Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

Category

5758

YEARS

5751
5752
5753
5754
5755
5756
5757
5758
5759
5760
5761
5762
5763
5764
5765
5766
5767
5768
5769
5770
5771
5772
5773
5774
5775
5776
5777
5778

Moshe heard the people weeping in their family groups. (11:10)

To express their displeasure publicly, entire families gathered outside their tents and wept.  Rashi explains that the word “families” alludes to the real reason for their complaint.  The family laws that were initiated at Har Sinai became a source of frustration for them.  They did not care to have their relationships governed by the Torah.  Rather than viewing the laws of family life and morality as  a privilege reserved for the nobility that comprises Klal Yisrael, they viewed them as an infringement on their freedom. Horav Yitzchak Blazer, zl, suggests a novel interpretation to the word “families.”  The manna descended…

Continue Reading

They journeyed from the mountain of Hashem a three day journey and the Aron of the covenant journeyed before them…to search out for them a resting place. (10:33)

Rashi contends that the “Aron Bris Hashem” — which was taken out with Bnei Yisrael when they went to battle —  contained  the broken Luchos.  The “Shivrei Luchos” retained a unique power which served as a protective armor when Bnei Yisrael were in a difficult predicament.  We must endeavor to understand why the Aron that contained the broken Luchos accompanied  Bnei Yisrael in time of war. What was the significance of the Shivrei Luchos? What influence did they maintain over the people? We suggest that the broken Luchos represent the integrity of Torah and each Jew’s mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice, to…

Continue Reading

This is the workmanship of the Menorah…according to the vision that Hashem showed Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Chazal tell us that Moshe had difficulty in forging the Menorah. They say that Hashem “showed” Moshe by pointing a “finger” and describing the exact image of the Menorah.  In the end, according to one statement of Chazal, Moshe threw the talent of gold into the fire and  a finished Menorah emerged.  A number of explanations address Moshe’s difficulty in perceiving the image of the Menorah.  Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, views this from an homiletic point of view.  He suggests an analogy between the fabrication of the Menorah and  two people who were given the necessary materials for building a…

Continue Reading

Speak to Aharon…When you kindle the lamps, towards the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps light. (8:2)

Rashi addresses the relationship  between Aharon’s  lighting the Menorah and the previous parsha, which recounts the offerings of nesiim, princes, for the dedication of the Mizbayach.  He says that Aharon was upset that neither he, nor any member of shevet Levi, was included in the dedication.  Hashem comforted Aharon saying that his service, preparing and kindling the Menorah, was more significant than theirs.  We wonder at Aharon’s chagrin.  Obviously, his reaction must have had some validity, as Hashem responded by comforting him.  We must also endeavor to understand the meaning of the phrase, “Yours is greater/more significant than theirs.“  This…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!