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Home -> 5782 -> Eikev

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5782

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

Chazal (Berachos 32B) derive from this pasuk (in which Hashem asks us to fear Him) that everything is in the hands of Heaven except the fear of Heaven.  Everything in a person’s nature and circumstance in life — such as his height, complexion, financial success and his intelligence — are in Hashem’s hands.  Whether or not one is G-d-fearing (and, by extension, all aspects of spiritual growth), however, is man’s decision.  It is not forced upon him.  Fear of Hashem is part of man’s free-will.  The Talmud asks: Is fear of Heaven a small thing?  They respond that, yes, for…

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Home -> 5782 -> Eikev

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5782

And you shall teach them to your children (so that they will) discuss them. (11:19)

The above pasuk, which is included in the second parsha (paragraph) of Shema, appears to reiterate what was stated earlier (first paragraph): V’sheenantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam, “And you shall instruct your children about them and you shall discuss them” (Devarim 6:7).  On the surface, the second pasuk does not seem to contain any supplement.  Ramban explains that in the first pasuk (V’sheenantam l’vanecha), the focus is on v’dibarta; you shall speak.  Your speech at home, in the presence of family, should be in Torah.  In the second pasuk, the emphasis is on l’dabeir bam, they, the children shall speak to…

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Home -> 5782 -> Eikev

למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה אשר נשבע ד' לאבתיכם לתת להם

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5782

In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Hashem has sworn to your ancestors to give to them. (11:21)

A fascinating dialogue in the Talmud (Berachos 8A) should inspire our attitude toward the Bais Haknesses, shul, that we frequent.  Rabbi Yochanan lived to an unusually advanced age.  Rabbi Yochanan heard that elderly Jews lived in Bavel.  This caused him to wonder, “It is written, ‘In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Hashem has sworn to your ancestors to give to them.’ (This means Eretz Yisrael.  In other words, the blessing of longevity is tied in with living in the Holy Land.)” Once they informed him, however, that the elders are…

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Home -> Devarim -> 5782

איכה אשא לבדי טרחכם ומשאכם וריבכם

Sruly Schnair
In 5782, Devarim

How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens, and your quarrels? (1:12)

Moshe Rabbeinu laments the nation’s behavior.  In describing his leadership, he uses the word, essa, carry. This teaches that a leader leads by carrying his flock on his shoulders.  They are not a separate entity removed from him, following him wherever he leads them.  The leader carries them upon his shoulders.  They go where he goes, because he is taking them.  Sometimes, the “weight” becomes too heavy.  Carrying one on his shoulder is a metaphor for accepting responsibility.  A leader does not dole out the blame for something gone wrong on others.  The leader steps up to the plate and…

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Home -> Devarim -> 5782

איכה אשא לבדי טרחכם ומשאכם וריבכם

Sruly Schnair
In 5782, Devarim

How can I carry alone your contentiousness, your burdens, and your quarrels? (1:12)

Rashi derives from the word masaachem, your burdens, that the people were apikorsim, heretics.  They were skeptics who did not believe in their leaders.  Thus, they questioned the motives of everything that Moshe Rabbeinu did.  If he left his home early, they asserted that there was trouble at home.  If he left late, they claimed that he was busy seeking ways to take advantage or hurt them.  They were bogged down with suspicion.  Nothing was good enough for them.  They had jaundiced misgivings and perspective about everyone who helped them.  This is a masa, burden.  Apparently, Rashi feels that an…

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Home -> Devarim -> 5782

הבו לכם אנשים חכמים ונבונים וידעים לשבטיכם ואשימם בראשיכם

Sruly Schnair
In 5782, Devarim

Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding and well-known to your tribes, and I shall appoint them as your heads. (1:13)

Rashi notes that the word v’asimeim; and I shall appoint, is spelled missing a yud; thus, it reads v’ashmam, their guilt.  This teaches that the moral and ethical failings of the people are the fault of their judges, who should have reproved them when they sinned.  If the “class” is unruly due to a lack of discipline, the first address for blame is the teacher.  First and foremost, a leader must realize that he is not a private person.  He is held responsible not only for his sins, but also for the sins of the people that he leads.  While…

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Home -> 5782 -> Va'eschanan

ואתחנן אל ד'

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5782

I implored Hashem. (3:23)

Moshe Rabbeinu prayed – and prayed.  He pleaded with Hashem five hundred and fifteen times to grant him access to enter Eretz Yisrael.  It is not that Hashem did not listen.  Hashem hears every prayer.  Every tefillah pierces the Heavens. The answer is not always “Yes.”  When we receive “No,” as an answer we think that Hashem did not hear the tefillah.  He heard it, but His response is not what we want to hear.  Hashem stores up the tefillos that, for one reason or another, carry a “no” response, and He transforms them into a “yes” for someone else. …

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Home -> 5782 -> Va'eschanan

ועתה ישראל שמע אל החקים ואל המשפטים אשר אנכי מלמד אתכם

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5782

Now, O’ Yisrael, listen to the decrees and to the ordinances that I teach you. (4:1)

Chukim are mitzvos which defy human rationale.  Mishpatim are mitzvos whose reason, although not stated, are common-sensical and relatable.  The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh offers a novel interpretation of Moshe Rabbeinu’s appeal to the Jewish People.  When Moshe mentioned chukim and mishpatim, he was not referring to any one mitzvah of the 613 commandments; rather, he was referring to two events which, on the surface, are unrelated to one another, although he demonstrates that they are actually very much connected. One event was Moshe’s decision to strike — rather than speak to — the rock.  Moshe intended to carry out Hashem’s…

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Home -> 5782 -> Va'eschanan

וידעת היום והשבות אל לבבך כי ד' הוא האלקים ... אין עוד

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5782

You shall know this day and take to your heart that Hashem He is our G-d … there is none other. (4:39)

We know (and understand) so many things intellectually, but do not take them to heart to the point that they guide and control our demeanor.  The above pasuk exhorts us to believe in Hashem, to have emunah, faith, in the Almighty.  Faith means trust. Trust means that one does not question, which, by its very nature, implies his lack of trust.  The pasuk implies that our faith in Hashem must be such that we know that He is our G-d.  This does not seem consistent with the term emunah, belief/faith, which is a prelude to knowledge.  One who knows does…

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Home -> 5782 -> Va'eschanan

שמע ישראל ד' אלקינו ד' אחד

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5782

Hear O’ Yisrael, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is One. (6:4)

When the Romans led Rabbi Akiva to his execution (for teaching Torah), it was his time to recite Krias Shema.  They subjected him to inhumane torture by scraping off his skin with metal combs.  Meanwhile, he was engaged in Kabbolas Ol Malchus Shomayim, accepting upon himself the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom.  His students watched in horror as their revered, saintly Rebbe calmly focused on the spiritual sphere, while ignoring his physical pain.  His students asked, “Must one go so far?”  (Is it necessary to suffer so much in showing one’s devotion to Hashem? How far should mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice…

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