Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And I will conceal My face from them…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)

The Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, Ten Days of Repentance, the first ten days of the New Year, are meant to be the foundation-stone for the coming year. It is the standard upon which our behavior during the year should be based. Hashem is karov, close, to us during this time. Thus, this period should imbue us to develop a personal relationship with the Almighty – throughout the year. There is no room in Yiddishkeit for intermediaries. One should feel a sense of nearness with Hashem. Consequently, no Jew should ever feel alone. This idea is alluded to in the Divine warning conveyed…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayeilech

“At the end of seven years, in the set time of the year of Shemittah, during the Festival of Succos…You shall read this Torah before all Yisrael, in their ears.” (31:10-11)

The mitzvah of Hakheil, convening of Klal Yisrael at the beginning of the eighth year, immediately following the Shemittah year, is set at this time by design. The timing of this event, when all Jews gathered together to hear the Torah read by the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, was scheduled to impart the greatest impression. What is unique about this time? Horav Mordechai Rogov, z.l., explains that after Klal Yisrael has experienced a year of Shemittah, a year of unparalleled faith and trust in the Almighty, they are now attuned to hear and accept what the Torah has to say. They…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5762

“And you shall choose life.” (30:19)

A poor man came to a businessman and asked for a loan: “I need one hundred dollars, and I am willing to pay seven percent interest on the loan. There is one stipulation however, I can only pay you one dollar a week,” said the poor man. “I appreciate your situation, but I cannot help you,” the businessman responded. “I must be paid all at once, not in installments.” Understandably, the poor man left quite upset. The businessman’s associate who witnessed the entire proceedings wondered why his friend would throw away an opportunity in order to make a quick profit. The…

Home -> 5776 -> Pinchas

ויסמך את ידיו עליו ויצוהו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

He leaned his hands upon him and commanded him. (27:23)

Rashi notes that, when Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to transfer his authority to Yehoshua by means of semichah, “leaning of hands”, the Almighty said, yadcha, “your hand” in the singular, implying one hand. Moshe, however, applied both hands, generously, like a vessel which is full and brimming over and filled him with his wisdom to become the nation’s next leader. Horav Avraham Pam, zl, (cited by Rabbi Sholom Smith in a Vort from Rav Pam) explains that when we bless someone by placing both hands on his head, it is an indication that it is executed with love. It is…

Home -> 5776 -> Pinchas

ושם איש ישראל המכה אשר הכה את המדינית זמרי בן סלוא נשיא בית אב לשמעוני

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

The name of the slain Yisraelite who was slain with the Midyanite woman was Zimri ben Salu, leader of a father’s house of the Shimonites. (25:14)

Rashi comments, “In a place where the Torah traces the ancestry of a tzaddik, righteous one, for praise, it gives the ancestry of the rasha, evil one, for disparagement”. In the previous parsha, when the Torah describes the immoral outrage committed by Zimri, the perpetrator is not identified by name. It is mentioned here only by way of contrasting with Pinchas’ ancestry. Pinchas’ ancestry is introduced to his credit, in order to underscore that he upheld the tradition of his grandfather, Aharon HaKohen. Zimri’s lineage is recorded to his disparagement, as if to imply that, although he was a leader…

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תחת אשר קינא לאלוקיו ויכפר על בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

Because he took vengeance for his G-d, and atoned for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:13)

In the Sefer Agra D’Pirka, Horav Tzvi Elimelech, zl, m’Dinov (popularly known as the Bnei Yissachar), quotes Horav Shlomo, zl, m’Karlin, who cites a Midrash (which is not extant): Hashem commanded Eliyahu HaNavi to come to Brissim, circumcision ceremonies. Eliyahu was not happy about this, expressing his concern due to his natural aversion to sin. (Eliyahu is Pinchas, who exacted vengeance for Hashem against Zimri.) How could one who is a kanai, zealot, come to the Bris in which the father is a non-practicing Jew? Hashem replied, “I will forgive him”. Eliyahu continued, “What if the guests are sinners?” Hashem…

Home -> 5776 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

It is not always about who one is or from whom one descends. It is about: how much one cares; how concerned he is; if he is willing to take responsibility – or remain indifferent – like everyone else around him. Ichpasius – concern, a feeling of responsibility – this is what Pinchas demonstrated, explains Horav Shimshon Pincus, zl. Klal Yisrael was there watching, most of them probably stunned beyond belief. How could this be happening to us? How could such an outrage occur in the holy camp? While they stood there questioning, Pinchas took action. Why? Because he cared….

Home -> 5776 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

Kinaah and kanaus, jealousy and zealousness, are two terms which share the same root word. Indeed, Rashi interprets kanaus, zealousness, as a jealous reaction, which results in vengeance. One becomes outraged when something which he feels is rightfully his has been taken from him. A jealous person feels slighted by someone who has that which he feels is rightfully his. A true zealot feels that when someone impugns Hashem, His Torah and mitzvos, he is infringing upon his religion. Such a person has a sense of kinship with Hashem and is grievously hurt by an action which undermines Hashem. The…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5776

כי ענן ד' על המשכן יומם, ואש תהיה לילה בו לעיני כל בית ישראל בכל מסעיהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Pekudei

For the cloud of Hashem would be on the Mishkan by day, and the fire would be on it by night, before the eyes of all of Bnei Yisrael throughout their journeys. (40:38)

Clearly, this pasuk has ramifications concerning the future of our people as our tenure in galus, exile, continues. The Jew should not think that the darkness which encompasses us in galus is so pervasive that we are unable to penetrate it; or that it completely envelops and stifles us. No! V’eish tiheyeh laylah, “And fire would be on at night.” The light of Torah will illuminate the darkness of exile. The daled amos shel halachah, four cubits of Jewish law, will light for us the path of darkness, as we will be able to make our way, as others have…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5776

ומשחת אתם כאשר משחת את אביהם וכהנו לי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Pekudei

You shall anoint them, as you had anointed their father, and they shall minister to Me. (40:15)

“As you anointed their father”: Why did Hashem stipulate that Moshe Rabbeinu’s anointing the sons of Aharon HaKohen was to be carried out in the same manner that Moshe had anointed his brother, Aharon? The Meshach Chochmah offers a powerful and quite practical insight – one that has a profound ring of truth to it. When Moshe anointed his brother, he did not experience even a twinge of jealousy. After all, Moshe was a Navi, Prophet; he had even held the position of Kohen Gadol prior to Aharon. Whatever the role that Moshe was transferring to Aharon was a position…

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“And I will conceal My face from them…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)

“At the end of seven years, in the set time of the year of Shemittah, during the Festival of Succos…You shall read this Torah before all Yisrael, in their ears.” (31:10-11)

“And you shall choose life.” (30:19)

ויסמך את ידיו עליו ויצוהו

He leaned his hands upon him and commanded him. (27:23)

ושם איש ישראל המכה אשר הכה את המדינית זמרי בן סלוא נשיא בית אב לשמעוני

The name of the slain Yisraelite who was slain with the Midyanite woman was Zimri ben Salu, leader of a father’s house of the Shimonites. (25:14)

תחת אשר קינא לאלוקיו ויכפר על בני ישראל

Because he took vengeance for his G-d, and atoned for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:13)

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

כי ענן ד' על המשכן יומם, ואש תהיה לילה בו לעיני כל בית ישראל בכל מסעיהם

For the cloud of Hashem would be on the Mishkan by day, and the fire would be on it by night, before the eyes of all of Bnei Yisrael throughout their journeys. (40:38)

ומשחת אתם כאשר משחת את אביהם וכהנו לי

You shall anoint them, as you had anointed their father, and they shall minister to Me. (40:15)

YEARS

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