real, living connection to the Borei Olam. But a Yid doesn't need to look into the future or try to force things through external means. When you have that inner "avas nafsho", that deep, simple desire to just be close to Hashem and do His ratzon, you don't worry about what tomorrow brings. You are completely tamim, whole and at peace, knowing you are in Hashem's hands.

This is our daily avodah. The yetzer hara constantly tries to make us anxious about the future, making us feel like we have to control every outcome or find some quick fix to our worries. The teretz to this anxiety is "Tamim tihyeh." When we focus our energy on simply wanting to do the ratzon Hashem right now, in this very moment, all that worry melts away. We don't need to know the future when we know Who is running the future.

Today, when you feel anxious about how a certain situation will turn out, catch yourself, let go of the need to control the outcome, and say to Hashem: "I don't need to know what tomorrow brings; I only want to do Your ratzon simply and wholeheartedly today."