Devarim – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding, and well known to your tribes, and I shall appoint them as your heads. (1:13)

In a play on the word “onhatu” , “and I will appoint them,” the Midrash changes the “sin” to a “shin”, transforming the word “onhatu” to “and I shall hold them guilty”. The Midrash is teaching us the importance of listening to our spiritual leaders. If they lead properly and the common people still do not respond with respect, the people are liable. They cite an interesting analogy. Once a snake was sliding along its path, when the tail began complaining to the head, “Why are you always in the front with me dragging along behind? I want to lead,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

Chazal view the word, “all of you”, as the cause of the tragic outcome of their mission to spy out Eretz Yisrael. The people came forward in an unbecoming manner. They were demanding and disrespectful. The young pushed aside their elders, and the older people pushed ahead of their leaders. This was in sharp contrast to their behavior at Kabalas HaTorah when the entire nation came forth with a request, but in a respectable and orderly manner; the young encouraged their elders to go forward, while the elders displayed the proper respect to their leadership. Why is it necessary to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

Moshe Rabbeinu recounted the events surrounding the spies’ ill-fated mission to Eretz Yisrael. He attempted to refresh their minds concerning their prior mistakes, so that hopefully they would not repeat the same errors. He admonished them to remember their murmurings and rebellions, the slander that demoralized a nation, the ingratitude that catalyzed a rebellion for which we still suffer today. What did they do that night that still haunts us to this very day? They cried! Does crying deserve such a severe punishment? It depends what type of crying and for what reason. Chazal tell us that the people…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

From the fact that Hashem told Moshe not to fear Og, the Torah was suggesting that Moshe had reason to fear him. What could there be about Og that would engender fear in Moshe. As Rashi says, Og had received merit for a good deed that he had performed many years earlier. Og was the one who told Avraham that Lot had been taken captive. This act of kindness gave him a zechus. The question is obvious. Og had an ulterior motive in communicating this message to Avraham. Chazal tell us that Og hoped Avraham would rush into battle…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

Hashem tells Bnei Yisrael that one year at Har Sinai was sufficient. They had achieved remarkable benefits at this place. The Torah, the Mishkan with its various vessels, and their spiritual leadership all were established at Har Sinai. The time had come to move on. Let us examine this statement. Imagine that one is living in a community in which he has abundant material benefit, amazing financial success, and many friends. Are we going to tell him that since he is achieving such a high level of success, the time has come to move away? Is this not essentially what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

The Midrash in Eichah distinguishes the context of Moshe’s use of the word “eichah” from the ways in which Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu use the same word. Moshe was lamenting his obligation to deal personally with Klal Yisrael‘s petty complaints. On the other hand, Yeshayahu lamented Bnei Yisrael‘s unfaithfulness to Hashem. vbuzk v,hv vfht, “How had the faithful city become like a harlot,” he cried out. Yirmiyahu, who saw their humiliation and destruction cried out, vfht ssc vcah, “Alas, she (Klal Yisrael) sits in solitude.” The commentators differentiate among these three “eichahs” as referring to distinct stages of Klal Yisrael‘s iniquity….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“All of you approached and said, “Let us send men ahead and let them spy out the land.” (1:22)

Chazal find a hidden message in the word ofkf, “all of you.” They contend that the manner in which they approached Moshe, the young showing disrespect towards their elders by pushing ahead, was the precursor of the disastrous outcome of their mission. We must endeavor to understand this statement. Is Moshe rebuking the people for their lack of derech eretz? Was not their sin a lack of faith in Hashem’s ability to bring them into the land? The mere fact that they requested spies in itself represented insurrection. How does their lack of proper manners correlate with their transgression? Horav…

Home -> Devarim -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“You slandered in your tents and said, “Because of Hashem’s hatred of us did he take us out of the land of Egypt.” (1:27)

Moshe Rabbeinu begins Sefer Devarim with words of rebuke. He attempts to alert Bnei Yisrael to their past errors. He is hoping that their march onward into Eretz Yisrael will not be tainted by a continuation of their sinful behavior. They could have had an easy, smooth journey into the land — if only they would not have been encumbered by foolish mistakes. Each mistake was a blemish that needed correction; each sin had to be expiated prior to their entry. His words would have all been in vain, their entire stay in the desert a waste, however, if they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“We turned and ascended by way of the Bashan and Og King of Bashan went out toward us. Hashem said to me, ‘Do not fear him for in your hand I have given him.” (3:1,2)

Hashem told Moshe not to be concerned with Og, for He had promised that Og would fall into Moshe’s hands. The Midrash explains Moshe’s apprehension and Hashem’s reassurance. Og had assisted Avraham by bringing him the news of Lot’s capture. This merit might have been a sufficient reason for Hashem to spare Og. Hashem responded that although Og’s actions were noble, his intentions were deceiving. He informed Avraham of Lot’s capture only because he sought to lure Avraham into the battle. He had hoped that Avraham would be killed, so that Og would be able to take Sarah for himself….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Devarim

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael.” (1:1)

Rashi explains that each of the places mentioned by Moshe alludes to one of the sins committed by Bnei Yisrael. In an attempt to avoid embarrassing Bnei Yisrael, Moshe did not state the sins explicitly. Later on, however, Moshe did openly reprove them for the incident of the spies and the sin of the Golden Calf. We must endeavor to understand this seeming inconsistency. If Moshe was ultimately going to reprimand them overtly, why did he begin his rebuke by couching it in veiled terms ? Horav Moshe Feinstein, z.l., contends that at the beginning of the parsha, Moshe was…

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Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding, and well known to your tribes, and I shall appoint them as your heads. (1:13)

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

“All of you approached and said, “Let us send men ahead and let them spy out the land.” (1:22)

“You slandered in your tents and said, “Because of Hashem’s hatred of us did he take us out of the land of Egypt.” (1:27)

“We turned and ascended by way of the Bashan and Og King of Bashan went out toward us. Hashem said to me, ‘Do not fear him for in your hand I have given him.” (3:1,2)

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael.” (1:1)

YEARS

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