Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

And the land was filled with corruption. (6:11)

In the Midrash, Chazal teach that “corruption” refers to idolatry. We may wonder why idolatry stands out as the primary sin of that generation. What is there about “chamas,” corruption, that infers idolatry? Horav Yaakov Kaminetzky, zl, responds by first defining the essence of idolatry. We are taught that if a certain city has decided to reject one ritual of the taryag, 613 mitzvos, regardless of the type of mitzvah, that city is declared an “Ir Hanidachas,” a city that went astray and is to be totally destroyed. Accordingly, asks Rav Yaakov, why should the fate of the generation of…

Home -> 5757 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5757

And the earth had become corrupt before G-d, and the earth became filled with violence. (6:11)

The text seems to imply that these people were corrupt only in the eyes of Hashem. In the eyes of society, however, they apparently did no wrong. What type of people were they that they were paragons of virtue according to the rules of society, while they were iniquitous before Hashem? Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, cites Chazal in the Talmud Sanhedrin 57A who define “,ja,u”, corrupt, as referring to immorality and idolatry. These are sins that do not really hurt anybody. Does anyone suffer if a person chooses to bow down to idols? Who is hurt by the immoral activities…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5757

Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

Describing Avraham Avinu’s relationship with Hashem, the Torah states, “Walk before me and be wholehearted” (Bereishis 17:1) While Noach walked with Hashem, Avraham walked before Him. Noach needed the support of Hashem to maintain his moral strength, while Avraham , who was morally independent, functioned on a higher level. Noach was not successful in turning back the tide of destruction decreed for the people of his generation. This is enigmatic. Noach spent one hundred and twenty years building an ark. During that time he chastised the people. Indeed, throughout the Midrashim we learn that Noach constantly rebuked the people in…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeilech

At the end of seven years, at the time of the sabbatical year, on the festival of Succos…gather together the people–the men, the women, and the small children…so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear Hashem. (31: 10,12)

veryone came together to hear the word of Hashem, as the king publicly read from the Torah. The mitzvah of Hakhel was performed in such a manner as to include every segment of the Jewish People. Indeed, the Midrash questions the need for bringing along the young children. Chazal tell us, “The men came to learn; the women to hear; and the infants came to provide reward for those who brought them.” We may question the reward provided for those who brought their infants. After all, if there was no intrinsic purpose in bringing the children, why did their parents…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeilech

My anger will flare against it…And many evils and distress will encounter it…It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

Klal Yisrael’s sins incurred Hashem’s wrath, as well as His consequent concealment of Himself from them. The pasuk goes on to state that even after Klal Yisrael acknowledged that they were suffering as a result of Hashem’s removal of His Presence from their midst, Hashem continued to conceal Himself from them. While this may be a particularly severe punishment, we are told later that regardless of our sins, the Torah will never be forgotten from our People. If we have the Torah, we still can maintain hope for ultimate reconciliation after we have fully repented. In addressing the meaning of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5757

Behold, I have placed before you today that which is life and that which is good. (30:15)

One would think that life is the result of good. A person who conducts himself in a proper and good manner becomes worthy of reward–life. Consequently, the blessing of chaim is determined, for the most part, by one’s tov. If this is the case, then the Torah should have said that Hashem grants us good and then life. Why is the text reversed, implying that these are two distinct gifts? Kli Yakar explains that the Torah takes a different view of the relationship between tov and chaim. There are individuals whose goal and purpose in life is just that–to live. …

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5757

Then Hashem, your G-d, will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will gather you in. (30:3)

Once Klal Yisrael repents, they are assured of the ingathering of the exiles, regardless of where they are located among the nations of the world. The Rambam infers from this pasuk that one must believe in the coming of Moshiach. Indeed, the Rambam writes, “And he who does not believe in him (Moshiach), or he who does not await his coming, does not only repudiate the (prophecies of) Nevi’im, but also denies the Torah and Moshe Rabbeinu.” The Brisker Rav, zl, inferred from the Rambam that he who denies the Geulah, Redemption, is a kofer, non-believer. Even he who does…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

Chazal, at the end of Meseches Uktzin, say, “There is no greater container to hold Klal Yisrael’s blessings than peace.” One may have everything – health, prosperity, and fame – but without peace these gifts have no significance. Consequently, the blessings which the Kohanim are to impart upon Bnei Yisrael are sealed with the hope for peace. A community can catalyze peace in one of two ways. The first way is the positive approach, in which people work towards ironing out their differences, seeking ways to increase harmony and good will. Discord is viewed as taboo, so the slightest infraction…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

All the days of his abstinence he is holy unto Hashem. (6:8)

The Torah allows one to become a nazir voluntarily. This status precludes one from eating or drinking grape products or from coming into contact with a dead body. In addition, the nazir‘s hair may not be cut. By becoming a nazir, one enters into a state of extreme sanctity in which what is permissible — and taken for granted by the average Jew — becomes incongruous with the nazir’s elevated status. Chazal explain the reason that the Torah juxtaposes the laws of the nazir upon those of the sotah, wayward wife. One who sees a sotah in her degradation should…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

A man or woman who shall do something wondrous by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

Why would someone choose to become a nazir? It may be the result of a harmful experience associated with drinking wine. Alternatively, it may be the product of a conviction that one should abstain from mundane pleasures. The individual feels that he is too involved with himself. Consequently, he goes to the extreme, taking a vow to abstain from his usual pleasures. The nazir must make sure that he does not defile his nezirus by coming in contact with a dead body. If this does happen, the nazir becomes tamei, ritually unclean. He must go through a purification process after…

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And the land was filled with corruption. (6:11)

And the earth had become corrupt before G-d, and the earth became filled with violence. (6:11)

Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

At the end of seven years, at the time of the sabbatical year, on the festival of Succos…gather together the people–the men, the women, and the small children…so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear Hashem. (31: 10,12)

My anger will flare against it…And many evils and distress will encounter it…It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

Behold, I have placed before you today that which is life and that which is good. (30:15)

Then Hashem, your G-d, will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will gather you in. (30:3)

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

All the days of his abstinence he is holy unto Hashem. (6:8)

A man or woman who shall do something wondrous by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

YEARS

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