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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5784

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה... ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, V'zos HaBrachah

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה… ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה. ויהושע בן נון מלא רוח חכמה כי סמך משה ידיו עליו

When a Torah giant is niftar, passes away, it leaves a void which cannot be filled. The next tzaddik, righteous person, will establish his own position, approach and following. He will not replace his predecessor. Each Torah giant is on his own individual spiritual plane and has his own unique impact on his followers. Moshe Rabbeinu took leave of his beloved nation. The void that the Bnei Yisrael felt was immediately filled by Yehoshua, Hashem’s hand-picked successor to Moshe. While Yehoshua was a capable leader who navigated the nation throughout their war with the seven nations and the apportioning of…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5784

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

The “strong hand” refers to Moshe’s receiving the Luchos, Two Tablets, which were of extraordinary weight. “Before the eyes of all Yisrael” alludes to our quintessential leader’s decision to shatter the Luchos before the eyes of the nation – an action which Hashem ratified. Moshe demonstrated his exceptional leadership ability when he shattered the Luchos. Since it is certainly difficult to destroy everything that one works for, it takes a strong leader to make such a consequential decision that will impact the entire nation for all time. For now, the issue is not why/what motivated him to shatter the Luchos,…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמרי פי

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Ha'azinu

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. (32:1)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 4:B) teach that one should be meticulous in his Torah study because shigigas Talmud oleh zadon, a careless misinterpretation is considered tantamount to willful transgression. However, one who is sincere in his study but errs, is making a sincere mistake. In his commentary to Berachos 29b, the Yismach Moshe offers a homiletic rendering of Chazal which goes to the core of the consequences that result from failed leadership. A talmid chacham, Torah scholar, must be meticulous in his behavior, his every action must be the product of forethought and introspection. Indeed, he must guard himself much more…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

כי שם ד' אקרא הבו גדל לאלקינו

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Ha'azinu

When I call out the Name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d. (32:3)

The mention of Hashem’s Name should evoke feelings of awe, as well as pride. The mere fact that we merit the He count us as His children, representing Him in the world as His nation, should generate joy and excitement. His Name should resonate throughout our very being, to the point that we want to shout out His Name and declare our allegiance to Him. We must give honor to His Name and all that it represents. The Torah, which is Hashem’s blueprint for our lives, must be an integral part of our life’s endeavor. When we study Torah, the…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

הצור תמים פעלו

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Ha'azinu

The deeds of the Rock are perfect. (32:4)

We are unable to fathom Hashem’s ways. It is impossible to come to grips with sadness and tragedy unless one has perfect faith that incorporates all of Hashem’s actions under the rubric of one harmonious whole. All actions are good – even if the “good” eludes us. All come from Hashem Who is the essence of good. He is perfect. We, however, as mortals, are imperfect; thus we are unable to grasp Hashem’s perfection. We can only believe with consummate faith in everything that he does. Chazal (Koheles Rabbah 20:15) teach that the word tzur, rock, a term which connotes…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Ha'azinu

Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. (32:7)

Moshe Rabbeinu pleads with the Jewish nation to wake up from its self-imposed slumber and ponder the lessons to be gleaned from the past. A refusal to delve into the occurrences of the past and what preceded various adversities, a lack of perspective, has become the basis of much human error. We are blessed with gedolei Torah, Torah sages, whose perspective on the past is honed by a wisdom borne of penetrating analysis of Torah and the wisdom and Divine Assistance that results from such immersion in it. Furthermore, as has been noted by many, we have no Hebrew word…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5783

כי דור תהפוכות המה בנים לא אמון בם

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Ha'azinu

For they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them. (32:20)

Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, zl, adds a practical, sadly common, insight concerning the dor tahapuchos, generation of reversals, when everything is topsy turvy. Veritably, the way of the world should be that a father teaches/sees to his son’s Torah-learning development and focuses on his spiritual growth. Conversely, the son is responsible for the support of his father. As a parent ages, daily work becomes a greater challenge. It is up to the son to arrange for his father’s sustenance and wellbeing. Today, however, it is the other way around. Fathers no longer involve themselves or care about the son’s Jewish…

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Home -> 5783 -> Nitzavim

אתם נצבים היום כלכם

Sruly Schnair
In Nitzavim, 5783

You are standing today, all of you. (29:9)

Rashi (quoting from the Midrash) explains the juxtaposition of Atem nitzavim, “You are standing” upon the previous parshah, Ki Savo, which detailed ninety-eight kelalos, imprecations, that would impact the nation if they do not listen to Hashem’s word. When Klal Yisrael heard the curses that would befall them for stepping out of line, they said, “Who can bear these?” Moshe Rabbeinu consoled them; “You are (still) standing today. Although you have catalyzed Hashem’s intense anger, He has not totally destroyed you, and you exist (standing) before Him today.” The Midrash begs elucidation. If the purpose of the kelalos was to…

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Home -> 5783 -> Nitzavim

לא בשמים היא... כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו

Sruly Schnair
In Nitzavim, 5783

It is not in Heaven… rather, the matter is very near to you – in your mouth and your heart – to perform it. (30:12,14)

The Tanna D’vei Eliyahu Zuta (14:1) relates the following vignette. “Once I (Eliyahu HaNavi) was traveling from place to place when I chanced upon an unlearned Jew. He knew neither Chumash nor Mishnah. He spoke cynically and disparagingly. I asked him, ‘My son, what will you respond to your Father in Heaven on the Day of Judgment?’ He replied, ‘Rebbe, I have an answer for my lack of Torah knowledge. Heaven did not endow me with the knowledge and ability to understand Torah.’ I then asked him, ‘Who taught you how to fashion and tie the nets made from flax…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5783

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Vayeilech

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

Hashem commands each and every Jew to write his own Sefer Torah. One would think that being born and raised in a frum, observant, Torah-guided home would be sufficient. Why is it necessary to write/commission the writing of a personal Sefer Torah? The Melitzer Rebbe, Shlita, explains that, while it is certainly laudable for someone born into and raised in a Torah-oriented environment to continue along the lines of his upbringing by perpetrating and adhering to the lessons and guidelines of the education he received, it is not the same as taking one’s own initiative and forging a path of…

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