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Home -> 5759 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Emor, 5759

The Kohen who is exalted above his brethren – upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured. (21:10)

The Kohen Gadol “stands” above the other Kohanim as a result  of certain qualities with which he has been vested.  Chazal enumerate five areas in which he was “greater” than the others.  One of these was strength.  The Kohen Gadol was exceptionally strong.  This is indicated by Aharon Hakohen’s ability to consecrate twenty-two thousand Leviim – in one day.  This process involved physically raising each one  and moving them back and forth, up and down.  The magnitude of this task is evident when one realizes that this was all performed in the space of one day! Let us analyze this…

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Home -> 5759 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Emor, 5759

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them, Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person. (21:1)

The various commentators address the Torah’s redundancy in its enjoinment to the Kohanim regarding the laws of tumah, ritual contamination.  Rashi cites Chazal who say that the Torah is emphasizing the need for the gedolim, adults, to warn the ketanim, children.  In a homiletic rendering of the pasuk, the Chasam Sofer focuses upon what has regrettably become common practice: We take an interest only in the “gedolim,” while we ignore the “ketanim“.  For example,  when a member of the community passes away, we make an effort to provide everything for the “niftar ha’gadol,” the distinguished deceased. We prepare a “great”…

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Home -> 5759 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Emor, 5759

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them: Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person among his people. (21:1)

Why is it necessary to have two “amiros,” sayings?  Rashi cites Chazal in the Talmud Yevamos 114a who say that the Torah is emphasizing the need for “the gedolim to warn the ketanim.” The Kohanim, scholars and teachers of the people, were to convey this teaching to others who were not necessarily obligated by  this mitzvah.  The adult Kohanim were cautioned  to make sure that their children not become contaminated.  The Midrash says that the word gedolim is a reference to the “beings,” angels in Heaven Above, for whom one amirah, admonishment, suffices.  The tachtonim, human beings who walk the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

They will stumble over one another. (26:37)

They will become so demoralized and fearful of the enemy that they will flee without seeing where they are going, stumbling over one another.  Chazal add a new twist to the interpretation of this pasuk.  They will stumble over each other’s sins.  Since all Jews are inherently responsible one for another, one Jew will be held liable for the transgression perpetrated by his fellow Jew.  We are all components of a large unit called Klal Yisrael.  We cannot ignore one another’s shortcomings. A visitor once came to the Volozhiner Yeshiva and noticed Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, delivering a shiur.  As…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

And you behave toward me with casualness. I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness. (26:27, 28)

As Jews,  we believe in Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence.  This means that Hashem observes, is aware of and controls everything  that occurs during our lives.  Everything is totally inclusive to the point that Chazal teach us that “one does not stub his finger in this world unless it has been predecreed from Above.”  To paraphrase Horav Baruch Sorotzkin, zl, there is no concept of coincidence in Jewish theology.  It is sinful for one to think or say “it just happened.”  Things do not “just happen.”  They are preordained by the Almighty.  This is the meaning of the pasuk.  If one…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

If you will not listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments. (26:14)

Rashi explains that “not listening” to Hashem refers  to an individual  who studies Torah without ameilus, toil. One who does not labor in Torah, but rather takes a complacent, back-seat attitude, will eventually refrain from performing Hashem’s mitzvos.   Rashi adds that this is just the first step in a seven step chain-reaction of sin, in which  one regresses from a lack of intensity in Torah study to the point that he denies the very existence of Hashem.  This is a remarkable statement.  To think that a lack of intensity, a weakening of one’s resolve to toil in Torah study, leads …

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

If you will follow my decrees. (26:3)

Chazal tell us that to “follow/walk” in Hashem’s decrees is to engage in intensive Torah study, to toil and labor in Torah.  Horav Gedalyah Shorr, zl, explains this in the following manner: The distinction  between a man and an angel is found in the fact that the malach, angel, is an omeid, stands still, while man is a mehaleich, moves/walks.  The Torah reveals to us that man “moves” through ameilus, by toiling in Torah.  He goes higher and higher, from strength to strength by toiling in Torah. Horav Shorr cites the Rogatshover Gaon, zl, who adds that this “halichah,” form…

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Home -> Behar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Behar

For unto Me are the Bnei Yisrael servants, they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. (26:55)

At the conclusion of the laws dealing with personal freedom, the Torah states the reason that our freedom is not for sale: We were redeemed from Egypt by Hashem.  We belong to Him – a fact that takes precedence over and precludes our belonging to anyone else.  Every fiber of our being, every fraction of our strength and powers, belongs  to the Almighty.  The principle of a Jew’s unalienable freedom is nurtured by Jewish law, to the point that not even the normal contract of a daily worker is considered binding. It can be revoked by the po’el, worker, at…

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Home -> Behar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Behar

And in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath to be celebrated by the cessation of work for the land a sabbath unto G-d… and you shall sanctify the fiftieth year… a Yovel it is for you. (25:4,10)

Shabbos and Shemitah have a common denominator – they are both spiritual entities.  Shabbos implies the unbreakable bond that thrives between Hashem and Klal Yisrael. This bond is manifest in a cessation from one’s secular affairs, as an opportunity and mandate to devote his time to Torah study and spiritual reflection. The Torah emphasizes that the seventh year is a period of time, an  entire year, which  one is to dedicate as a  “Shabbos l’Hashem.” The individual is to infuse himself with  spirituality during his refrain from agricultural labor.  Yovel, which derives its name from the blowing of the shofar…

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Home -> 5759 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Kedoshim, 5759

You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall reprove your fellow. (19:17)

The mitzvah of tochachah, administering rebuke to a fellow Jew who is erring, has two criteria that should be met.  Indeed, if these two conditions are not met, it is better that one does not rebuke.  First and foremost is l’shem Shomayim: He must be acting for the sake of Heaven.  He has no ulterior motives; he does not hate the sinner; he simply cannot tolerate to see Hashem’s Torah denigrated: He cares for his fellow-Jew who probably does not realize the seriousness of his actions.  He speaks from the heart, out of love and caring.  His words will thus…

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