Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

חלילה לך מעשות כדבר הזה להמית צדיק עם רשע והיה כצדיק כרשע חלילה לך השופט כל הארץ לא יעשה משפט

It would be a sacrilege to You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the righteous along with the wicked; so the righteous will be like the wicked. It would be a sacrilege to You! Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?” (18:25)

Certainly, everyone at one point or another has wondered about the continued good fortune of the hypocrite, a person who is a self-professed tzaddik, publicly acting like a righteous, virtuous Jew, while covertly carrying out activities that are ethically and morally depraved. He is living a life of sham and piety. His only concern is about putting on a good show so that he can fool people. In the privacy of his mind and behind closed doors, he is a different person. He has no problem cheating others – regardless of their financial standing or positions in the community –…

Home -> 5755 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5755

“And the man took a golden ring of half a shekel (its) weight and two bracelets for her hands, of ten (shekels) of gold was their weight.” (24:22)

In the Midrash, Chazal suggest that this “jewelry” symbolizes a deeper spiritual entity. The golden ring of a half shekel alludes to the machatzis ha’shekel, the half shekel which each Jew gave for the Mishkan ; the two bracelets represent the two luchos which were joined together; and the ten-shekel weight denotes the Aseres Ha’Dibros which were engraved on the luchos. We must endeavor to understand the underlying message of these pieces of jewelry. Horav Mordechai Rogov z.l., implies that the lessons to be gleaned from the machatzis ha’shekel and the luchos with the Aseres Ha’Dibros underscore the foundations for…

Home -> 5774 -> Vayeira

ותצחק שרה בקרבה לאמר אחרי בלותי היתה לי עדנה ואדני זקן.

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5774

And Sarah laughed at herself, saying, “After I have withered shall I again have delicate skin? And my husband is old!” (18:12)

Is it possible that Sarah Imeinu questioned Hashem’s ability to produce a miracle? Certainly not! She simply did not believe that this was a Divine message. It was the courteous wish of a guest who was just being nice. Sarah had long passed her childbearing age. It would take nothing less than a miracle for her to give birth to a child. Had she known the true identity of these travelers, she would not have been so quick to laugh. Horav Mordechai Eliyahu, zl, has a different approach to the entire parsha, which I feel portrays Sarah in a positive…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5755

“And Avraham (was) old, advanced in age, and Hashem blessed Avraham in all things.” (24:1)

Surely the Torah is not apprising us of Avraham’s success in amassing material wealth. The Torah intends to teach us the true meaning of wealth. Success is not measured by quantity, but rather by quality. Everything Avraham Avinu possessed was worthy of blessing. To possess a fortune means nothing if that fortune is not blessed. Everything that Avraham had was a source of blessing to him. Why? Horav Moshe Swift z.l. suggests that the answer lies in the fact that Avraham controlled his possessions, rather than the possessions dominating him. He had business dealings with various people; he was even…

Home -> 5755 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5755

“And the life of Sarah… (these were) the years of the life of Sarah.” (23:1)

Every word of the Torah is replete with profound messages. The pasuk in Tehillim 37:18, “Hashem knows the days of the innocent and their inheritance shall be forever” is interpreted by the Talmud in Bava Basra 58a as referring to the lives of the righteous. Just as the righteous are perfect, so are their days perfectly complete. Sarah Imeinu’s life was the essence of perfection. How can we define a perfectly complete life? Horav Boruch Sorotzkin z.l., explains that before a person is born, his life-span has been pre-determined. A halachic rule governs the determination. One half day is viewed…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“And you did not withhold your son, your only one (son).” (22:16)

Avraham is commended for his devotion to Hashem in standing ready to perform every request made of him. He was even prepared to sacrifice his “only son,” Yitzchak, to conform to the will of Hashem. It seems strange that he is praised for not acceding to his parental emotions, rather than for his positive affirmation of Hashem’s will. Imagine giving someone a bag of precious diamonds. One would assume that the recipient would thank the benefactor for giving the gift, rather than for not withholding it. Why is Avraham not lauded for his positive orientation? Horav Mordechai Pogremonski z.l., explains…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“And Hashem opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” (21:19)

The Midrash derives from this pasuk that everyone is “blind” until Hashem ultimately “opens their eyes.” This means that Hashem did not suddenly create a new well or transfer it from another place. It was present the entire time that Hagar was there, but she was not “permitted” to see it until Hashem “opened her eyes.” The Sfas Emes cites his grandfather, the Chidushei Ha’Rim, who asserts that everyone’s truly essential needs are provided for him. Indeed, the fulfillment of his needs is within the grasp of each individual, but he does not have the ability to recognize this reality…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“For she said, ‘Let me not see the death of the child’, and she sat at a distance, lifted her voice and wept…. ‘Fear not for Hashem has listened to the cry of the young boy because he is there.” (21:16,17)

The angel told Hagar not to worry, for Hashem had listened to the child. The Torah seems to imply that Hashem listened only to Yishmael, not to Hagar. Why were her cries ignored? Is there a more sensitive cry than a mother’s anguished plea for the life of her child? Horav Dovid Feinstein, Shlita, responds that the answer lies in the text of the pasuk. Hashem answered Yishmael, “because he is there”. He was praying for himself, not for anyone else. This is consistent with the words of Chazal that Hashem listens to the prayers of someone who is sick…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had born unto Avraham making sport.” (21:9)

Rashi explains that the term “making sport” denotes idol-worship. The question which confronts us upon reading the narrative is: Why was Sarah so inflexible regarding Yishmael’s iniquity? She noticed Yishmael “making sport,” i.e. worshipping idols and she immediately proceeded to request that Avraham drive him from their home. This attitude does not seem to be typical of Sarah Imeinu, who was noted for her proselytizing efforts on behalf of the One G-d. She worked side by side with her husband, Avraham, to inspire a world of non-believers to believe in the Almighty. Her compassion, understanding, and patience were exemplary in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“Let a little water now be taken and wash your feet.” (18:4)

The pasuk implies that Avraham sent an agent (Yishmael) to bring the water. Rashi states that Avraham should have personally attended to the guests. As a result of his personal non-involvement, when Hashem responded to Avraham’s descendants, He also sent an agent (Moshe) to give water to them. Why is this? The act of chesed, kindness, was performed, albeit through an agent. Why then should there be negative repercussions? The Chofetz Chaim offers two insights. First, it is always more propitious to personally attend to the mitzvah, rather than to delegate it to an intermediary. Second, it is a greater…

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חלילה לך מעשות כדבר הזה להמית צדיק עם רשע והיה כצדיק כרשע חלילה לך השופט כל הארץ לא יעשה משפט

It would be a sacrilege to You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the righteous along with the wicked; so the righteous will be like the wicked. It would be a sacrilege to You! Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?” (18:25)

“And the man took a golden ring of half a shekel (its) weight and two bracelets for her hands, of ten (shekels) of gold was their weight.” (24:22)

ותצחק שרה בקרבה לאמר אחרי בלותי היתה לי עדנה ואדני זקן.

And Sarah laughed at herself, saying, “After I have withered shall I again have delicate skin? And my husband is old!” (18:12)

“And Avraham (was) old, advanced in age, and Hashem blessed Avraham in all things.” (24:1)

“And the life of Sarah… (these were) the years of the life of Sarah.” (23:1)

“And you did not withhold your son, your only one (son).” (22:16)

“And Hashem opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” (21:19)

“For she said, ‘Let me not see the death of the child’, and she sat at a distance, lifted her voice and wept…. ‘Fear not for Hashem has listened to the cry of the young boy because he is there.” (21:16,17)

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had born unto Avraham making sport.” (21:9)

“Let a little water now be taken and wash your feet.” (18:4)

YEARS

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