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Home -> 5762 -> Metzora

זאת תהיה תורת המצרע ביום טהרתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Metzora, 5762

“This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification.” (14:2)

One who is determined to correct the sin of lashon hara is confronted with two paradoxical issues. On the one hand, Chazal teach us that the Torah goes out of its way not to reveal any failing whatsoever, even in regard to an inanimate object. The Midrash teaches us that Hashem did not reveal the specie of the Eitz HaDaas, Tree of Knowledge, because an aveirah, sin, was actualized through it. We see this idea in regard to an animal with whom a woman had an immoral  relationship: it is killed. While we understand that the woman should be put to…

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Home -> 5762 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Metzora, 5762

“This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification: he shall be brought to the Kohen.” (14:2)

The Kohen has the first and last word in regard to negaim, plagues. Toras Kohanim states that it is a gezeiras haKasuv, Biblical edict, that  the  rendering  of  tumah  and  taharah,  impurity  or  purity, is solely in the hands of the Kohanim. Sforno adds that the Kohanim are the ones who teach and guide the people in the spiritual dimension. Interfacing with them all will encourage the metzora, afflicted sinner, to repent and mend his ways. While the Kohen is the decisor concerning negaim, Chazal say that “one can see/inspect all negaim, except his own.” Even a simple, clean-cut plague cannot…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tazria, 5762

“He is a person with tzaraas, he is contaminated, the Kohen shall declare him contaminated, his affliction is upon his head.” (13:44)

In the various forms of tzaraas mentioned previously in the parsha, the Torah has either written tamei hu, he is ritually impure, or v’timo ha’Kohen, the Kohen shall declare him tamei. Regarding nigei ha’rosh, the plague that sets itself upon one’s head, the Torah emphasizes ish tzarua hu, he is a person with tzaraas, and then reiterates the status of impurity with the words, “The Kohen shall declare him contaminated.” Why such emphasis upon tzaraas ha’rosh? The Netziv, z.l., explains that unlike the other forms of tzaraas, which are a punishment for lashon hara, evil speech, tzaraas ha’rosh is visited upon…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tazria, 5762

“If a tzaraas affliction will be in a person.” (13:9)

The laws of tzaraas, a spiritual malady which manifests itself in a physical illness which mimics leprosy, is the result of “speech problems.”  People  who  do  not  use  their  God-given  tongues appropriately, such that they disparage and slander, are visited with tzaraas. Volumes have been written addressing the sin of lashon hara, evil speech. What about lashon tov, good speech, positive speech, words that heal and soothe? The power of speech is a special gift that we must learn to appreciate. A good word can lift a spirit and save a life. How often do we regret not saying the right…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tazria, 5762

“If a person will have on the skin of his flesh a s’eis, or a sapachas, or a baheres.” (13:2)

In the Pleasant Way, a collection of some of the shmuessen, ethical discourses, of Horav Avraham Pam, z.l., a meaningful shmuess focuses on the root of lashon hara, evil speech. In his inimitable manner, Rav Pam lovingly explains and guides us concerning how to distance ourselves from the harmful effects of this dreadful sin. He explains the juxtaposition of Parashas Tazria, which discusses the laws of tzaraas, to Parashas Shemini, which addresses the laws of Kashrus. Just as we should be meticulous in  what we ingest, we should likewise take great care in what emerges from our mouths. The consumption of…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tazria, 5762

“On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (12:3)

One day the Sefas Emes asked one of his close chassidim to take his two young sons, (Rav) Avraham Mordechai and (Rav) Moshe Betzalel, to a certain Jew in Warsaw for a brachah, blessing. The person left the next day in search of this Jew whom he assumed must certainly be a famous tzaddik, righteous man. He arrived in Warsaw and,  after some inquiry, he discovered that the individual he sought was actually a simple, common Jew. The man, indeed, had no idea why the famous Rebbe of Gur would send his two sons to him for a blessing. Yet, at…

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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

“And these shall be impure to you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel and the mouse, and the tortoise according to its variety.” (11:29)

There is an intriguing Midrash that comments on the word “v’zeh,” “and these,” with which our pasuk begins. Chazal tell us Hashem showed   Moshe   Rabbeinu  four  things  with   His  finger because Moshe was puzzled by them. He showed him how the shemen ha’mishchah, oil of anointing, was made. Second, He showed Moshe the work of the Menorah. Third, He showed him the creeping things that are ritually impure. Also, He showed him the moon, so that Moshe would know when the new month was to be sanctified. In each case the word “zeh,” this, was used to indicate a special emphasis…

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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

ואת אלה תשקצו מן העוף לא יאכלו... ואת החסידה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

“These shall you abominate from among the birds, they may not be eaten…the chasidah.” (11:13,19)

What a beautiful name – chasidah! Rashi says that the chasidah truly was a bird that performed chesed, kindness – with members of its own specie. This is not an admirable trait. We Jews do not believe in selective, discriminatory, chesed. Rashi’s use of the word chavrosehah, its “friends”, seems to lend itself to a deeper thought. The term chaver/chibur means connection. When two people are connected with each other, they are considered chaveirim. The connection is of an equal and positive nature. There is something in common between the two. A reyah is a stronger form of friendship. In any…

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Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5762

Moshe said to Aharon: “Come near to the Mizbayach…and provide atonement for yourself and for the people.” (9:7)

Aharon HaKohen was selected to represent Klal Yisrael to provide atonement for himself and the people. Why was Aharon chosen to represent Klal Yisrael? What unique quality did he manifest that made him worthy of being Kohen Gadol? The Targum Yonasan cited by Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, in his sefer, Aleinu Le’Shabeiach, on Parashas Ki Sisa writes that Moshe Rabbeinu, in his hesped, eulogy, for Aharon HaKohen cried out, “Woe is me for you, Aharon, my brother, were the pillar of prayer of Klal Yisrael.” The Netziv, z.l., questions Moshe’s description of Aharon as Klal Yisrael’s “pillar of prayer.” Was not…

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Home -> 5762 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5762

“If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering.” (7:12)

Parashas Vayikra addresses all of the basic information regarding the korbanos. Parashas Tzav elaborates on the korbanos and the various  halachos  which  concern  the  Kohanim  in  executing  the avodas ha’korbanos, service of the sacrifices. It is interesting to note that only one korban – the Korban Todah, Thanksgiving offering, is totally omitted from Parashas Vayikra and mentioned for the first time in Parashas Tzav. Why is it mentioned for the first time in Parashas Tzav, which is addressed to the Kohanim? Horav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., distinguishes between two levels of gratitude. He cites the Talmud in Berachos 7b which states…

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