Sruly Schnair – Page 40 – Peninim on the Torah

ויאמר קין אל הבל אחיו ויהי בהיותם בשדה ויקם קין אל הבל אחיו ויהרגהו

Kayin spoke with his brother Hevel. And it happened when they were in the field, that Kayin rose up against his brother Hevel, and killed him. (4:8)

The pasuk does not detail Kayin and Hevel’s conversation. Chazal (Midrash Rabbah, Bereishis 22:7) debate the source of their arguing with one another. First, they contended about the division of the land, with one taking land and the other taking movable property. This arrangement did not work. When Kayin, who had taken the ground, told Hevel, “You are standing on my ground,” Hevel countered, “Everything that you are wearing is mine.” This led to discord, which was the precursor to the first act of murder. A second opinion concerns the area in which the Bais Hamikdash would be built, with…

Home -> 5784 -> Bereishis

זה ספר תולדות אדם

Sruly Schnair In Bereishis, 5784

This is the account of the descendants of Adam. (5:1)

Yalkut Shemoni 41 relates that the Book of Adam HaRishon’s descendants was brought before Adam. As he was perusing through the various entries, he chanced upon David Hamelech’s entry. He saw that David’s portion in this world was but three hours. He immediately interceded before Hashem, saying, “This should not be decreed.” (He should live much longer.) Adam then asked Hashem, “How many years have been allotted to me?” Hashem replied, “One thousand years.” Adam asked, “Can I give some (of my years) as a gift?” Hashem replied in the affirmative. Adam said, “I will give him seventy years to…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5784

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהילת יעקב

Sruly Schnair In 5784, V'zos HaBrachah

The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov. (33:4)

Chazal (Succah 42a) “When a katan, young child, knows how to speak, his father teaches him Torah. What does he teach him? [Obviously, this is a child at the beginning of his cognitive development, when he is just learning to speak.] Rav Hamnuna says: (He teaches him) Torah tzivah lanu Moshe, morashah kehillas Yaakov.” We derive from here that a child’s inaugural connection with the Torah should be, the awareness that it is a yerushah, heritage, which belongs to all the congregation of Yaakov. As long as one is counted as a member of kehillas Yaakov, the Torah is his…

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ויבכו בני ישראל את משה... ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

Sruly Schnair In 5784, V'zos HaBrachah

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה… ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

When a Torah giant is niftar, passes away, it leaves a void which cannot be filled. The next tzaddik, righteous person, will establish his own position, approach and following. He will not replace his predecessor. Each Torah giant is on his own individual spiritual plane and has his own unique impact on his followers. Moshe Rabbeinu took leave of his beloved nation. The void that the Bnei Yisrael felt was immediately filled by Yehoshua, Hashem’s hand-picked successor to Moshe. While Yehoshua was a capable leader who navigated the nation throughout their war with the seven nations and the apportioning of…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5784

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Sruly Schnair In 5784, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

The “strong hand” refers to Moshe’s receiving the Luchos, Two Tablets, which were of extraordinary weight. “Before the eyes of all Yisrael” alludes to our quintessential leader’s decision to shatter the Luchos before the eyes of the nation – an action which Hashem ratified. Moshe demonstrated his exceptional leadership ability when he shattered the Luchos. Since it is certainly difficult to destroy everything that one works for, it takes a strong leader to make such a consequential decision that will impact the entire nation for all time. For now, the issue is not why/what motivated him to shatter the Luchos,…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמרי פי

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ha'azinu

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. (32:1)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 4:B) teach that one should be meticulous in his Torah study because shigigas Talmud oleh zadon, a careless misinterpretation is considered tantamount to willful transgression. However, one who is sincere in his study but errs, is making a sincere mistake. In his commentary to Berachos 29b, the Yismach Moshe offers a homiletic rendering of Chazal which goes to the core of the consequences that result from failed leadership. A talmid chacham, Torah scholar, must be meticulous in his behavior, his every action must be the product of forethought and introspection. Indeed, he must guard himself much more…

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כי שם ד' אקרא הבו גדל לאלקינו

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ha'azinu

When I call out the Name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d. (32:3)

The mention of Hashem’s Name should evoke feelings of awe, as well as pride. The mere fact that we merit the He count us as His children, representing Him in the world as His nation, should generate joy and excitement. His Name should resonate throughout our very being, to the point that we want to shout out His Name and declare our allegiance to Him. We must give honor to His Name and all that it represents. The Torah, which is Hashem’s blueprint for our lives, must be an integral part of our life’s endeavor. When we study Torah, the…

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הצור תמים פעלו

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ha'azinu

The deeds of the Rock are perfect. (32:4)

We are unable to fathom Hashem’s ways. It is impossible to come to grips with sadness and tragedy unless one has perfect faith that incorporates all of Hashem’s actions under the rubric of one harmonious whole. All actions are good – even if the “good” eludes us. All come from Hashem Who is the essence of good. He is perfect. We, however, as mortals, are imperfect; thus we are unable to grasp Hashem’s perfection. We can only believe with consummate faith in everything that he does. Chazal (Koheles Rabbah 20:15) teach that the word tzur, rock, a term which connotes…

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זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ha'azinu

Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. (32:7)

Moshe Rabbeinu pleads with the Jewish nation to wake up from its self-imposed slumber and ponder the lessons to be gleaned from the past. A refusal to delve into the occurrences of the past and what preceded various adversities, a lack of perspective, has become the basis of much human error. We are blessed with gedolei Torah, Torah sages, whose perspective on the past is honed by a wisdom borne of penetrating analysis of Torah and the wisdom and Divine Assistance that results from such immersion in it. Furthermore, as has been noted by many, we have no Hebrew word…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

כי דור תהפוכות המה בנים לא אמון בם

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ha'azinu

For they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them. (32:20)

Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, zl, adds a practical, sadly common, insight concerning the dor tahapuchos, generation of reversals, when everything is topsy turvy. Veritably, the way of the world should be that a father teaches/sees to his son’s Torah-learning development and focuses on his spiritual growth. Conversely, the son is responsible for the support of his father. As a parent ages, daily work becomes a greater challenge. It is up to the son to arrange for his father’s sustenance and wellbeing. Today, however, it is the other way around. Fathers no longer involve themselves or care about the son’s Jewish…

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ויאמר קין אל הבל אחיו ויהי בהיותם בשדה ויקם קין אל הבל אחיו ויהרגהו

Kayin spoke with his brother Hevel. And it happened when they were in the field, that Kayin rose up against his brother Hevel, and killed him. (4:8)

זה ספר תולדות אדם

This is the account of the descendants of Adam. (5:1)

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהילת יעקב

The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov. (33:4)

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה... ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה… ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמרי פי

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. (32:1)

כי שם ד' אקרא הבו גדל לאלקינו

When I call out the Name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d. (32:3)

הצור תמים פעלו

The deeds of the Rock are perfect. (32:4)

זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור

Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. (32:7)

כי דור תהפוכות המה בנים לא אמון בם

For they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them. (32:20)

YEARS

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