Challenge – Page 21 – Peninim on the Torah

You are children to Hashem…you shall not cut yourselves and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person. (14:1)

Being Hashem’s Chosen People, His treasure in this world, carries with it immense responsibilities. Being banim la’Makom, children to the Almighty, is not an attribute one can ignore. We are, therefore, adjured to exert constraint when we are confronted with the passing of a loved one. The pagans mutilated their bodies in an expression of grief. Such manifestations of the depraved behavior that reigned in antiquity are strictly forbidden. In the Talmud Sanhedrin, Chazal relate that when Rabbi Akiva came upon the coffin of Rabbi Eliezer, he beat his flesh until he broke the skin and began to bleed profusely. …

Home -> 5758 -> Pinchas

Moshe Marcovich In Pinchas, 5758

May Hashem… appoint a man over the assembly. Who shall go out before them and come in before them who shall take them out and who shall bring them in. (27:16,17)

The Jewish leader must possess the following two qualities: He must be strong, ready to lead his people into battle — not cowering in the rear lines. He must also take a stand on Jewish issues, even if his position is not a popular one. When he sees the people veering from daas Torah, the perspective of Torah for our lives, then he must protest vehemently. He must do everything within his power to prevent their deviation. He must go “lifneihem,” before them, he must lead – not be led. He must do what is right, even if the people…

Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich In Naso, 5758

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

The various commentators render their interpretations of the Birkas Kohanim, priestly blessing. Rashi cites the Sifri that views the blessing as a reference to material bounty. “May Hashem grant that you be triumphant over your enemies and that your crops and business ventures succeed. May your possessions increase, and may Hashem guard these possessions from thieves.” In short, the blessing of “Yevarechecha,” May (Hashem) bless you, refers to receiving abundance, while the blessing of “Veyishmerecha” is a prayer that we be able to retain our blessing. The Midrash Tanchuma supplements the blessing with an invocation that our increase in material…

Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich In Naso, 5758

He shall bring his offering to Hashem one unblemished sheep in its first year as an elevation offering, one unblemished ewe……..for a sin offering (6:14)

The Ramban explains why a nazir, who has taken it upon himself to live a limited period of time in sanctity and devotion, brings a sin-offering. One who has the ability to live appropriately should continue his abstinence from worldly pursuits and pleasure by lengthening his vow of nezirus. His decision to return to the world of the mundane, to physical pleasures and transitory aspirations, earns him the epithet of sinner. Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, questions Ramban’s statement. If one is considered a sinner for not extending his vow of nezirus, how much more so should one – who had…

Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich In Ki Seitzei, 5758

And On ben Peles. (16:1)

On Ben Peles almost joined Korach’s misguided group. His wife saved him. The word “On” is related to “onen“, a mourner. Chazal tell us that he was called On because he spent the rest of his life in aninus, mourning, over the error that nearly cost him his life. Interestingly, Korach’s sons also repented. Why were they not called On for their act of repentance? Was their remorse different from that of On? Horav Zeev Weinberger, Shlita, comments that while both On and Bnei Korach showed remorse, Bnei Korach acted upon their remorse. They resolved to change in the…

Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich In Ki Seitzei, 5758

Moshe stood at the gateway of the camp and said, ‘Whoever is for Hashem, join me!’ And all the Levi’im gathered around him. (32:26)

Moshe explained to the Jews that they would have to take a stand. They could not claim to be servants of Hashem while still professing allegiance to the Golden Calf. Moshe cried out, “Mi l’Hashem eilai!”, “Whoever is for Hashem, join me!” Shevet Levi came forward. They were the only ones who had the courage to take a stand, to make a total commitment to the Almighty. Chazal question the poor response to Moshe’s challenge. Who would not come forward to swear allegiance to Hashem? Chazal seek to redefine Moshe’s question. He asked, “Who was there that did not contribute…

Home -> 5758 -> Emor

Moshe Marcovich In Emor, 5758

For a crown, the oil of his G-d’s annointment is upon him, I am G-d. (21:12)

Bnei Yisrael would come to the Bais Hamikdash to see the Kohanim performing the avodah, service, accompanied by the Leviim, chanting their melodies and Psalms. Only one shevet, tribe, had access to the internal workings of the Bais Hamikdash. It must have troubled the average Jew that this unique group of people were selected over everyone to become Hashem’s legion, His faithful servants. They must have questioned this phenomenon. What is really the reason that only the Kohanim and Leviim could act as agents for the people to offer korbanos. What trait rendered them so special? Horav Y.A. Hirshovitz,…

Home -> 5758 -> Eikev

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

The Torah repeats the mitzvah of Ahavas Ha’Ger, loving the convert, no less than thirty-six times! One would assume that the Torah would reiterate mitzvos such as Shabbos, the prohibitions against idol worship and murder, emphasizing their obvious importance. Indeed, the Torah does not repeat these critical mitzvos. The Torah is very careful with its words; every word has its own specific message. Yet, the Torah has no qualms about reminding us numerous times of our obligation to the ger. Why? We can derive a profound lesson from this pasuk regarding human nature. Man’s natural instinct is to denigrate those…

Home -> 5758 -> Chukas

Moshe Marcovich In Chukas, 5758

Regarding this the poets would come to Cheshbon, let it be built and established as the city of Sichon. (21:27)

In the Talmud Bava Basra78b, Rabbi Yochanan understands this pasuk differently. He contends that the word “moshlim,” “rulers,” refers to those who rule over themselves/their yetzer hora, evil inclination, while “cheshbon” means “reckoning.” Those who govern their passion — who are not controlled by their yetzer hora — say, “Let us make a reckoning of the world: the loss that a mitzvah entails against its reward; the profit from a transgression against the loss it brings.” In order to progress spiritually, one must triumph over the formidable challenge presented by the yetzer hora. The key to success is making a…

Home -> 5758 -> Beshalach

Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

And because of their test of Hashem, saying: “Is Hashem among us or not?” Amalek came and battled Yisrael in Rephidim. (17:7,8)

Klal Yisrael challenged Hashem to the point that a place is named for their contentious behavior. The name implies for all time that Hashem is always with us. Further, the name suggests that we should use prayer for expressing our needs, not complaint and challenge. Rashi explains the juxtaposition of the place that Klal Yisrael questioned Hashem’s presence among them upon the location of the battle with Amalek. When they asked, “Is Hashem among us?”, Hashem sent Amalek as an indication that He was there watching every move, listening to every complaint, responding to every ingratitude. The Midrash analogizes this…

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You are children to Hashem…you shall not cut yourselves and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person. (14:1)

May Hashem… appoint a man over the assembly. Who shall go out before them and come in before them who shall take them out and who shall bring them in. (27:16,17)

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

He shall bring his offering to Hashem one unblemished sheep in its first year as an elevation offering, one unblemished ewe……..for a sin offering (6:14)

And On ben Peles. (16:1)

Moshe stood at the gateway of the camp and said, ‘Whoever is for Hashem, join me!’ And all the Levi’im gathered around him. (32:26)

For a crown, the oil of his G-d’s annointment is upon him, I am G-d. (21:12)

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

Regarding this the poets would come to Cheshbon, let it be built and established as the city of Sichon. (21:27)

And because of their test of Hashem, saying: “Is Hashem among us or not?” Amalek came and battled Yisrael in Rephidim. (17:7,8)

YEARS

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