Parshas Emor

     The Parsha elaborates on the Yomim Tovim. (1) After Pesach, the Torah says to count from the Omer offering seven weeks; the fiftieth day will be a Yom Tov — ‘Shavous’ — ‘Weeks’.

     After the seven days of Sukkos, the eighth day is called Atzeres: ‘Shmini Atzeres’. We find that the Rabbis also refer to Shavous as ‘Atzeres’. The Ramban explains that there is a comparison between the eighth day of Sukkos and Shavous.  Just as the eighth day of the Sukkos holiday is the conclusion, so too, the beginning of the eighth week after Pesach is the conclusion of the Sefiras Ha’omer period.

     Although Korbanos usually are accompanied only with Matza flour, there are exceptions.  The Two Loaves are part of the offering on Shavuos, and they are chametz.  The Ramban explains that this Korban is an example of the Korban Todah (2), which comes with Matza and Chametz. (3) We are expressing thanks for the harvest.  (In both cases — the Korban Todah and the Two Loaves, the chametz is not burned on the altar, but brought to the Mikdash.)

     The Ramban writes that perhaps the reason that chametz is not usually in korbanos is because we don’t want to bring strong elements which can alter other things, such as the leaven ingredients which cause a fermentation, or very sweet elements such as honey.

     Shavous, however, is the day of the giving of the Torah. This is the Atzeres, the end, and we have chametz and Matza together.  The Two Loaves are chametz, and the burnt offerings have menachos with matza flour.  This alludes to the Midas Hadin and the Midas Harachmim joining together.  So the Rabbis said: In the future, all the korbanos will be nullified except for the Korban Todah.  That final era will be the time of Shleimas — perfection, when all the midos will blend together.  In the current era, however, din and rachamim — strictness and mercy, are separate.

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1.The first of the Mikraei Kodesh is Shabbos.  We have to honor it with clean clothes and enjoy it with food and drink (Rashi).  Ramban understands that the obligation to celebrate Shabbos with food and drink is a Torah command.  The Rambam, on the contrary, understands that this is from the Rabbis.  Nonetheless, Shulchan Aruch Harav states that this is more serious than if it were from the Torah; see Be’er Hagolah of the Maharal, Be’er 1.

2.The Tur takes issue with the Ramban, arguing that the Korban Todah is not obligatory, while the Two Loaves are obligatory.  However, I have found this to be a major debate among the commentaries.  The Roke’ach says that it is an obligation, the Chasom Sofer argues that it is not.  The ramification for us today regards the brocha ‘Hagomel’ which is said in place of the Korban Todah.  Is it obligatory or not?

3.The Chasom Sofer once explained the question asked as the Seder: “On all other nights we eat chametz and Matza.  On this night, only Matza.”  Is it correct that every night we eat chametz and Matza?  Rather, the truth is that the Pesach Korban is also a form of thanksgiving.  It should be like the Korban Todah, necessitating chametz and Matza!  Where is the chametz?