Shoftim – Page 10 – Peninim on the Torah

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life.” (17:19)

The Sefer Torah shall be the primary focus of the king’s life. As it guides him through life, it shall be the object of his continual meditation. The love of Torah creates a bond that cannot be broken. Its influence is ever-lasting. Indeed, many years later, the original impact of the Torah upon a person retains its freshness and inspiration as evidenced by the following story: Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, tells of a Yerushalmi Jew, a profound talmid chacham, Torah scholar, who moved to Tzefas. The story takes place years ago when the opportunity and availability to own a complete…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5763

“Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted?… and let him not melt the heart of his brethren as his heart.” (20:8)

The one who is afraid of the dangers that accompany war, whose anxiety overwhelms him, is sent home, lest his faintheartedness affect those around him. The Tchortkover Rebbe, z.l., was once asked by one of his chassidim which shul he should attend. It seems that his community had two synagogues; one was a large community shul, while the other was a small shtiebel frequented primarily by chassidim. The Rebbe responded that whichever shul had a member who prayed with a broken heart; that is the shul in which he should daven. He supported his answer with the above pasuk. We…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5763

“And they shall measure toward the cities that are around the corpse.” (21:2)

If a corpse is found in the open country and the identity of the murderer is unknown, the elders of the town nearest the corpse perform the ritual of eglah arufah, the axed heifer. There is a dispute in the Talmud in regard to a circumstance in which the decapitated head of the corpse is found a distance from the rest of the body. From where do we measure: from the head or from the body? In addressing the second Kenessiah Gedolah in Vienna in 1929 the Sokolover Rebbe, z.l., asked, “When the deceased is a spiritual casualty, when we…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5763

“And they shall axe the back of the heifer’s neck in the valley.” (21:4)

The murder of a Jew is a terrible tragedy which is compounded when the perpetrator might be another Jew. The parsha of eglah arufah, the axed heifer, addresses a situation where a corpse is found lying in the open. We have no idea who the murderer is. The Torah requires that the elders of the town nearest to the corpse perform a public ritual in which they proclaim that they are not responsible, neither by neglect nor by indifference, for the tragedy of this person’s death. The primary purpose of this parsha is to convey an important message: We are…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5762

“Judges and officers shall you appoint.” (16:18)

Whichever title we choose to apply – judge, leader, rav – the spiritual leader and arbiter of Jewish Law has to fulfill certain criteria. Thorough knowledge of the law is only one; it’s the beginning of the many attributes he must possess. The Yerushalmi in Meseches Sanhedrin 1:4 details some of the other virtues inherent in a dayan who sits on the Bais Din situated on Har HaBayis: chacham, wise; anav, humble; shafui, modest, deferring to those greater than he; ayin tovah, benevolent eye; nefesh shfalah, humble spirited; ruach nemuchah, lowly/humble spirit – patient; lev tov, good heart; yetzer tov, good…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5762

“Judges and officers shall you appoint.” (16:18)

Jewish leadership has to be strong – yet flexible. Compassion for, and sensitivity to all Jews are prerequisites for leadership. Strength of character and fear of no man are just as essential. The following narratives demonstrate these two inimical qualities which were the hallmarks of two Torah leaders. Horav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., was a talmid chacham without peer. Yet, he had no problem performing the most menial task if it would help another Jew – regardless of his age or station in life. Rav Yosef Chaim was once late in returning home from Shacharis. This was an anomaly, since he was…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5762

“You shall not take notice of someone’s presence.” (16:19)

Everyone must be treated fairly and equally. This idea does not apply exclusively to a court of law. A sickness prevails in a society in which we favor one person over another. In some cases, it is their pedigree; in others, it is their material wealth, or it is simply what we personally can benefit from them. As a judge should not favor one litigant over another, so, too, should we not treat one Jew differently from another. Horav David, z.l., m’Lelov was once traveling with the Yehudi HaKadosh, z.l., m’Peshischa to raise funds for charity. They came to the home…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5762

“You shall not move a boundary of your fellow.” (19:14)

It is forbidden to increase one’s property at the expense of one’s neighbor. A simple law, which is really common sense. Yet, we find hasogas gvul to be a common malady, whether it is in business or in any other endeavor. For some reason, when one Jew is doing something and doing it well, soon he will have a competitor down the block, doing the same thing. The following story, although it does not condone the inappropriate actions of Jew versus Jew, does offer rationale for the offensive behavior. Horav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, z.l., the distinguished rav of Kovno, was…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5761

“You shall not turn from the word that they will tell you, right or left.” (17:11)

The spiritual leadership of Klal Yisrael makes their decision only after careful deliberation of the halachah, law. It is rendered by individuals whose relationship with Torah is of a singular nature. Their exemplary love for the Torah goes hand in hand with their profound scholarship. Their interpretation of the Torah is law. We are commanded to listen to them, even when the decision they render seems unjustified or incorrect. They represent the final word. To undermine the words of Chazal is to attack the Torah. The following incredible story was related by Horav David Puvarsky: The story takes place in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5761

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life.” (17:19)

The Sefer Torah shall be the primary focus of the king’s life. As it guides him through life, it shall be the object of his continual meditation. The love of Torah creates a bond that cannot be broken. Its influence is ever-lasting. Indeed, many years later, the original impact of the Torah upon a person retains its freshness and inspiration as evidenced by the following story: Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, tells of a Yerushalmi Jew, a profound talmid chacham, Torah scholar, who moved to Tzefas. The story takes place years ago when the opportunity and availability to own a complete…

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“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life.” (17:19)

“Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted?… and let him not melt the heart of his brethren as his heart.” (20:8)

“And they shall measure toward the cities that are around the corpse.” (21:2)

“And they shall axe the back of the heifer’s neck in the valley.” (21:4)

“Judges and officers shall you appoint.” (16:18)

“Judges and officers shall you appoint.” (16:18)

“You shall not take notice of someone’s presence.” (16:19)

“You shall not move a boundary of your fellow.” (19:14)

“You shall not turn from the word that they will tell you, right or left.” (17:11)

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life.” (17:19)

YEARS

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