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Why does the Midrash say a scholar without da'at is worse than a dead animal? The shiur defines da'at not as knowledge but as self-awareness, showing how Moshe waited to be called into the Holy of Holies to avoid losing touch with his humanity. Religious experience without grounding in human reality leads to using spirituality to justify poor middos.
Rabbi Zweig begins by examining why the Book of Leviticus is called "Vayikra" (And He Called), which seems like an insignificant name for such an important book. He introduces a puzzling Midrash that states a scholar without da'at (understanding/awareness) is worse than a dead animal, and connects this to why Moshe waited to be called before entering the Holy of Holies despite his greatness. The central thesis revolves around the meaning of da'at, which Rabbi Zweig defines not merely as knowledge, but as being in touch with oneself. He traces this concept back to Adam and Eve, who before eating from the Tree of Knowledge (Etz HaDa'at) were unaware of their nakedness and felt no shame. After gaining da'at, they became conscious of themselves and their physical nature. This self-awareness, Rabbi Zweig argues, is fundamental to proper Torah (תורה) study and religious growth.
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Parshas Vayikra 1:1
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