Nitzavim – Page 4 – Peninim on the Torah

“You are standing this day all of you before Hashem your G-d, your heads, your tribes, all the men of Yisrael… from the hewer of your wood, unto the drawer of your water.” (29:9,10)

The Torah distinguishes among the various kinds of Jews, noting that the profession of each reflects his station in life. Indeed, the Torah indicates that all members of the Jewish “body” – from the “head” to the “foot” – were assembled on Har Sinai on that auspicious day. The Baal Ha’Tanya mentions that, at times, the “foot” will assume the role of the “head”. Metaphorically, although the head gives guidance to the foot, it is the foot which actually leads and carries the head and the rest of the body from place to place. Consequently, in the spiritual realm, it…

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Sruly Schnair In Nitzavim, 5754

“And it came to pass when he heard the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying: ‘I shall have peace, though in stubbornness of my heart do I walk that the water be added (unto him) with the dry.'” (29:18)

Rashi explains that Hashem will increase the retribution against the infidel in the following manner: The sins he had committed inadvertently, which in the past had been overlooked by Hashem, would be added to the accounting of his deliberate sins. He cites Targum Onkelos who concurs that the unintentional sins would be added to the intentional ones. We must endeavor to understand the intensity of this punishment. What is really so harsh about this punishment? The Satmar Rebbe z.l. offers a novel interpretation of this pasuk. Chazal explain that this “curse” and bris, covenant, refer to the agreement Hashem made…

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Sruly Schnair In Nitzavim, 5754

“For the matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.” (30:14)

There is a Midrash on the above pasuk which is particularly relevant at this time of year. Everyone is seeking areas in which to improve. Eliyahu Ha’Navi relates that he was once travelling from region to region, when he came across a man who sneered at him. Eliyahu was taken aback and immediately questioned the individual, “What will you respond to Hashem on the Day of Judgement?” The man quickly responded, “I have a simple answer to give my Father in Heaven. I will tell Him that I was not given sufficient understanding or intelligence to allow me to master…

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והיה בשמעו את דברי האלה הזאת והתברך בלבבו לאמר שלום יהיה לי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5773

And it will be that when he hears the words of this imprecation, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, “Peace will be with me.” (29:18)

People invariably delude themselves into thinking that it will happen to someone else. One can go merrily about his miserable life, doing what he wants, ignoring the admonitions and punishments that are slowly creeping up on him. When he wakes up from his delusion, it is often too late. Hashem has given him every opportunity to return, but he is ignoring it. While this is true for most, there are those who, because they are under the influence of a misguided leader, sadly follow him until they all descend to infamy. A classic case of the above would be the…

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ושבת עד ד' אלקיך ושמעת בקלו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5773

And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice. (30:2)

The Torah admonishes the sinner to repent. The encouragement often comes in the guise of physical, emotional and financial challenges. Yet, there are those who ignore the message, claiming that it either is not addressed to them, or it really is not a message. It is simply “one of those things” that happen to the best of us. Just forget about it. The believer, however, knows better. Nothing “just happens.” Whatever occurs in our lives is meant to be and is most often a call from Hashem to get our spiritual act together. If so, why does the person not…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5772

“From the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water.” (29:10)

Everybody was present that day, from the woodcutter to the water carrier. Is this the correct sequence? Should it not be worded, “From your leadership all the way down to your woodchoppers” or “From your goldsmiths to your woodchoppers”? One would think that the woodchopper and water carrier are basically on an equal level. Shivim Panim LaTorah suggests the following idea: When the ax is raised up over the head of the woodchopper, the “ax” would never consider that it is higher or more distinguished than the woodchopper, because the woodchopper is the one who is raising it up. Likewise,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5772

“Perhaps there is among you a root flourishing with gall and wormwood.” (29:17)

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5772

“And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice.” (30:2)

There is a remarkable contrast between two types of people: one defies rebuke, laughing it off with disdain and derision; and the baal teshuvah, penitent, who hears Hashem’s call, responds to His voice and returns wholeheartedly. Two people – or could it be one person, one individual in different stages of his spiritual development? Is it possible for the hard-core sinner, the individual who mocks Hashem and His followers bitterly, to return and be accepted? It is certainly possible for him to be accepted: Hashem is a loving Father Who waits patiently for His errant child. How does one…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5772

“The hidden (sins) are for Hashem, our G-d, but the revealed (sins) are for us and for our children forever.” (29:28)

Simply, we are not held responsible for those sinners who hide their evil. The hidden sinners are in Hashem’s province. Our focus must be on those whose evil is blatant, who have no shame and no fear. Our lack of response to those sins and sinners – and in some cases, our open acceptance of their evil – impugns the integrity of Klal Yisrael. In an alternative exegesis, the Belzer Rebbe, z.l., suggests that nistaros and niglos, “hidden” and “revealed,” refer to mitzvos and good deeds, but not to sins. His pshat, rendering of the pasuk, is better understood in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5771

You are all standing today, before Hashem, your G-d. (29:9)

Much has been written today concerning the meaning of the above pasuk. What is the significance of the nation’s “standing” before Hashem? Also, why enumerate them according to class: leaders, elders, officers, men, women, children, and converts? Horav Karlinstein quotes the halachah that during those parts of the davening when one must stand, he must stand freely. This means that if he leans against something, such as a shtender, lectern, to the point that if it were to be removed he would fall over, it is not considered standing. This is considered leaning. Rav Karlinstein derives an important lesson concerning…

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“You are standing this day all of you before Hashem your G-d, your heads, your tribes, all the men of Yisrael… from the hewer of your wood, unto the drawer of your water.” (29:9,10)

“And it came to pass when he heard the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying: ‘I shall have peace, though in stubbornness of my heart do I walk that the water be added (unto him) with the dry.'” (29:18)

“For the matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.” (30:14)

והיה בשמעו את דברי האלה הזאת והתברך בלבבו לאמר שלום יהיה לי

And it will be that when he hears the words of this imprecation, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, “Peace will be with me.” (29:18)

ושבת עד ד' אלקיך ושמעת בקלו

And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice. (30:2)

“From the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water.” (29:10)

“Perhaps there is among you a root flourishing with gall and wormwood.” (29:17)

“And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice.” (30:2)

“The hidden (sins) are for Hashem, our G-d, but the revealed (sins) are for us and for our children forever.” (29:28)

You are all standing today, before Hashem, your G-d. (29:9)

YEARS

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