Shabbat

 

This Double Portion is perfect for architects and accountants ... 

(Because Moshe gave an exact accounting of ALL the donations to the Temple in the Desert AND

then he and his helpers AND ALL THE ISRAELITES set it up - 

quite a feat - if you look at the details in the portion!

 

But we mortals may get more satisfaction by looking at the spiritual side of - yes its coming in two weeks - Passover!

 

Practically speaking, crumbs are Chametz. SO

Why get rid of ALL crumbs?

 

Believe it or not, the Talmud says demons hide in crumbs. WHAT?

According to my teachers, the Talmud talking about demons in crumbs means germs and disease in rotting food... 

from a time period with little knowledge of sanitary issues.

 

Sorry here. You need to get rid of the crumbs, BUT

No, dirt is not Chamets! 

And we dont "sell the dirt" - only the bread-cookies-pasta stuff.

 

But the BIG question that stares us in the face (from the MAFTIR -

the last and SPECIAL Aliya this week -

 is:

What did our ancestors do that fateful night waiting anxiously for "the signal" from Moses,

That

"Yes!  We're Leaving Egypt"!

 

Were they sweeping out the crumbs? Vacuuming?

Eating the Passover BbQ?

Or telling over stories way back from the time of Abraham?

 

So I heard from Rav Levinger (the evening-before- maariv-class teacher here) that his Rebbes ordered:

That there are 3 stories we are ALL supposed to repeat this Shabbat before the New Moon (month) which comes on Sunday.

 

But I will not push my luck -

And will relate only  one each week,

for everyone to tell over one story each of the next 3 Shabbatote.