Yisro – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5754

“I am Hashem your G-d.” (20:2)

Chazal in Talmud Shabbos (105a) say that the word hfbt, I, is an acrostic for hapb tbt, ,hcvh vch,f” I put Myself into the writing.” Hashem says that His very essence is suffused to every letter of the Torah. As Horav Moshe Swift z.t.l. explains, this amazing statement is the cornerstone for the eternal nature of the Torah. Hashem reveals Himself through the Torah. It is His will. When one reads or studies the Torah, he is actually studying Hashem. Honoring the Torah is tantamount to honoring Hashem. There is nothing like Torah in the world of literature; other writings…

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Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5754

“Do not kill.” (20:13)

One may wonder why the prohibition against murder is included in the Aseres Ha’dibros, Ten Commandments. An obvious explanation is that we should not tamper with human life. Certain forms of “murder” are overlooked because of our lack of sensitivity to others. The Ibn Ezra writes “Do not kill with your hand or with your tongue by perjuring your testimony against another fellow by blatant or even innocuous forms of slander, or by giving someone harmful advice, knowing fully well the tragic consequences that will occur. One who is privy to a secret which can save another Jew’s life, and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5753

“And Moshe sent away his father-in-law, and he (Yisro) went his way to his own land.” (18:27)

Rashi states that Yisro returned home solely in order to convert the remainder of his family to Judaism. The Maharal interprets the words “And Moshe sent” to imply that Moshe gave his blessings to this return. Horav A.H. Lebovitz, Shlita, poignantly extols the supreme sacrifice that Yisro made by leaving Bnei Yisrael and returning to Midyan. Bnei Yisrael had been privy to a unique miraculous existence. Sustained by manna, protected by the Clouds of Glory and a Pillar of Fire, Bnei Yisrael had experienced the most intense spiritual moments of all time. Under the tutelage of the greatest teacher, Moshe…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5753

“And you will be to Me a kingdom of Kohanim (priests) and a holy nation.” (19:6)

A Kohen is one whose life is devoted to the service of Hashem. The title Kohen also implies “scholar”. As it is written in Shmuel II 8:18 – uhv ohbvf sus hbcuw which means that they were Torah scholars. Hence, the prime pursuit of Am Yisrael is the study of Torah. Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, observes that this pasuk does not merely state Hashem’s promise of Am Yisrael‘s future reward. It is an aspect of Hashem’s covenant with us which responds to our acceptance of the Torah. When we responded with the gnabu vagb, “We will do and we will…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5753

“I am Hashem your g-d.” (20:2)

The Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments, have been described as the fountainhead of Jewish law. Indeed, it is the most sublime synopsis of human duties; it will never be antiquated. The Aseres Hadibros comprised the first compendium of laws which Hashem gave to Am Yisrael. Contemporary man distinguishes between his visible actions (i.e., the things we do and don’t do) and the actions that are in the back of his mind (i.e., the things that we think of and do not do). We tend to discern between the things we do and the motive behind these actions. This unfortunate situation…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And Yisro heard… of all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people.” (18:1) – “And Moshe told his father-in-law all that Hashem had done.” (18:8) – “And Yisro said blessed be Hashem for saving you.” (18:10)

We may note that Yisro did not bless Hashem until after he had heard the various miracles which had transpired directly from Moshe. What was unique about Moshe’s description of the details of the Exodus and its miracles as differentiated from the information Yisro had heard while in Midyan? Indeed, the first reports of these occurrences provided incentive enough for him to leave his home to come join Bnei Yisrael in the desert. The Darchei Mussar explains that from this pasuk we may derive the importance of studying with a teacher who is replete with yiras shomayim (fear of Heaven)….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

Bnei Yisrael responded ,with “We will do,” prior to saying “And we will listen”. Consequently, a Heavenly voice came forth and proclaimed, “Who revealed to My sons the secret of uttering vagb before gnab, an expression reserved for angels?” Because Bnei Yisrael were absolutely prepared to accept the Torah before hearing its commandments, they attained the highest spiritual level a human being is capable of achieving. We must endeavor to understand the great secret of exclaiming vagb prior to gnab/ What difference is there in the precise order of acceptance as long as the Torah is properly observed? In order…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And Hashem said to Moshe, behold I come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people may hear when I speak to you and that they may believe in you forever.” (19:9)

Bnei Yisrael did not believe in Moshe because of the various signs which he performed. A belief based on signs leaves room for doubt about their true origin. Bnei Yisrael believed in Moshe at Har Sinai because of the great revelation of miracles which they witnessed with their own eyes. Their eyes saw the flames and their ears heard the thunder, so that this miraculous spectacle was integrated into their hearts and minds forever. Moshe’s personal acts were contested by members of his generation, but not one Jew questioned the actual giving of the Torah. Despite the fact that they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“Honor your father and your mother.” (20:12)

The Exodus from Egypt and the revelation of the Torah on Har Sinai are the two basic focal points in the history of the Jewish people. They constitute the foundation for our submission to Hashem. Although these events are actual historical truths, the acknowledgment of them is solely dependent upon tradition. Tradition is developed by the loyal transmission by parents to children and by the children’s willing acceptance of these ideals from the hands of the parents. Thus, the continuity of Hashem’s great institution of Judaism rests entirely upon the obedience of children to parents. Consequently, the mitzvah of honoring…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5751

“And her two sons that the name of one was Gershom, for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land, and the name of the other was Eliezer, for the G-d of my father was my salvation. And He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” (18:3-4)

The naming of Moshe’s two sons seemingly is not in the proper sequence. Since Moshe was first saved from Pharaoh’s sword should he have not named his son in tribute to that event before reflecting upon his being a stranger in Midyon? Rabbi Mordechai Gifter Shlita offers a response to this question. Had Moshe been saved from Pharaoh’s wrath only to assimilate in Midyon, his salvation would have been in vain. It was only after being able to withstand the adverse influences and pressures of a depraved country such as Midyon that Moshe acknowledged his salvation from the hands of…

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“I am Hashem your G-d.” (20:2)

“Do not kill.” (20:13)

“And Moshe sent away his father-in-law, and he (Yisro) went his way to his own land.” (18:27)

“And you will be to Me a kingdom of Kohanim (priests) and a holy nation.” (19:6)

“I am Hashem your g-d.” (20:2)

“And Yisro heard… of all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people.” (18:1) – “And Moshe told his father-in-law all that Hashem had done.” (18:8) – “And Yisro said blessed be Hashem for saving you.” (18:10)

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

“And Hashem said to Moshe, behold I come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people may hear when I speak to you and that they may believe in you forever.” (19:9)

“Honor your father and your mother.” (20:12)

“And her two sons that the name of one was Gershom, for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land, and the name of the other was Eliezer, for the G-d of my father was my salvation. And He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” (18:3-4)

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