Challenge – Page 22 – Peninim on the Torah

You shall observe My decrees and My laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

Chazal have derived from the words, “V’chai bahem“, “by which he shall live,” that the mitzvos were given for the sake of life, not death. Consequently, if the performance of a ritual becomes life threatening, such as during a life threatening situation on Shabbos, life certainly takes precedence. This is not considered to be a violation of the laws of Shabbos. The exceptions to this rule are the three cardinal sins: idolatry, murder or adultery — or chillul Hashem, in which violating a mitzvah would desecrate Hashem’s Name. We suggest another interpretation of “V’chai bahem“. Many people would give…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5777

נפש כי תחטא ומעל מעל ב''ה וכחש בעמיתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Vayikra

If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem by lying to his comrade. (5:21)

Stealing from a fellow Jew is certainly an act of evil, but is it treachery against Hashem? Does the thief take into consideration that “borrowing” from his friend with no intention of repaying the “loan” is not only theft, but also a perfidious act of betrayal against Hashem? There is no question that the thief is not a “good” person, his moral and ethical compass leaves much to be desired, but did he sin against the Almighty? It certainly was not his intention. The early commentators explain that one who swears falsely using Hashem’s Name in uttering the oath (claiming…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5777

ונפש כי תקריב קרבן מנחה לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Vayikra

When a person (soul) offers a meal-offering to Hashem. (2:1)

Of all those who offer voluntary sacrifices/ offerings, only one who brings a Korban Minchah, Meal offering, is referred to by the Torah as a nefesh, soul. This inexpensive korban was brought primarily by the poor, since they were financially challenged to bring an animal or fowl. Hashem says: “I will regard the korban of a poor man as if he had offered his very nefesh, soul.” The simple explanation of this statement is that a wealthy person who brings a korban takes from his “extra” money – not from the money he needs for his daily sustenance. A poor…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5777

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Pekudei

These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony. (38:21)

Rashi explains the redundancy of the word Mishkan as alluding to the Bais HaMikdash, which was taken as collateral in its two destructions for the sins of Yisrael. Mishkan HaEidus, the Mishkan of the Testimony, attests to the fact that Hashem forgave Klal Yisrael for sinning with the Golden Calf. Despite the people’s incursion, the Divine Presence still rests among Klal Yisrael. Two explanations for the Mishkan: it serves as collateral; it is a symbol of forgiveness. Obviously, this requires a bit more elucidation. Horav Yaakov Kaminetsky, zl, offers an analogy which sheds light on the Mishkan’s dual function. A…

Home -> 5777 -> Tzav

והרים את הדשן... ושמו אצל המזבח... והוצא את הדשן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5777

He shall raise the ashes and place it next to the Mizbayach… He shall remove the ashes. (6:3,4)

The avodah in the Mishkan/Bais Hamikdash followed a daily routine. It was a clearly defined, Divinely-ordained, unchanging pattern of service. It began with the Terumas HaDeshen, the removal of the sacrificial ash from the previous day’s offerings, followed by the placing of wood, so that the fire on the Mizbayach, Altar, continued to burn. The first sacrifice of the day, as well as the last sacrifice, was the Korban Tamid. Tamid means consistent, which is a perfect way to describe the Korban. It was a constant. When activities are carried out in a particular order, unchanging, repeated daily, it might…

Home -> 5777 -> Shelach

ויעלו בנגב ויבוא עד חברון

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5777

They ascended in the south and he arrived at Chevron. (13:22)

From the Torah’s use of the singular va’yavo, and he came, Chazal (Sotah 34b) derive that Calev alone left the group, so that he could visit the graves of the Patriarchs to pray that they intercede on his behalf. So great was the ability of the meraglim to influence that Calev feared being influenced by them. Yehoshua had no reason to leave, since Moshe Rabbeinu had already prayed for him before they had all left the camp. In his Iyun Yaakov commentary to the Talmud, Horav Yaakov Reisher, zl, asks why Calev prayed at the graves of the Patriarchs. Chazal…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5777

וירא העם כי בשש משה לרדת מן ההר ויקהל העם על אהרן ויאמרו אליו קום עשה לנו אלהים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Ki Sisa

The people saw that Moshe had delayed in descending the mountain, and the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods!” (32:1)

One error, one simple mistake was all that was needed to precipitate Klal Yisrael’s tragic rebellion, their egregious demonstration of infidelity– the construction of the Golden Calf. How did a people who had recently received the Torah under circumstances that were unreal become so faithless, almost overnight? It was all due to a mistake, an error in judgment. They thought that Moshe was to have been back, but they erred. Once they exhibited fear, Satan was certain that he had ensnared them. They were putty in his hands. He seized the opportunity and created an illusion of a deceased Moshe…

Home -> 5777 -> Chukas

ותמת שם מרים ותקבר שם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5777

Miriam died there and was buried there. (20:1)

Though widely separated chronologically, the passing of Miriam HaNeviah is juxtaposed upon the laws of the Parah Adumah, Red Cow. This teaches us that, just as the offerings effect atonement for the nation, so does the death of a tzaddik, righteous person. This is an important lesson which should have been taught in parshas ha’korbanos at the beginning of Sefer Vayikra. Why of all the forms of sacrificial atonement is the Parah Adumah singled out to be the standard bearer of atonement and the lesson most closely identified with the death of tzaddikim? The Panim Yafos (Horav Pinchas Horowitz, zl,…

Home -> 5777 -> Beha'alosecha

ויהי העם כמתאוננים רע באזני ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5777

The people were like those who seek pretexts of evil in the ears of Hashem. (11:1)

Our parsha begins with the Menorah, relates the laws of Pesach Sheini and then, in what appears to be a sad turn of events, records a series of puzzling complaints originally initiated by the eirev rav, mixed multitude, with an added participatory voice from the people. It is not as if the complaints had any positive substance – or any substance at all. For the most part, they complained for the purpose of complaining, something atypical of a happy people who had recently been liberated from crushing servitude. They craved meat – and cried. They claimed they missed the free…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5777

הקרב את מטה לוי והעמדת אתו לפני אהרן הכהן ושרתו אתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Bamidbar

Bring near the tribe of Levi and have it stand before Aharon HaKohen, and they shall serve him. (3:6)

Shevet Levi was consecrated to a life of service, avodas ha’kodesh, holy service, both in the Sanctuary and as Torah teachers. The Levi set the standard for Jews to acknowledge and put to action: one does not live solely for himself. We are here to live a life of service – to Hashem and to the Jewish community. Concerning this pasuk (Hakreiv es mateh Levi), the Midrash quotes the pasuk in Sefer Tehillim (92:13): Tzaddik katamar yifrach k’erez ba’levanon yisgeh, “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall.” The…

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You shall observe My decrees and My laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

נפש כי תחטא ומעל מעל ב''ה וכחש בעמיתו

If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem by lying to his comrade. (5:21)

ונפש כי תקריב קרבן מנחה לד'

When a person (soul) offers a meal-offering to Hashem. (2:1)

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony. (38:21)

והרים את הדשן... ושמו אצל המזבח... והוצא את הדשן

He shall raise the ashes and place it next to the Mizbayach… He shall remove the ashes. (6:3,4)

ויעלו בנגב ויבוא עד חברון

They ascended in the south and he arrived at Chevron. (13:22)

וירא העם כי בשש משה לרדת מן ההר ויקהל העם על אהרן ויאמרו אליו קום עשה לנו אלהים

The people saw that Moshe had delayed in descending the mountain, and the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods!” (32:1)

ותמת שם מרים ותקבר שם

Miriam died there and was buried there. (20:1)

ויהי העם כמתאוננים רע באזני ד'

The people were like those who seek pretexts of evil in the ears of Hashem. (11:1)

הקרב את מטה לוי והעמדת אתו לפני אהרן הכהן ושרתו אתו

Bring near the tribe of Levi and have it stand before Aharon HaKohen, and they shall serve him. (3:6)

YEARS

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