Challenge – Page 18 – Peninim on the Torah

וכל יצר מחשבת לבו רק רע כל היום

“And that every product of the thoughts of his heart was but evil always.” (6:5)

We have no idea of the hold the yetzer hara, evil-inclination, has on us, as the following story demonstrates: The Sanzer Rav, Horav Chaim Halberstam, z.l., once stood by his window and gazed at the people walking by. He saw a certain Jew and motioned for him to come inside. When the man entered, the Rav asked him, “What would you do if you discovered a wallet filled with money in the street, and you were aware of the identity of its owner?” The Jew responded, “I would immediately return it.” Hearing this response, the Rav rebuked the fellow and…

Home -> 5757 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5757, V'zos HaBrachah

And Hashem carried out the word of Moshe, and the frogs died–from the houses, from the courtyards, and from the fields. (8:9)

It did not take long for Pharaoh to beg Moshe to implore Hashem to put a halt to the swarms of frogs that were literally infesting his entire country. Moshe prayed to Hashem and the frogs all died. Chazal tell us that the frogs who had entered the ovens miraculously did not die, either in the oven or afterwards! We may question the remarkable reward received by the frogs. After all, if they were commanded by Hashem to enter the ovens, where else should they have gone? A similar question may be asked regarding Chazal’s statement in the Talmud Pesachim…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

The Zohar Ha’Kadosh interprets the “kaf yerech” as “tamchin do’oraisa,” referring to those who support Torah. The Chafetz Chaim explains that Eisav’s angel disputed Yaakov’s claim to the blessings, offering the argument that Eisav had as much right to the blessings as Yaakov did. Yaakov retorted that his descendants would one day receive the Torah to study. Although Eisav’s angel could not impugn this rationale, he nevertheless attempted to hurt Yaakov. He succeeded in weakening the financial support for Torah. In the “Ikvasa d’Meshicha,” the period of time close to the advent of Moshiach, Torah supporters will seek excuses to…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5757

“For I have loved him because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem.” (18:19)

This pasuk expresses the reason that Hashem “loved” Avraham, as well as suggesting the probable reason that Hashem chose Avraham to become the first Patriarch. Avraham did what a father is supposed to do. He taught his children, conveying to them the heritage as he received it — without adding his personal agenda. One’s real perspective on life is reflected in what he teaches his children. Avraham transmitted his monotheistic values, his belief in Hashem, exemplified by his unique chesed, kindness, to his children — all to be handed down throughout the generations. Avraham Avinu was also the first gadol,…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayakhel

“The princes brought the Shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the Choshen.” (35:27)

As soon as the nesiim heard that Hashem had commanded Moshe to build a Mishkan, they offered to supply all of the materials necessary for constructing this edifice. They believed that Hashem would rather repose in a Mishkan built of their donations than one constructed with the gifts of Klal Yisrael. First, they were not involved in the sin of the Golden Calf, as the other Jews were. Second, their motivation was pure and unblemished; they would contribute with a pure heart since they were outstanding in their wisdom and character. They believed that a Mishkan built with their contributions…

Home -> 5757 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5757

When a woman who conceives and gives birth to a male…on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (12:2,3)

The commentators, each in his own unique manner, offer various reasons that one is required to perform the bris milah on the eighth day. One of the fundamental reasons is to make sure that the child has lived through a Shabbos. The kedushah, sanctity, of the seventh day/Shabbos infuses a holiness into the child which prepares him for entrance into Klal Yisrael. Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, notes that while on the one hand we infer the remarkable kedushah of Shabbos, we also note that milah bizmanah, a circumcision performed at the designated time, the eighth day, overrides Shabbos. One may…

Home -> 5757 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5757

He was zealous for My sake in their midst…Because he was zealous for his G-d and made atonement for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11,13)

What is the significance of the fact that Pinchas performed his act of zealousness “in their midst”? Sforno comments that Pinchas avenged Hashem’s honor in the sight of all. Although they had originally seen Zimri’s despicable act, and they did not protest, they could find atonement for not protesting against Pinchas. What Sforno is saying is that the masses were guilty of apathy. They witnessed blatant acts of harlotry and idolatry, yet they failed to object or to intervene. Their atonement would now be attained by permitting Pinchas to publicly carry out his act of zealousness. Sforno teaches us that…

Home -> 5757 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

Chazal, at the end of Meseches Uktzin, say, “There is no greater container to hold Klal Yisrael’s blessings than peace.” One may have everything – health, prosperity, and fame – but without peace these gifts have no significance. Consequently, the blessings which the Kohanim are to impart upon Bnei Yisrael are sealed with the hope for peace. A community can catalyze peace in one of two ways. The first way is the positive approach, in which people work towards ironing out their differences, seeking ways to increase harmony and good will. Discord is viewed as taboo, so the slightest infraction…

Home -> 5757 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

A man or woman who shall do something wondrous by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

Why would someone choose to become a nazir? It may be the result of a harmful experience associated with drinking wine. Alternatively, it may be the product of a conviction that one should abstain from mundane pleasures. The individual feels that he is too involved with himself. Consequently, he goes to the extreme, taking a vow to abstain from his usual pleasures. The nazir must make sure that he does not defile his nezirus by coming in contact with a dead body. If this does happen, the nazir becomes tamei, ritually unclean. He must go through a purification process after…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“And he said to his brother, my money has been returned… and they turned trembling one to another, saying, ‘What is it that Hashem has done to us?'” (42:28)

If we were to analyze the brothers’ response to this occurrence, we might be tempted to say, “What did you expect?” They had sold their brother into slavery, and Hashem was delivering their retribution. Why are they complaining?” Indeed, in the Talmud Tannis 9a Chazal allude to this. They cite the pasuk in Mishlei 19:3 iuveles adam tesalef darko v’al hashem yezaef leebo.“The foolishness of man perverts his way; and his heart frets against Hashem.” A fool makes a mistake and then complains about the punishment he receives from the Almighty. Likewise, the brothers had sold Yosef and now they…

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וכל יצר מחשבת לבו רק רע כל היום

“And that every product of the thoughts of his heart was but evil always.” (6:5)

And Hashem carried out the word of Moshe, and the frogs died–from the houses, from the courtyards, and from the fields. (8:9)

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

“For I have loved him because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem.” (18:19)

“The princes brought the Shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the Choshen.” (35:27)

When a woman who conceives and gives birth to a male…on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (12:2,3)

He was zealous for My sake in their midst…Because he was zealous for his G-d and made atonement for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11,13)

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

A man or woman who shall do something wondrous by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

“And he said to his brother, my money has been returned… and they turned trembling one to another, saying, ‘What is it that Hashem has done to us?'” (42:28)

YEARS

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