Moshe Marcovich

It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

The Sfas Emes cites Horav Bunim M’Pechischa, who states that the actual idea that one says or even thinks that “Ein Elokai b’kirbi,” “My G-d is not in my midst,” constitutes a grave sin which may be the source of his troubles. How does one have “yiush,” how does one despair? Every Jew is enjoined to believe whole-heartedly that Hashem is with him at all times, through all circumstances, under all conditions. Hashem does not, and will not ever, forsake us. We need to be able to say the same regarding our relationship with Him. The Kotzker Rov was once…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

The word “hin’cha” – “behold you will“, is a compound expression composed of the word “hein,” “behold”, and the suffix denoting “you.” The Midrash tells us that Moshe was unhappy when Hashem introduced his imminent death using the phrase “Hein karvu yamecha lamus, ” “Behold, your days are drawing near.” He asked Hashem how He could have decreed his death with the same word that he had used to glorify the Almighty, declaring, “Hein l’Hashem Elokecha Hashamayim u’Shmei ha’Shamayim,” “Behold to Hashem your G-d are the Heavens and the highest Heaven” (Devarim,10:14). Hashem responded with the word, “hin’cha” stating that…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758, Vayeilech

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

Considering Moshe Rabbeinu’s advanced age, one would expect that his inability to execute the demands of his office physically would impede him from fulfilling his leadership role. But Moshe, however, asserted that “Hashem has said to me, You shall not cross this Yarden.” According to human nature, one undertakes to perform an endeavor, and “afterwards” he waits to see if Hashem is pleased with his plans. This approach is confirmed by the actions of tzaddikim who are mishtadel, endeavor, to do they can, rather than to wait passively for Divine intervention to solve every problem. Yaakov Avinu indicated to his…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

Rachel sat upon Lavan’s idols, which she had stolen, in an attempt to hide them. Lavan did not ask her to rise when she explained to him that the way of women was upon her. The Zohar Ha’kadosh, however, reveals to us an entirely new explanation for Rachel’s actions. She sat upon the idols because of her utter contempt for them. The teraphim were like many of the other idols which also had the ability to serve as mediums for divining the future. Rachel stole the teraphim, so that Lavan could not use them to find out where Yaakov…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

In his commentary on this pasuk, Ibn Ezra makes a compelling statement. He interprets Leah’s “gratitude” as if she were saying, “I have had four sons. I, therefore, thank Hashem, for I want no more.” It is as if she were saying, “I have enough; Hashem has been very kind. I am now grateful for everything that He has given me.” Therefore she stopped giving birth. Horav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, infers from Ibn Ezra that Leah caused her own inability to bear additional children. She claimed that she had had enough. Thus, she stopped conceiving and giving birth. Whether…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

In his second interpretation of this pasuk, Rashi cites the Talmud in Chullin 91, which relates that Yaakov traveled to Charan to find a wife, according to his parents’ request. After a long journey, he reached Charan. When he arrived, he realized that he had passed by Har Ha’Moriah without having stopped to pray there. He was shocked at his oversight. How could he have passed the place where his father and grandfather used to say their tefillos and not take advantage of the opportunity to do the same? He immediately turned around and began the journey all the way…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward. (28:12)

Yaakov saw a ladder in his well-known dream. According to Chazal, the ladder was standing on a slant, the bottom resting in Be’er Sheva with the top parallel to Beis El. The middle of the ladder coincided with the site of the Bais Hamikdash. The Maharal wonders why the ladder stood slanted. The message of the angels ascending and descending would have been equally effective if the ladder had stood straight. While various reasons are suggested for the ladder’s specific position, the Maharal makes a compelling observation which presents a profound lesson. We view each subsequent rung on the ladder…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Pekudei

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony, which were reckoned at Moshe’s behest. (38:21)

Sforno cites various differences that distinguished the Mishkan from its two successors, the Batei Mikdash. He posits that these differences ensured the Mishkan’s eternal viability, providing that it would never fall into the hands of enemies and be destroyed. First, the Mishkan contained the two Luchos: Second, it was initiated through Moshe Rabbeinu; Third, the avodah, service, was carried out through Isamar Hakohen and the Leviim. Fourth, the fact that Betzalel was the architect and builder of the Mishkan helped to guarantee its everlasting nature. Indeed, all those who occupied themselves with the building of the Mishkan were men of…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayakhel

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work…the Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

If we read the text carefully, we note a redundancy. If “every man and woman” contributed towards the Mishkan, why is it necessary to reiterate that “Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering”? Are not the “men and women” included in “Bnei Yisrael”? Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, observes that many individuals who support Torah institutions and sustain those in need have themselves been educated in Torah institutions which stress the value of tzedakah. People contribute to those organizations with which they identify. When they see the importance of an institution or an endeavor, they support it. One who has been…

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It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward. (28:12)

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony, which were reckoned at Moshe’s behest. (38:21)

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work…the Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

YEARS

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