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Home -> Vayikra -> 5776

ויקרא אל משה וידבר ד' אליו מאהל מועד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayikra

He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the Ohel Moed. (1:1)

The parshah of Korbanos, sacrificial offerings mandated by Hashem to be a part of the Jewish People’s service to Him, is rife with ambiguity. The Rishonim offer their rationale to explain and lend meaning to this service. In his Moreh Nevuchim, Rambam explains that the korbanos had a therapeutic effect on the Jewish People after their exposure to the idolatrous cultures in which they had lived. Egypt had elevated idol worship as to a way of life to the point that anything short of paganism was beyond rationale. The korbanos would balance out this perverted ideology. Notwithstanding the Rambam’s view…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5776

ויאסור יוסף מרכבתו ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו גשנה וירא אליו ויפול על צואריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayigash

Yosef harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father in Goshen. He appeared before him, and fell on his neck. (46:29)

Rashi explains that neither did Yaakov Avinu fall upon Yosef’s neck, nor did he kiss him, because, at the time of their meeting, Yaakov was preoccupied with reciting Shema. Yosef was not. This leads up to the obvious question: Was it the time for reciting Krias Shema — or not? If it was not Krias Shema recital time, why did Yaakov find it necessary to choose this unique moment of their meeting to capitalize on Krias Shema? Could the meeting not have waited a few moments? The commentators grapple with this question, each offering his own insight into this seeming…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5776

ואת יהודה שלח לפניו אל יוסף להורות לפניו גשנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayigash

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. (46:28)

Chazal teach that Yaakov Avinu sent Yehudah to Goshen for the purpose of establishing the first yeshivah, from whence Torah and its teachings would be disseminated. Why did Yaakov choose Yehudah over any of the other brothers – especially Yissachar, who was the paradigm of Torah study and scholarship? The Midrash Tanchuma teaches a novel idea to explain why Yaakov made this choice. Apparently, for years, ever since the disappearance of Yosef, when Yehudah was the one who presented Yosef’s bloodied tunic, the Patriarch had suspected Yehudah of culpability in (what he believed to be) Yosef’s death. Now that he…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5776

ואת יהודה שלח לפניו אל יוסף להורות לפניו גשנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayigash

He sent Yehuda ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. 46:28

Rashi teaches that Yaakov Avinu dispatched Yehudah on a mission to Egypt for more than merely making arrangements for the family’s arrival. The Midrash interprets l’horos as “to teach.” This implies that Yaakov sent Yehudah to establish the first yeshivah in Egypt. The “Yeshivah Gedolah of Goshen” set a precedent for all time. Torah education must be a community’s priority number one. A city without a makom Torah, place where Torah is studied, lacks the most critical component of its Jewishness. A Jewish community without a makom Torah is not Jewish! Horav Moshe Yaakov Ribicov, zl, popularly known as the…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5776

ויזבח זבחים לאלקי אביו יצחק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayigash

He slaughtered sacrifices to the G-d of his father, Yitzchak. (46:1)

Yaakov Avinu was moving to Egypt. Although he knew quite well that his ultimate home would be Eretz Yisrael and that Egypt was a galus, exile, which he would have to endure – the move to Egypt was not an easy one. Galus has a transformative effect on a person. Some feel the need to adapt, to eschew past practices and beliefs. Otherwise, how can they survive in an environment that is foreign to them? Yaakov taught his children to remain focused on the future, on their return to the Holy Land, on their eventual redemption. With hope, one can…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5776

והיה כי תמצאן אתו רעות וצרות וענתה השירה הזאת לפניו לעד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayeilech

It shall be when many evils and distresses come upon it, then this song shall speak up before it as a witness. (31:21)

The Torah states that when the terrible evils and afflictions, the curses, of which many have taken their toll on us, descend on us, we will (despite the many travails) ultimately be spared.  The Torah, which is referred to here as the shirah, song (of Torah), will serve as a witness in our defense – a testimony that will help turn the tide in our behalf.  Nothing will be held back.  We will sin, and we will deserve whatever fate is decreed against us, but we will be spared.  Interestingly, the prophecy concerning the evils and distresses that will fall…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5776

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayeilech

So now, write this song. (31:19)

The Talmud Megillah 3A relates the conversation that occurred between Yehoshua bin Nun and a Heavenly angel that visited him.  The purpose of citing the conversation is to prove that limud haTorah, the study of Torah, is more stringent than sacrificial service:  “The angel said to Yehoshua, ‘This afternoon, you neglected to offer the Korban Tamid Shel Bein Ha’Arbaim, daily afternoon sacrifice, and now (after dark) you neglected the study of Torah.’ (This conversation took place during the battle for Yericho, shortly after Bnei Yisrael entered the Land and performed circumcisions on the men who had not been circumcised in…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5776

ומצאוהו רעות רבות וצרות ואמר ביום ההוא הלא על כי אין אלקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות האלה. ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא על כל הרעה אשר עשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayeilech

And many evils and distresses will encounter it. It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” But I will surely have concealed My face on that day because of all the evil that he did. (31:17,18)

If the People finally came to the realization that the source of their troubles was Hashem’s concealing Himself from them, why does Hashem continue the punishment by concealing Himself even more?  Why add more punishment if the people already have become aware of the reason for their troubles?  The point has been made; now, it is time to move on.  Horav Shlomo Teichtal, zl, explains this with a parable.  A person had tried for some time to meet with a government official to discuss a zoning variance.  It was crucial for his business that the zoning laws be modified so…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5776

וילך משה ... ויאמר אליהם בן מאה ועשרים שנה אנכי היום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayeilech

Moshe went… He said to them, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today.” (31,1)

Parashas Vayeilech invariably falls before Yom Kippur.  The parsha begins with Moshe Rabbeinu reflecting on his life, in preparation for taking leave of his nation.  This perspective gives each and every one of us something to think about.  Even the quintessential leader of the Jewish People prepared to meet his Maker.  The confluence of the Parsha and the time of year gives us food for thought.  I recently came across a lecture from Horav Yoshiahu Yosef Pinto, Shlita, which adds compelling insight and even trepidation to the thoughts ruminating through our minds at this time of year. Moshe prayed fervently…

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Home -> 5776 -> Vayeitzei

מה פשעי מה חטאתי כי דלקת אחרי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeitzei, 5776

What is my crime? What sin did I commit that you were in such hot pursuit of me? (31:36)

After over two decades of being cheated and surrounded by his evil father-in-law, Lavan, Yaakov Avinu left in the hope of finally having a home undisturbed by the nefarious machinations of his father-in-law. Lavan, of course, accused our Patriarch of every evil endeavor known to man. Yaakov’s response? “What is my crime?” No screaming; no shouting; no malediction; just a relaxed and calm, “What did I do?” How did he contain himself after so many years of suffering and degradation? Horav Reuven Karlinstein, Shlita, explains that Yaakov did not respond to Lavan, because he was acutely aware that Lavan was…

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