Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And Hashem said to Moshe speak unto the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and say unto them, none shall make himself unclean through contact with the dead.” (21:1)

The Kohanim were admonished not to come in contact with the dead, since this would render them unfit to perform the avodah. This rule was relaxed only in a situation which involved close relatives. Chazal explain the redundancy of the word ,rntu rnt by stating that it was a special directive to the Kohanim that the adults must instruct the young. It seems enigmatic that the Torah places emphasis upon teaching the young, while specifically discussing contact with the dead. We suggest that there is a special message to be gleaned from this pasuk. During moments of personal grief one…

Home -> 5753 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5753

“Speak to the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael and say to them be holy.” (19:2)

Rashi explains that this parsha was proclaimed “b’hakhel” because the majority of the fundamental laws of the Torah are dependent upon it. All of Klal Yisrael assembled to read this parsha, while many other mitzvos focus on specific groups, such as Kohanim, Leviim, firstborns, or males, the principle of kedushah, holiness, pertains to all members of the Jewish community. Each member of Bnei Yisrael is enjoined to work towards this goal to the best of his capabilities. Horav E. Munk, z.l., advances this idea. The presence of the entire community signifies that the ideal goal of holiness can be achieved…

Home -> 5753 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5753

“And you shall guard My laws and My social laws, which if a man will do, he will live thereby, I am Hashem.” (18:5)

Horav M. Elan, z.l., offers a novel interpretation of this pasuk. The daily routine and lifestyle of some individuals are not consistent with their level of profundity in Torah law. They expound great scholarship, citing insightful thought and philosophy, but their actual behavior is consistent with one who is ignorant of the law. The true goal of every person should be that his conduct be commensurate with his degree of sophistication in Torah awareness. This is the Torah’s message. Your shall guard My laws and live by them. Your lifestyle shall reflect your knowledge. This is especially true when one…

Home -> 5753 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5753

Speak to the Bnei Yisroel and say to them I am Hashem your G-d. (18:2)

These three words, ofhekt ‘s hbt “I am Hashem your G-d,” preface the chapter which relates the laws of morality. The primary objective of the laws contained in Sefer Vayikra is to raise Am Yisrael to the spiritual level of a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Hashem had already mandated laws regarding holiness in the ritual service, man’s diet, and spiritual purity. In this chapter, He continued with laws dealing with moral purity. Horav Eli Munk, z.l., notes that moral legislation, like other types of legal directives, is not based upon social order, physical hygiene, or the instinct…

Home -> 5753 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5753

“A sacred linen tunic he shall wear.”

Upon entering the Kodesh Hakadoshim, Holy of Holies, the Kohen Gadol divested himself of his ornate priestly vestments and clothed himself in simple, white linen. In public, the Kohen was responsible to maintain the dignity appropriate to his noble station in life. When he went into the Holy of Holies to confess the sins of Am Yisrael, to entreat Hashem on behalf of His people, he entered dressed as an ordinary Kohen. At the spiritually heightened moment, the most solemn of the year, the most venerated of men became a simple mortal. The facades of dignity and station in life…

Home -> 5753 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5753

And you shall separate Bnei Yisrael from their contamination. (15:31)

The word o,rzvu, you shall separate, from contamination is derived from the word rzb, crown. The crown distinguishes its wearer from the masses. The Sfas Emes explains, that similarly, Bnei Yisrael distinguish themselves by separating from the moral contaminants which abound. It is the true hallmark of Bnei Yisrael’s majesty that they rise above earthly contamination in order to devote themselves to serving Hashem. Those who dedicate their lives to this endeavor are truly worthy of Hashem’s crown.

Home -> 5753 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5753

And the one to whom the house belongs shall come, and he shall tell the Kohen saying, something like a plague had appeared to me in the house. (14:35)

The Torah relates a form of disease which can afflict the Jewish home. The Torah refers to this disease as tzara’as, a sort of spiritual leprosy within the walls of the house. The Torah details specific instructions for the Kohen and the owner of the house regarding the procedure for dealing with this “affliction”. Chazal emphasize the Torah’s choice of the word in the house. Indeed, as they note, “tumah is declared only if the rot appears inside the house.” One’s internal life is expected to be in order. The hypocrisy to which children are sensitive must not exist. There…

Home -> 5753 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5753

And the Kohen shall look at the plague in the skin of the flesh (13:3)

Tzara’as, which is inappropriately translated as leprosy, was actually a spiritual affliction. One who had transgressed certain sins, such as speaking lashon hora was inflicted with tzaraas. This affliction appeared on one’s body, his clothes, even the walls of his home. One who suspected himself of being a victim of this disease would go to the Kohen in order to be examined. Only after the Kohen declared him a metzora would he be considered tamei and consequently subject to all of the laws of tzara’as. Horav A. H. Lebovitz, Shlita, cites the Midrash which relates a story about an impoverished…

Home -> 5753 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5753

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh an intensely white spot, or one nearly so, or a shiny white one… then he shall be brought to the Kohen. (13:2)

The Netziv. z.l.. cites the Zohar, which states that the word “adam” refers to one who is dignified and respected. This statement seems enigmatic. Tzara’as is an affliction visited upon one who has spoken lashon hara and slandered others. Indeed, Chazal say that the word “Torah” is written five times regarding tzara’as, to teach that one who speaks lashon hora transgresses the five chumashim – or the entire Torah! Why then would the Torah refer to this person as an “adam chashuv”? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., suggests the following resolution to this question. The Talmud provides great detail describing the…

Home -> 5753 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5753

“Any earthenware utensil into whose interior one of them will fall everything within it shall become contaminated and you shall break it.” (11:33)

An earthenware vessel can contract impurity only through internal ritually unclean contact. Horav E. Munk, z.l,. cites Rav Mendel Mi’kotzk who distinguishes between a metallic vessel, whose intrinsic value is based upon the metal from which it is made, and an earthenware vessel, whose value is based upon what it contains. This is the reason that an earthenware vessel is contaminated only from the inside and cannot be purified by immersion in a mikveh, as a metallic vessel can. Consequently, an earthenware vessel which has become tamei, ritually contaminated, must be broken. The vessel is like a man formed from…

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“And Hashem said to Moshe speak unto the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and say unto them, none shall make himself unclean through contact with the dead.” (21:1)

“Speak to the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael and say to them be holy.” (19:2)

“And you shall guard My laws and My social laws, which if a man will do, he will live thereby, I am Hashem.” (18:5)

Speak to the Bnei Yisroel and say to them I am Hashem your G-d. (18:2)

“A sacred linen tunic he shall wear.”

And you shall separate Bnei Yisrael from their contamination. (15:31)

And the one to whom the house belongs shall come, and he shall tell the Kohen saying, something like a plague had appeared to me in the house. (14:35)

And the Kohen shall look at the plague in the skin of the flesh (13:3)

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh an intensely white spot, or one nearly so, or a shiny white one… then he shall be brought to the Kohen. (13:2)

“Any earthenware utensil into whose interior one of them will fall everything within it shall become contaminated and you shall break it.” (11:33)

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