Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And if your brother becomes poor and his hand becomes shaky next to you then you shall support him.” (25:35)

There are individuals who by their very nature are worriers. Although blessed with great wealth and capital on which they and their families could live very comfortably, they do not cease to worry and toil to amass an even greater fortune. These individuals are often troubled and anxious about the future. In contrast to these individuals, are those who are usually happy and content, comforted by their trust and reliance in Hashem as their source of sustenance and fulfillment. It is an interesting phenomenon that when these individuals are approached to participate in a charitable endeavor, their responses are often…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, Behar

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying.” (25:1)

Rashi asks: Why does the Torah emphasize that Shmittah and its laws were given at Sinai, were not all the laws given at Mount Sinai? He answers: It comes to teach us that just as the Shmittah laws with all their rules and details were given at Sinai, so too were all the laws of the Torah with all their rules and details, revealed at Sinai. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Zt”l explains that before the Torah was given on Har Sinai, people were taught to observe mitzvos because of social, moral or psychological reasons. Such a method, while it relates to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5751

“And there went out the son of an Israelite woman who was the son of an Egyptian… and the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name.” (24:10-11)

The Sforno says that the reason for mentioning this individual’s paternal ancestry is to emphasize the reason for his impudence and audacity. An Israelite would never be so unrestrained as to “curse the Name”. We may note from the Sforno’s thesis that the character traits of parents are inherited by their offspring. It was only because of his specific non-Jewish lineage that there was ingrained in him this outrageous audacity which he displayed. It is no wonder that Chazal have insisted that when choosing a mate a person should be especially aware of and sensitive to his or her character…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5751

“And I shall be sanctified in the midst of the Children of Israel. (22:32)

It may be noted that this mitzvah is given in the reflexive voice in contrast to other mitzvos which are given in the active voice. Hashem does not demand that man sanctify His Name, but rather that Hashem’s Name be sanctified. Perhaps it is because of this that even minors are included in the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem. This may be derived from the Rambam who begins the fifth chapter of Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah by ruling: “All the House of Israel is enjoined in sanctifying Hashem’s great Name”. The Rambam’s wording is an allusion to include even minors in the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5751

“And the daughter of a Kohain who profanes herself, she profanes her father, she shall be burnt by fire.” (21:9)

The punishment of death by fire which is meted out to a Kohain’s daughter who profanes herself is doubly more stringent than that which is prescribed for a Yisroel‘s daughter who is executed by choking. The Alter of Kelm Z”tl notes that the posuk itself gives the reason for this. “she desecrates her father’s name.” Kohanim, because of their exposure to holiness and sanctity are extremely vigilant in caring for themselves and their families, are wary of situations where they might become contaminated. The Kohain will make every effort to provide his children with a superior education replete with sanctity…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5751

“Except for his kin who is close to him.” (21:2)

Rashi comments: “His kin is only his wife.” It may be noted that the Torah places one’s wife before one’s parents. The reason for this is that a man’s relationship with his wife is a bond which is closer and stronger than that of any other relative. This is clearly expressed by the Torah in Parashas Bereishis (2:24) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and they shall be one flesh”. A man’s wife is an integral part of himself (upudf u,at). We suggest the following reason for this unique relationship. A…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5751

“And Hashem said to Moshe, say unto the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon.” (21:1)

In most circumstances when the Torah states mitzvos or laws it use the word “And He spoke” which is considered a stronger and harsher terminology than “and He said” which is used here. What is the significance of this? The Kohanim who are charged with teaching the Torah and its laws to Am Yisroel represent the teachers and mentors of Am Yisroel. As it is their possession of greater holiness which mandates this charge, they must accept upon themselves greater stringencies than the rest of Am Yisroel. These laws must be accepted with joy and complete subordination of one’s will,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5751

“And you shall show respect to elders and fear your G-d.” (19:32)

The honor and respect afforded to a Torah scholar and teacher is expressed in the following statement: “The fear of your teacher shall be similar to your fear of Heaven” (Avos 4:15). Chazal in various places have described in clear terms the severe punishments for those who do not show proper respect to their Torah teachers. Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz Zt”l explains that the rationale for this is because improper respect for teachers and elders weakens their leadership and diminishes their overall influence on us. Lack of respect for elders means, in effect, the elimination of Torah leadership over Klal Yisroel….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5751

“You shall not round off the corners of the hair of your head.” (19:27)

This posuk clearly forbids the removal of sideburns, the place where one’s hair ends at the temples, and which marks the division corresponding to the cerebrum and the cerebrellum respectively. This prohibition teaches us the following. The hair at the temples is a natural veil which hides the view of the back of the head. The relation of the frontal part of the skull containing the cerebrum to the back part with the cerebellum is that of the human element to the animal element within us. In order to maintain a strict degree of sanctity within ourselves, the animal factor…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5751

“And you shall not give any of your seed, to set them apart to the Molech. And you shall not profane the name of your G-d.” (18:21)

The Ramban is of the opinion that the depravity of worshipping this idol was so great, that people would actually pass their child through the fires of the Molech, until the child died. Accordingly, the meaning of Chilul Hashem may be understood. What greater desecration of Hashem’s Name is there than by one who believes that by offering his child as a sacrifice to an idol, his house will be blessed by this same idol! The Sforno suggests an even stronger understanding of Chilul Hashem. He says that when one offers animals to Hashem, but then offers his child to…

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“And if your brother becomes poor and his hand becomes shaky next to you then you shall support him.” (25:35)

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying.” (25:1)

“And there went out the son of an Israelite woman who was the son of an Egyptian… and the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name.” (24:10-11)

“And I shall be sanctified in the midst of the Children of Israel. (22:32)

“And the daughter of a Kohain who profanes herself, she profanes her father, she shall be burnt by fire.” (21:9)

“Except for his kin who is close to him.” (21:2)

“And Hashem said to Moshe, say unto the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon.” (21:1)

“And you shall show respect to elders and fear your G-d.” (19:32)

“You shall not round off the corners of the hair of your head.” (19:27)

“And you shall not give any of your seed, to set them apart to the Molech. And you shall not profane the name of your G-d.” (18:21)

YEARS

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