Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

והארץ לא תימכר לצמיתות כי לי הארץ כי גרים ותושבים אתם עמדי

The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; For you are sojourners and residents with Me. (25:23)

One who delves into the mitzvos of Shemittah and Yoveil will infer that their motif is to teach man that he lacks ownership of the land – and, for that matter, of anything. Man is temporary; life is as fleeting as the moment. We are here by the grace of G-d, and we had better live our lives like that. The Torah wants us to acknowledge that L’Hashem ha’aretz u’meloah, teival v’yoshvei vah, “To Hashem (belongs) the earth and its fullness, the inhabited land and those who dwell in it” (Tehillim 24:1). Man walks the earth thinking that it is…

Home -> Behar -> 5773

וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך או קנה מיד עמיתך אל תונו איש את אחיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Behar

If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from your neighbor, you should not defraud one another. (25:14)

The Talmud Bava Basra 87b details a number of fraudulent practices which were employed by less-than-honest businessmen who would cheat their customers. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai hesitated publicizing these practices, explaining that he was confronted with a moral dilemma. If he would lecture, it was quite possible that some of the listeners who were themselves dishonest might learn new methods for defrauding others. On the other hand, if he did not lecture, the cheaters would posit that the scholars were naïve to the ways of the world and unaware of the various ploys for cheating others. One wonders why it…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

Humility is built upon a person’s assessment of himself. It has nothing to do with his being able to speak up or take a stand on behalf of what is right. A humble person is well aware of his personal ability and successes in life. He just feels that he could have done so much more. As far as his ability is concerned, he considers himself lacking in achievement. With his G-d-given talents, he should have been that much greater. As a result of this self-assessment, one carries himself in a manner incongruous with that of a person who is…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

ועתה נפשנו יבשה אין כל בלתי אל המן עינינו והמן כזרע גד הוא ועינו כעין הבדלח

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

But now, our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the Manna. Now the Manna was like a coriander seed and its color was like the color of b’dolach. (11:6,7)

Rashi explains that the individuals who complained, “We have nothing to anticipate but the Manna,” were countered by Hashem, Who said, “The Manna was like a coriander seed with a color similar to crystal.” As the commentators explain, it had the taste of dough saturated with oil. Rashi understands that Hashem was alluding to the world, “Look at about what My children are complaining! They say the Manna is nothing worth waiting for, and I show you that it is indeed quite special.” This does not mean that the Jewish People were full of complaints. It is possible that they…

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ויהי בנסוע הארון

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

And when the Ark would journey. (10:35)

Va’yehi binsoa haAron are the first three words of the shortest sefer in the Torah. In the Talmud Shabbos 115b, Chazal teach, Hashem placed markings (inverted nuns) immediately preceding and following this section to enclose it and separate it from the rest of the Torah. This was done to teach that this is not its proper place. (These pesukim belong earlier in Perek 2 of Sefer Bamidbar where the Torah describes how each tribe camped under its banner.) Rabbi (Yehudah HaNasi) says, “It is not for this reason that the signs (inverted nuns) appear, but rather, because this section ranks…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

והאיש אשר הוא טהור ובדרך לא היה וחדל לעשות הפסח ונכרתה הנפש ההוא מעמיה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

But a man who is pure and was not on the road and had refrained from making the Pesach-offering, that soul shall be cut off from its people. (9:13)

On the one hand, we find that, throughout most of the Torah, we have confidence in people making the right choices. Man is trusted and allowed to make his own choice between right and wrong, good and evil. Despite the obstacles and numerous pitfalls, man is allowed the option to navigate the murky waters of life on his own – without that Divine “nudge.” On the other hand, in certain instances the Torah is quite up front in directing the person in no uncertain terms, concerning the way it expects him to act. There is no room for error –…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light. (8:2)

Rashi explains that the three wicks on the right and the three wicks on the left were all directed towards the Menorah’s central stem, thereby concentrating the light toward the center. Since its light was focused, rather than spread out, the Menorah symbolized the notion that Hashem does not need its light. As the Source of all light, Hashem does not need the Menorah to illuminate the Sanctuary. The Shem MiShmuel quotes his father, the Avnei Nezer, in explaining the need for seven lights, all focused on the center. The Yalkut Shimoni makes a fascinating statement concerning the Menorah. “Why…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

The words mineged, which is usually defined as “opposite,” and saviv, which means “surrounding,” contrast one another. Were the Jews opposite the Ohel Moed, or were they camped surrounding it? Veritably, these terms complement one another, as explained by Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, with the following story. An observant physician from Germany decided that he wanted to visit the blossoming Torah world of Lithuanian Jewry. After all, he was a frum, observant, doctor who meticulously adhered to all the mitzvos. He wanted to see what about Lithuanian yeshivah life differed from his lifestyle. One can imagine the culture shock when…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Each tribe received a designated spot around the Mishkan. At first, Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned that a dispute might arise between the tribes. Quite possibly, each individual tribe had its own idea concerning its placement. Hashem told Moshe that he need not worry. The tribes knew their place, understanding that the configuration determined by their Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, would apply now as well. The tribes accepted their grandfather’s decision; what he had decided hundreds of years earlier was still applicable today. How are we to understand this? The tribe that might question Moshe’s decision could just as well question Yaakov’s…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Klal Yisrael was to travel as a collective group in formation, three tribes, each with a distinctively colored banner/flag representative of its individual characteristic. Each triumvirate group was led by a designated tribe. Each tribal banner was the same color as its corresponding stone on the Breastplate, Choshen, of the Kohen Gadol. Their positions around the Mishkan were to be the same as those designated by Yaakov Avinu for his sons when they were to escort his coffin for burial. This is what is meant by ossos l’bais avosam, “According to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” This idea is…

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והארץ לא תימכר לצמיתות כי לי הארץ כי גרים ותושבים אתם עמדי

The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; For you are sojourners and residents with Me. (25:23)

וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך או קנה מיד עמיתך אל תונו איש את אחיו

If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from your neighbor, you should not defraud one another. (25:14)

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

ועתה נפשנו יבשה אין כל בלתי אל המן עינינו והמן כזרע גד הוא ועינו כעין הבדלח

But now, our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the Manna. Now the Manna was like a coriander seed and its color was like the color of b’dolach. (11:6,7)

ויהי בנסוע הארון

And when the Ark would journey. (10:35)

והאיש אשר הוא טהור ובדרך לא היה וחדל לעשות הפסח ונכרתה הנפש ההוא מעמיה

But a man who is pure and was not on the road and had refrained from making the Pesach-offering, that soul shall be cut off from its people. (9:13)

בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות

When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light. (8:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

YEARS

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