Challenge – Page 38 – Peninim on the Torah

“Distance yourself from a false word.” (23:7)

It is impossible for any human being to stand up to challenge the truth. Truth is an absolute which no one can circumvent. Ultimately, a person never suffers when he tells the truth. Indeed, one who lies only delays the inevitable. A person cannot elude the truth. His lies come back to haunt him. Regrettably, this is the way of the world – lie whenever it suits you; bend the truth, if that is what it takes. Tanna D’bei Eliyahu cites the pasuk in Mishlei 19:3, “A man’s foolishness corrupts his way.” A person should be careful to act righteously and…

Home -> Shemos -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Shemos

Moshe said to Hashem, “…I am not a man of words…for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of speech.” (4:10)

Rashi teaches us that for seven days Hashem spoke to Moshe, attempting to convince him to go to Egypt and instruct Pharaoh to permit the Jews to leave his country. Seven days is a long time, especially when Hashem is talking. Moshe refused; he felt he was not worthy, because he had a speech impediment. How could he speak to Pharaoh if he had difficulty communicating orally? Moshe Rabbeinu used this excuse for seven days until Hashem finally became angry with him. Hashem said, “I will be with you, so you have nothing to worry about.” Yet, Moshe did not want…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayeishev

“And so it was, when Yosef came to his brothers they stripped Yosef of his tunic, the fine woolen tunic that was on him.” (37:23)

Was it really necessary to remove Yosef’s unique tunic? Was their hatred toward him that implacable? Horav Sholom Shwadron, z.l., explains that, indeed, it had nothing to do with animosity. On the contrary, everything which they did was to ensure a “fair trial” for Yosef. The eye can be deceiving. Since the genesis of their animus toward Yosef was the multicolored tunic that was a special gift from their father, it was only right that it not “stare” at them while they judged Yosef. Seeing it might arouse their anger and cause them to adjudicate an incorrect verdict. This exposition is…

Home -> 5762 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5762

“Hashem saw that Leah was unloved…but Rachel remained barren.” (29:31)

What relationship exists between the fact that Hashem saw that Leah was not loved and Rachel’s infertility? The Alter, z.l., m’Kelm explains that it was specifically Leah’s feeling of being hated that catalyzed Rachel’s barrenness. Leah did so much – she should not have had to feel that her entrance into the Patriarchal home was under question. Rachel should have done everything within her power to assuage her feelings of guilt. This is enigmatic. We are referring here to Rachel Imeinu who relinquished her right to marry Yaakov first, just so that her sister would not be humiliated. She suffered in…

Home -> 5762 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5762

“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

Rashi cites a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of b’dorosav, in his generation. Some are of the opinion that Noach was a tzaddik in a generation that was evil, immoral and hedonistic. If he could ascend to spiritual leadership in such an environment, then he could certainly succeed in a generation such as Avraham’s. Others contend that Noach seemed to be a tzaddik only because he was alive during a period of evil unparalleled in our history. Had he lived, however, in Avraham’s generation, his righteousness would not really have appeared as great. Some interpret Noach in a positive…

Home -> 5772 -> Acharei Mos

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5772

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash says that when Iyov heard about the tragic deaths of the two sons of Aharon HaKohen, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi v’yitar mimkomo; “Even for this, my heart trembles and it leaps from its place” (Iyov 37:1). Iyov had suffered as no other man. He believed that he did not deserve such extreme pain and misery to be visited upon him. He had led a virtuous and pious life, and he had done no wrong, certainly nothing of the caliber to warrant such serious punishment. He claimed that the physical/emotional pain of losing his children and his…

Home -> 5759 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5759

Fire emerged from Hashem and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense… The fire pans of those who sinned against theirs souls – make them into beaten plates, a cover for the Altar. (16:35, 17:3)

As part of Korach’s rebellion, the two hundred and fifty men who were part of Korach’s group were to offer incense in fire pans. They received their due punishment in that they were being consumed by a fire from Hashem. Their fire pans, instead of being discarded, were melted and shaped into a covering for the Mizbayach. Until now the Altar had been a hollow frame which was filled with dirt every time Klal Yisrael camped. Now, the outside surface was to be covered with a thin mass plating composed of the sinner’s fire pans. This is enigmatic! Is it…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bamidbar

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

The Midrash discusses the remarkable level of sanctity achieved by Klal Yisrael as a result of their degalim, banners. Indeed, Chazal cite a dialogue between the gentile nations in which they attempt to dissuade Klal Yisrael from maintaining their allegiance to Hashem. Klal Yisrael’s response to the gentiles’ negativity was the beauty and sanctity of the degalim that evoked their pride in being Jewish. We must endeavor to understand what it is about the degalim that engendered such feelings of self – esteem and pride. Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, offers two responses to this question. He explains that Torah and…

Home -> 5759 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5759

From the top of rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him. (23:9)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, interprets this pasuk as a perspective on history. Just as distances draw together in a panoramic view from a height, so it is with time. From a comprehensive survey of world history over centuries taken from above, events seem close together. When one views these events from the closer perspective of the present, they seem farther from one another. To quote Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, “If one wishes to comprehend an event in history, one cannot look at it in the limited scope of the finite, here and now; rather, one must understand the event as…

Home -> 5759 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5759

Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall be that everyone that is bitten when he sees it, shall live. (21:8)

The narrative stimulates a number of questions: Why did Moshe Rabbeinu fashion the serpent of copper? Why not of another substance, such as clay or wood? Is there a relationship between the word nachash, serpent, and the word nechoshes, copper? Why was this serpent placed upon a pole? How is one who is bitten by a serpent cured simply by gazing at the serpent? Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, addresses these questions in his commentary on this parsha. The serpent is a symbol of the yetzer hora, evil inclination. The yetzer hora’s strength lies in its ability to be elusive, to…

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“Distance yourself from a false word.” (23:7)

Moshe said to Hashem, “…I am not a man of words…for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of speech.” (4:10)

“And so it was, when Yosef came to his brothers they stripped Yosef of his tunic, the fine woolen tunic that was on him.” (37:23)

“Hashem saw that Leah was unloved…but Rachel remained barren.” (29:31)

“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

Fire emerged from Hashem and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense… The fire pans of those who sinned against theirs souls – make them into beaten plates, a cover for the Altar. (16:35, 17:3)

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

From the top of rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him. (23:9)

Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall be that everyone that is bitten when he sees it, shall live. (21:8)

YEARS

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