Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

כי יקום בקרבך נביא... ונתן אליך אות או מופת... ובא האות והמופת... לא תשמע אל דברי הנביא ההוא... כי מנסה ד' אלקיכם אתכם

If there should stand in your midst a prophet… and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder… and the sign or the wonder comes about… do not listen to the words of that prophet… for Hashem, your G-d, is testing you. (13:2,3,4)

The false prophet attempts to sway the nation away from Hashem, to seduce the people to worship idols, by offering “proof” that he is the “real thing” and that his message is Heaven sent. He produces a miracle, a wonder that is undeniable, that gets the people thinking: “Is it possible? Could he be for real?” Hashem instructs us not to listen to him, because he is part of a test to ascertain and confirm our nation’s true conviction. Do we truly believe in Hashem, or is it only a matter of convenience, something we do as long as there…

Home -> 5774 -> Re'eh

ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם... ברכה וקללה... את הברכה אשר תשמעו... והקללה אם לא תשמעו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5774

See, I present before you… a blessing and a curse. The blessing: that you listen… and the curse if you do not listen. (11:26,27,28)

Parashas Re’eh opens with an enjoinment to “see” both blessing and curse. “Seeing” here means intellectual perception, since blessing and curse are not entities which can be observed by corporeal eyes. It requires intelligence to comprehend, distinguish and acknowledge that, indeed, those who are Torah observant Jews are blessed, fulfilled, feel a sense of achievement and spiritual growth. It takes a fool to disregard and purposely overlook the vacuousness and almost daily crises that plagues those who have chosen a lifestyle that caters to the fulfillment of materialistic and physical needs and desires. One who pursues the pleasures of the…

Home -> 5774 -> Pinchas

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5774

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Obviously, it was “among them.” Pinchas did not go into a backroom to negotiate a settlement between the sinners. He acted decisively within sight of the entire nation. Horav Yehudah Tzedakah, zl, explains that the Torah places emphasis on the b’socham, among them, to teach us that Pinchas did not fear repercussion. His sincerity and love were apparent as he placed Hashem and His Glory above his personal life and welfare. He epitomizes the true kanai, zealot. Indeed, in his commentary to Bereishis 18:26, “If I find fifty righteous (persons) within (b’soch) the city,” Ibn Ezra writes, “Those who fear…

Home -> 5774 -> Pinchas

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5774

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Kanaus, for the most part, is a frightening word. It refers either to someone who is a great tzaddik, whose love for Hashem is so intense that it impels him to act in a manner which some individuals consider extreme; or an extremist, who is always on the lookout for a good fight. There is a fine line which separates the two. This is why it is frightening. Some think that kanaus is a rite of passage, a segway for achieving gadlus baTorah, distinction in the field of Torah. They feel that, unless they have taken down a few misguided…

Home -> 5774 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5774

Pinchas ben Elazar, ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

In a number of places in Rabbinic literature, Chazal teach that Pinchas and Eliyahu HaNavi were one and the same. This is quite possibly because both earned the title of kanai, zealot. Their courage and decisive action under extreme pressure turned the tide in the nation’s spiritual leadership. Thus, they glorified Hashem’s Name at a time when it was being dragged through the muck. Horav Yaakov Galinsky, zl, quotes the Brisker Rav, zl, who points out another area in which their commonality is apparent. Shortly before his death, Yannai Hamelech told his wife, “Do not be afraid of the Perushim…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5774

ויהי בחודש הראשון בשנה השנית באחד לחודש הוקם המשכן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Pekudei

And it was, in the first month of the second year, on the first of the month, the Mishkan was erected. (40:17)

Sefer Shemos is described by the Ramban as Sefer HaGeulah, the Book of Redemption. All that is contained therein is geulah-related. From the very beginning, when the Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians; to their liberation; followed by the splitting of the Red Sea; and the receiving of the Torah: all led up to the construction of the Mishkan for the purpose of Hashroas HaShechinah, establishing a resting place for the Divine Presence. Sefer Vayikra is where the avodah, ritual service, performed in the Mishkan is mentioned. Therein the various Korbanos, sacrificial offerings, are detailed. It is, therefore, surprising that…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5774

ויעש משה ככל אשר צוה ד' אותו כן עשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Pekudei

Moshe did according to everything that Hashem commanded him, so he did. (40:16)

The construction of the Mishkan was meticulously executed with perfect order as instructed by Hashem. There was no concept of approximate size. Everything was clearly delineated to Moshe Rabbeinu, and everything was followed precisely as ordered. The Alter, zl, m’Kelm, Horav Simchah Zissel Broide, quotes the Talmud Chullin 18a in which Chazal state, “If there would be a blemish/imperfection in the Mizbayach (even) like (that of) a hair breadth, it would abrogate the kedushah, sanctity, of the Mikdash.” As a result, none of the wondrous miracles that were manifest on a regular basis in the Bais Hamikdash would have occurred. …

Home -> Pekudei -> 5774

וירא משה את כל המלאכה והנה עשו אתה כאשר צוה ד' כן עשו ויברך אתם משה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Pekudei

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! They had done it as Hashem had commanded, so had they done, and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

The construction of the Mishkan was concluded: its various vessels and utensils were completed; the Bigdei Kodesh, Holy (Priestly) Vestments, were finished. They now brought it all before Moshe Rabbeinu to seek his blessing. Everything had been executed according to the precise instruction that he had given them. Moshe was impressed, and he gave them his blessing. He said, “Yehi ratzon, May it be the will of Hashem, that the Shechinah rest upon the work of your hands.” One might think that he has achieved success, but, without the blessing, Shechinah b’maasei yedeichem, “The Divine Presence resting on the work…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5774

וירא משה את כל המלאכה והנה עשו אתה כאשר צוה ד' כן עשו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Pekudei

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! They had accomplished it; as G-d had commanded, so they had done. (39:43)

The term eved Hashem, servant of Hashem, is one which is not to be taken lightly. Indeed, this is the appellation by which our quintessential leader and Rebbe of all Klal Yisrael is identified: Moshe, eved Hashem. What is the meaning of this unique term? In his commentary to the above pasuk, Horav S. R. Hirsch, zl, writes, “Moshe inspected all of the work that had been completed, and he observed that the work bore two distinct characteristics, two hallmarks which stood out above the various other attributes. First, Asu osah, “It was they who had done it.” Every aspect…

Home -> 5774 -> Noach

ויחל נח איש האדמה ויטע כרם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5774

Noach, the man of the earth, debased himself and planted a vineyard. (9:20)

The Midrash comments: Vayichal Noach, “He (Noach) was nischalleil, profaned. Why? Vayita kerem, ‘He planted a vine.’” He should have planted something else. Chazal are teaching us that, from the get-go, planting the vineyard was a disgraceful, baneful act. The fact that Noach later drank from the fruits of the vine and became inebriated is merely the consequence of his earlier chillul, profanation. Elsewhere, Chazal state; Vayichal Noach ish ha’adamah, “Since he (Noach) required the earth, he became profaned.” Originally, he was referred to as Noach ish tzaddik, “the righteous man.” Now that he planted a vineyard, he was transformed…

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כי יקום בקרבך נביא... ונתן אליך אות או מופת... ובא האות והמופת... לא תשמע אל דברי הנביא ההוא... כי מנסה ד' אלקיכם אתכם

If there should stand in your midst a prophet… and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder… and the sign or the wonder comes about… do not listen to the words of that prophet… for Hashem, your G-d, is testing you. (13:2,3,4)

ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם... ברכה וקללה... את הברכה אשר תשמעו... והקללה אם לא תשמעו

See, I present before you… a blessing and a curse. The blessing: that you listen… and the curse if you do not listen. (11:26,27,28)

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Pinchas ben Elazar, ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

ויהי בחודש הראשון בשנה השנית באחד לחודש הוקם המשכן

And it was, in the first month of the second year, on the first of the month, the Mishkan was erected. (40:17)

ויעש משה ככל אשר צוה ד' אותו כן עשה

Moshe did according to everything that Hashem commanded him, so he did. (40:16)

וירא משה את כל המלאכה והנה עשו אתה כאשר צוה ד' כן עשו ויברך אתם משה

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! They had done it as Hashem had commanded, so had they done, and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

וירא משה את כל המלאכה והנה עשו אתה כאשר צוה ד' כן עשו

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! They had accomplished it; as G-d had commanded, so they had done. (39:43)

ויחל נח איש האדמה ויטע כרם

Noach, the man of the earth, debased himself and planted a vineyard. (9:20)

YEARS

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