Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

אלה מסעי בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Matos, Masei

These are the journeys of Bnei Yisrael. (33:1)

On a recent trip to Eretz Yisrael, I struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler. He told me that, since it was his first overseas trip, he was planning to savor every moment. He looked forward to the eleven-hour flight as another leg on what was supposed to be a momentous trip. He was so excited that he was keeping track of every moment – from the taxi that picked him up at home until his eventual return in ten days. I felt this was an interesting perspective on travel, which, for most people, is something they must endure…

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ונכבשה הארץ לפני ד' ואחר תשבו והייתם נקים מד' ומישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Matos, Masei

And the Land shall be conquered before Hashem, and then you shall return – then you shall be vindicated before Hashem and from Yisrael. (32:22)

“So what if people do not understand my lofty goals?” “Since when must I explain myself to people?” “As long as I satisfy Hashem, is that not what is important?” It is statements such as these, with the attitude of arrogance that accompanies them, that get people into trouble. The end does not justify the means. One must act in a manner that does not incur public suspicion of impropriety. Everything we do must be above board, maintaining sufficient transparency to withstand the greatest scrutiny. There is a well-known Teshuvos Chasam Sofer (6: Likutim 59) in which the revered Rav…

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ויאמר אליהם משה החייתם כל נקבה. הן הנה היו לבני ישראל בדבר בלעם למסר מעל בד' על דבר פעור

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Matos

Moshe said to them: Did you let every female live? Behold It was they who caused Bnei Yisrael by the word of Bilaam, to commit a betrayal against Hashem regarding the matter of Pe’or. (31:15,16)

It is said how the most well-meaning – albeit quite insecure – leaders of factions of the religious Jewish community who call themselves Orthodox, but have yet to prove it, fall prey to the double-edged sword of Jew/non-Jew relationships. One cannot sufficiently emphasize how the blandishments of the non-Jewish society in which we live have had a disastrous influence on the religious vitality and continuity of our People. One need only to take a stroll outside of the shelter of the observant Jewish community to observe the downward spiral of Jewish literacy and commitment. The staggering rate of intermarriage is…

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החלצו מאתכם אנשים לצבא ויהיו על מדין לתת נקמת ד' במדין

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Matos

Arm men from among yourselves for the legion that they be against Midyan that they may inflict Hashem’s vengeance against Midyan. (31:3)

When the Jewish army went into battle, it was unlike any other national army. Horav Mordechai Druk, Shlita, notes the apparent differences between our army and the armies of the nations of the world. Moshe Rabbeinu did not lead the Jewish army in a war of retribution against Midyan because he had benefitted from the land of Midyan years earlier when he escaped Egypt. Clearly, such a moral compass is unlikely to be found in any other nation: a leader to choose not to lead against a sworn enemy because he owes them hakoras hatov, a sense of gratitude, is…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

והאמין בד' ויחשביה לו צדקה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

Rashi notes that, concerning Hashem’s promise to Avraham that he would be blessed with offspring, the Patriarch did not ask for a sign. Concerning the promise that he would take possession of Eretz Yisrael, Avraham Avinu asked, Bama eida, “Whereby shall I know?” requesting a sign from Above that he would inherit it. Why did the Patriarch ask for affirmation regarding the Land and not regarding the offspring? Horav Yitzchak Volozhiner, zl, explains this with an analogy that goes to the very crux of the issue which continues to haunt us until this very day. A king was once traveling…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

ויאמר מלך סדם אל אברם תן לי הנפש והרכוש קח לך... אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל ואם אקח מכל אשר לך ולא תאמר אני העשרתי את אברם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

The King of Sodom said to Avram, “Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself…” If so much as a thread or a shoe strap; or if I will take from anything that is yours! So you shall not say, “It is I who have made Avram wealthy.” (14:21,23)

Avraham Avinu was the victor in the war, and to the victor go the spoils. The king of Sodom agreed to give him whatever material booty he requested, as long as he left the people. Avraham replied that he could keep his money: “Hashem has promised to make me rich.” As Rashi explains, “I do not need you to sustain me. Hashem takes care of His own. It is a nice speech, a wonderful and magnanimous gesture on the part of the Patriarch, but he was not receiving a gift from the king of Sodom. He was receiving the spoils…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט... ויאמר אברם אל לוט אל נא תהי מריבה ביני ובינך... הפרד נא מעלי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock… so Avram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between me and you… please separate from me.” (13:7, 8, 9)

Avraham Avinu spent a lifetime reaching out to the uninitiated, regardless of their beliefs. To Avraham, the most entrenched pagan was a person who could, and should be reached. Together with his wife, Sarah Imeinu, they converted thousands to monotheism. If so, why is it specifically his nephew, Lot, a person for whom he cared, that Avraham asked to leave his presence? What was Lot’s transgression? Petty theft from the fields of others was without a doubt inappropriate behavior, but did it warrant a complete break in their relationship? What about teshuvah, repentance? Avraham made the attempt to convince everyone…

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ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock, and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (13:7)

Avraham Avinu’s cattle went out with their mouths muzzled, specifically so that they would not eat what did not belong to him. Lot did not seem to maintain this stringency. His animals ate whenever and wherever they pleased. This caused friction between the two. As a result, Avraham asked Lot to separate from him, to choose any area that he pleased, and he would go elsewhere. This way they could remain “friends,” and Lot could do as he pleased without suffering the pain and rebuke. Rav Yosef B’chor Shor explains further that Avraham was concerned, “What would the neighbors say…

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ויקח אברם את שרי אשתו... ואת כל רכושם אשר רכשו ואת הנפש אשר עשו בחרן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

Avram took his wife Sarai… and all their wealth that they had amassed, and the souls they had made in Charan. (12:5)

Rashi explains that the nefesh, souls, which they made in Charan, is a reference to the many people who Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu were able to pluck from the grasp of the pagans and inspire with the monotheistic belief. These converts to Hashem followed the ones who had “made” them. Avraham’s raison d’etre in life was to promulgate the belief in Hashem. To teach the truth was not enough if he did not convert the people. A successful teacher is one who impacts the lives of his students. This was our Patriarch’s goal, his life’s work. Indeed, every endeavor…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

ואעשך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שמך והיה ברכה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And I will make of you a great nation; and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (12:2)

In an alternative explanation, Rashi says, “‘And I will make you a great nation” is a reference to the words Elokei Avraham, G-d of Avraham, which is recited in the beginning of Shemoneh Esrai. Vaavarchecha, ‘and I will bless you,’ refers to Elokei Yitzchak; and Vaagadlah shemecha refers to Elokei Yaakov. While I might think that they conclude the blessing of the Avos, Patriarchs, with all three of them, the pasuk states Ve’heyei b’rachah, ‘And you will be a blessing,’ Becha chosmin, v’lo bahem, ‘With you, Avraham, they conclude the blessing, and not with them.’” A well-known exposition is attributed…

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אלה מסעי בני ישראל

These are the journeys of Bnei Yisrael. (33:1)

ונכבשה הארץ לפני ד' ואחר תשבו והייתם נקים מד' ומישראל

And the Land shall be conquered before Hashem, and then you shall return – then you shall be vindicated before Hashem and from Yisrael. (32:22)

ויאמר אליהם משה החייתם כל נקבה. הן הנה היו לבני ישראל בדבר בלעם למסר מעל בד' על דבר פעור

Moshe said to them: Did you let every female live? Behold It was they who caused Bnei Yisrael by the word of Bilaam, to commit a betrayal against Hashem regarding the matter of Pe’or. (31:15,16)

החלצו מאתכם אנשים לצבא ויהיו על מדין לתת נקמת ד' במדין

Arm men from among yourselves for the legion that they be against Midyan that they may inflict Hashem’s vengeance against Midyan. (31:3)

והאמין בד' ויחשביה לו צדקה

And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

ויאמר מלך סדם אל אברם תן לי הנפש והרכוש קח לך... אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל ואם אקח מכל אשר לך ולא תאמר אני העשרתי את אברם

The King of Sodom said to Avram, “Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself…” If so much as a thread or a shoe strap; or if I will take from anything that is yours! So you shall not say, “It is I who have made Avram wealthy.” (14:21,23)

ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט... ויאמר אברם אל לוט אל נא תהי מריבה ביני ובינך... הפרד נא מעלי

And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock… so Avram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between me and you… please separate from me.” (13:7, 8, 9)

ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט

And there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock, and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (13:7)

ויקח אברם את שרי אשתו... ואת כל רכושם אשר רכשו ואת הנפש אשר עשו בחרן

Avram took his wife Sarai… and all their wealth that they had amassed, and the souls they had made in Charan. (12:5)

ואעשך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שמך והיה ברכה

And I will make of you a great nation; and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (12:2)

YEARS

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