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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5779

ואם תלכו עמי קרי ולא תאבו לשמע לי

Sruly Schnair
In 5779, Bechukosai

If you will behave casually with Me and refuse to heed Me. (26:21)

The pasuk introduces us to a new aspect of/on sin: Casualness. We persist in thinking (or acting as if we think) that all of Hashem’s carefully and meticulously calibrated punishments are merely coincidental: “Things happen.” When we act toward Hashem with casualness, He responds, in turn, by making it more difficult to discern the Divine Hand when things happen to us. This leads to Hester Panim, Divine concealment, Hiddenness of Hashem’s Countenance, making it harder for us to perceive the truth. The concept of keri, casualness, applies likewise (not equally) in our interpersonal relationships with our fellowman. We pass people…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5779

אם בחקתי תלכו

Sruly Schnair
In 5779, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

Rashi explains Im bechukosai teileichu; “If you will follow My decrees” – she’tiheyu ameilim baTorah; “That you will toil in Torah.” This is the deal breaker. It all begins and ends with Torah. One who does not toil (study is not enough; it must be toil) in Torah is not ensured success in mitzvah observance. Only one whose life is all about Torah – who studies Torah amid sacrifice, placing it on a pedestal above all else – can hope to follow in Hashem’s decrees. David Hamelech says (Tehillim 119:72), Tov li Toras Picha meialfei zahav va’kesef, “The Torah of…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5779

אם בחקתי תלכו

Sruly Schnair
In 5779, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, renders this pasuk homiletically by translating the word im (if) innovatively. Im contains the same Hebrew letters as eim, mother, which leads the Rosh Yeshivah (Shaar HaShomayim) to transform the message of the pasuk to assert that the mother, the akeres ha’bayis, mainstay of the Jewish home, is the one who catalyzes the spiritual growth of her children. She is the one who initiates the process, who ensures their proper entrance to Torah study and mitzvah observance. Furthermore, he explains, the Torah alludes to the manner of conveyance that will achieve the greatest results: B’chukosai teileichu;…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5778

ואף גם זאת בהיותם בארץ אויביהם לא מאסתים ולא געלתים לכלתם

Moshe Marcovich
In 5778, Bechukosai

But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to obliterate them. (26:44)

In the closing words of the Tochachah, Rebuke, Hashem consoles His tormented Nation. They might be in exile, but it is not the end. The atrocities that have accompanied them throughout the exile, the travail that has been their constant shadow, does not mean that Hashem has rejected them. No, says Hashem. Even in exile they remain His People, and the Covenant He made with them remains in full force. Parashas Bechukosai contains within it the first set of kelalos, curses, which comprise the Rebuke. The second set, which is larger, is in Parashas Ki Savo. The distinctions between the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5778

'איש כי יפלא נדר בערכך נפשת לד

Moshe Marcovich
In 5778, Bechukosai

If a man articulates a vow to Hashem regarding a valuation of human beings. (27:2)

Just as people may vow to contribute specific values of money to the Bais Hamikdash, so, too, may one vow to contribute the value of oneself or of another person. The word erech means valuation. Thus, one who contributes the erech, value, of a person, follows the Torah’s guidelines concerning valuation. The Torah values people according to age and gender.  The value of a Jew is measured in spiritual sanctity which we, as human beings, are unable to evaluate. Thus, the Torah gives specific guidelines with regard to equal values of Jews. Noticeably, the parsha of arachin, evaluations, follows immediately…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5777

אם בחקתי תלכו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5777, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

Rashi interprets “following” in Hashem’s decree as, Shetiheyu ameilim baTorah, “You will toil in Torah; engage in intensive Torah study.” If one studies Torah in a lackadaisical manner, it undermines the importance of Torah. One does not take chances; his mind will not wander when he is holding dynamite. He will be very careful. Likewise, one who lacks the respect for the Torah as manifest by his lack of intensity, will ultimately reject the Torah and everything for which it stands. Horav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz, zl, was a gadol, Torah giant, whose ameilus, toil, was evident when he gave shiur,…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5777

אם בחקתי תלכו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5777, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

A clear difference exists between a Jewish child reared in a lifestyle replete with Torah values and one who is not. Is there a cure –to all of society’s ills, to American family crisis, to the troubles that haunt our youth and plague our adults? Yes, there is, and it is to be found in the words of the Midrash’s commentary to the opening pasuk of our Parshah. Im bechukosai teileichu, “If you will follow My decrees.” The Midrash quotes David Hamelech, Bechol yom veyom ha’yisee mechashev lemakom peloni, u’l’vais dirah pelonis ani holeich, v’hayah raglai molichos osi l’batei kneisios…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5777

ונתתי שלום בארץ ושכבתם ואין מחריד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5777, Bechukosai

I will provide peace in the Land, and you will lie down with none to frighten you. (26:6)

The blessing of peace, of Jews getting along with one another, is awesome – and also quite daunting. This is especially true when envy enters the question. Jealousy is quite possibly the greatest catalyst for discord among fellows who “used to be” friends. One becomes jealous of the other, or, as often happens, a spouse become jealous, and, by allowing one thing to lead to another, two friends, or even brothers, can suddenly be transformed into rivals – or worse, enemies. In addressing the above pasuk, the Ksav Sofer cites the Alshich Hakadosh in his commentary to Sefer Koheles 5:11,…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5777

ואולך אתכם קוממיות

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5777, Bechukosai

And I led you erect. (26. 13)

Being a true servant of Hashem is not compatible with being/walking erect. Indeed, a little crimp in his walk, a slight curvature, rather than standing fully erect, demonstrates a sense of humility before Whom he stands. Horav Baruch, zl, m’Medziboz, explains that the epitome of hishtachavus, bowing, genuflection, is achieved when one stands straight, externally manifesting a regal, dignified, appearance, while internally he bows before Hashem. In other words, one does not have to show that he is bowing – as long as, in his mind and psyche, he is bent over. Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, m’Vorko, was wont to…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5776

אם בחקתי תלכו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

So much has been written concerning the meaning of this pasuk. I would like to submit my understanding. The word teileichu is translated here as “to follow.” It also means to walk/go. Together, these meanings imply that we are to walk/go forward using Hashem’s decrees as our GPS, our moral compass, to provide our sense of direction. In other words, a Jew does not “lead,” he follows – Hashem. Having said that, we might take this idea a bit further; chukim are mitzvos whose reasons defy human rationale. There are reasons for these mitzvos, but these reasons are Divine. Hashem…

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