Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of testimony. (38:21)

The Midrash relates that Hashem told Klal Yisrael, “When you made the eigel ha’zahav, Golden Calf, you angered Me by saying, ‘Eilah elohecha Yisrael,’ ‘This is your god, Yisrael.’ Now that you made the Mishkan using the words, ‘Eilah pikudei HaMishkan,’ ‘These are the reckonings of the Mishkan,’ I have reconciled with you.” We must endeavor to understand the significance of the word, “eilah,” particularly its role in the sin of the Golden Calf and its role in the reconciliation vis a vis the Mishkan. It seems that the primary sin of the eigal was the proclamation of, “This is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayakhel

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the choshen. (35:27)

The Nesiim were the princes, or leaders, of every tribe. Rashi cites the Midrash which notes the word Nesiim is spelled in Hebrew without the two “yudin” that it would normally have. This defective spelling was deliberate – as a punishment for their not bringing their contributions together with everyone else. They had waited to see what would be lacking, so that they would fill the deficit. To their surprise and chagrin, the national response was so overwhelming that there was almost nothing left for them to give. Chazal note a taint of laziness on their part which caused their…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayakhel

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

In recognizing the contributions towards the Mishkan of the dor ha’midbar, generation of the wilderness, the Torah uses the phrase nedivus ha’lev, donations of the heart. What is a donation of the heart? Ibn Ezra notes two variances in the Torah’s idiom regarding Klal Yisrael’s contribution. Hashem commanded them, “Kechu me’itchem,” “Take from yourselves.” To “take” is the opposite of to “give.” Placing the prefix “mem” (meitchem) before a word changes its meaning. Thus, “Kechu me’itchem” has the same meaning as “Tenu,” give. Why did the Torah express this idea in such an awkward manner? Second, what is the meaning…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5759

Pharaoh saw that there was a relief, and kept making his heart stubborn. He did not heed them. (8:11)

Every time Pharaoh was down and the plagues were getting to him, he ran to Moshe Rabbeinu and implored him to pray to Hashem. The instant he experienced relief, he forgot who Moshe was, he forgot that Hashem could just as well send another devastating plague. He did not care. He experienced relief at that moment. The Midrash claims that this is the way of the wicked. When it hurts, they cry. When circumstances change and life becomes tolerable, they forget about Hashem and immediately proceed to revert to their old ways. One of the gedolei ha’mussar after citing this…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5759

Aharon cast down his staff before Pharaoh…and it became a snake…and they too, the magicians of Egypt, did so with their incantations…and the staff of Aharon swallowed their staffs. (7:10, 11, 12)

Moshe came before Pharaoh and demanded that the Jews be released from slavery, so that they might serve Hashem. Pharaoh responded in the expected manner, questioning who is Hashem who is and what powers He has that would impress him. Moshe asked Aharon to throw his staff down before Pharaoh, and it was transformed into a snake. Pharaoh was not impressed. Indeed, he called out his magicians, who duplicated Aharon’s miracle. Egypt was the center of magic and necromancy. Such a feat was child’s play for the Egyptians. To prove this point, Pharaoh called out his wife, who transformed a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5759

I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt…and I shall redeem you. (6:6)

It was not enough that Hashem was prepared to take the Jews out of Egypt; it was also necessary for them to want to leave. Perhaps they had become complacent with their way of life, albeit miserable, but it was the only one they knew. Indeed, they might even have wanted to stay in Egypt. They might not have been able to accept a lifestyle so different from their accustomed one. The story is told about Horav Nochum M’Chernobel, who once spent a night at an inn owned by a Jewish couple. It was chatzos, midnight, when Rav Nachum arose…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5759

Hashem spoke to Moshe and said to him, “I am Hashem.” (6:2)

The opening pasuk of this week’s parsha serves as a response to Moshe Rabbeinu’s question/demand of Hashem which ended the previous parsha. Moshe asked Hashem why He intensified Klal Yisroel’s workload after his arrival in Egypt as Hashem’s emissary. It is as if his arrival had made things worse. Hashem said to Moshe, “I am Hashem,” which is interpreted to mean that Hashem has a cheshbon, reckoning, for everything that occurs. Pharaoh will receive his punishment in due time. Moshe’s arrival in Egypt had a specific purpose – even if Moshe did not understand the implications. In truth, the response…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5759

You shall make the planks of the Mishkan of shiitim wood. (26:15)

The Midrash Tanchuma tells us that these wooden planks were actually the result of Yaakov Avinu’s foresight. He anticipated that his descendants would one day erect a Mishkan. Aware that such lumber did not exist in the wilderness, he brought them with him to replant them in Egypt. He instructed his children that when they would be liberated from the Egyptian exile, they should take these trees along with them. Yaakov taught his children that the future edifices of Klal Yisrael must be built upon the foundations of the past. We must keep in mind the mesiras nefesh, devotion to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5759

They shall make an Ark of shittiim wood…You shall cover it with pure gold…and you shall make on it a gold crown all around. (25:10,11)

Three of the four primary Klei haMishkan, appertenances of the Mishkan, had crowns/ golden rims, decorating them: the Aron HaKodesh; Ark; the Shulchan, Table; and the Mizbayach, Altar. The Menorah, candelabra, did not. This fact corresponds with the words of Chazal in Pirke Avos, 4:13, “There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of Kehunah, priesthood, and the crown of malchus, kingship. The crown of shem tov, a good name, is greater than them all. ” The Aron HaKodesh, which contained within it the two Luchos upon which were inscribed the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments, corresponds with the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5759

And let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him. (25:2)

Parashas Terumah is preceded by Parashas Yisro and Mishpatim, both parshios that focus on the halachic aspects of our lives. Parashas Yisro details the Revelation at Har Sinai and the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments. Next is Parashas Mishpatim, containing many laws, most of which focus upon man’s relationship with his fellow man. Parashas Terumah follows with Hashem’s command that everyone is responsible to contribute towards the building of the Mishkan. A lesson can be derived from the sequence of the parshios. In order for Torah to survive, we must be willing to sustain it. Hachzokas ha Torah, sustaining those that…

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These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of testimony. (38:21)

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the choshen. (35:27)

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

Pharaoh saw that there was a relief, and kept making his heart stubborn. He did not heed them. (8:11)

Aharon cast down his staff before Pharaoh…and it became a snake…and they too, the magicians of Egypt, did so with their incantations…and the staff of Aharon swallowed their staffs. (7:10, 11, 12)

I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt…and I shall redeem you. (6:6)

Hashem spoke to Moshe and said to him, “I am Hashem.” (6:2)

You shall make the planks of the Mishkan of shiitim wood. (26:15)

They shall make an Ark of shittiim wood…You shall cover it with pure gold…and you shall make on it a gold crown all around. (25:10,11)

And let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him. (25:2)

YEARS

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