Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

The son of the Yisraelite woman pronounced the name and blashphemed – so they brought him to Moshe…They placed under guard to clarify for themselves through Hashem. (24:12,13)

Two people were in jail awaiting their fate, the blasphemer and the m’koshesh eitzim, the one who desecrated Shabbos. They were placed in different cells for an interesting reason. The m’koshesh awaited his punishment – death. His punishment was certain. The fate of the blasphemer, on the other hand, was yet to be decided. Had they placed both of them in the same cell, the blasphemer would naturally assume that he was to receive the same fate as his cellmate – death. Since this was not certain, it would cause the blasphemer undue anxiety to think that he was also…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5757

I should be sanctified among the Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

Every Jew is commanded to sanctify Hashem’s Name. A Jew’s total demeanor is to reflect his subordination to Hashem. His behavior must be admirable; his dealings with others, the height of integrity, his devotion to mitzvos, exemplary. This pasuk serves as the general commandment to give up one’s life, if necessary, to sanctify Hashem’s Name. It, therefore, seems strange that the Torah does not write this mitzvah in a stronger, more emphatic form. It simply says, “I should be sanctified.” Why does the Torah not say, “Sanctify My Name,” as a form of command. The Torah seems to take a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5757

They shall be holy to their G-d and they shall not desecrate the Name of their G-d. (21:6)

It seems strange to present two extremes, holiness and desecration, in such close proximity. After all, is holiness not diametrically in opposition to desecration? It is like saying, “Be honest, do good, so not to be a bank robber! Is there not some compromise between kedushah and chillul? In addressing this question, Horav Shlomo Breuer, zl, claims that Hashem is very exact with His close/pious ones. He judges those closest to Him in a very strict manner, because a tzaddik’s “insignificant” error can have a strong effect upon the average Jew., The good performed by the righteous rarely causes a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5757

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them: Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person among his people. (21:1)

Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, zl, observes that Judaism sustains three levels of kedushah, holiness: that of a Yisrael, common Jew; that of a Kohen, member of the priestly family; that of the Kohen Gadol, High Priest. These three distinct individuals represent three ascending levels of Divine sanctity. The average Jew, the Yisrael or Levi who is not a Kohen, is a member of an “Am Kadosh,” holy nation, consecrated to the Almighty, separated from all that is impure and unclean. Just as Hashem is holy and unsusceptible to evil and contamination, the Yisrael who is to emulate Hashem is adjured…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

Rashi comments that Chazal have inferred from this pasuk that when a child begins to talk, his father should converse with him in lashon hakodesh, Hebrew, and should begin to teach him Torah. If he does not teach him Torah, it is viewed as if he had ______ buried him. This is implied by the juxtaposition to the next pasuk, in which the Torah states, “In order to prolong your days and the days of your children.” The mitzvah of limud haTorah takes on a new perspective when it applies to a father’s obligation to educate his children. A father…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (11:13)

Rashi comments that “serving with the heart” is a reference to tefillah, prayer. Yet, there is a dispute among the Rishonim if daily prayer is min ha’Torah, a Biblical command, or m’dRabbanan, a Rabbinnical decree. While granting that the number of prayers, their text and content reflect Rabbinic input, the Rambam asserts that the origin of prayer is Biblical. Ramban contends the concept of prayer, excluding prayers of distress, is Rabbinic in origin. Indeed, since prayer is avodah she’blev, service of the heart, the expression of human feelings and emotions should be man’s creation. Hence, Chazal composed the various…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem your G-d ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

Fear of G-d is essential. A person is able to acknowledge Hashem and freely submit to His will only when he truly fears Him. One naturally succumbs to the yetzer hora, evil inclination. Through our yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, however, we are able to overcome the blandishments of the yetzer hora. The Chofetz Chaim placed emphasis on the word “viata” “now”. A person should go through life inquiring, “What does Hashem ask of me – now? Not tomorrow, not yesterday, but right now! When we keep the idea of current obligation in our mind, Judaism becomes alive. Our whole…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

From the fact that Hashem told Moshe not to fear Og, the Torah was suggesting that Moshe had reason to fear him. What could there be about Og that would engender fear in Moshe. As Rashi says, Og had received merit for a good deed that he had performed many years earlier. Og was the one who told Avraham that Lot had been taken captive. This act of kindness gave him a zechus. The question is obvious. Og had an ulterior motive in communicating this message to Avraham. Chazal tell us that Og hoped Avraham would rush into battle…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

Moshe Rabbeinu recounted the events surrounding the spies’ ill-fated mission to Eretz Yisrael. He attempted to refresh their minds concerning their prior mistakes, so that hopefully they would not repeat the same errors. He admonished them to remember their murmurings and rebellions, the slander that demoralized a nation, the ingratitude that catalyzed a rebellion for which we still suffer today. What did they do that night that still haunts us to this very day? They cried! Does crying deserve such a severe punishment? It depends what type of crying and for what reason. Chazal tell us that the people…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

Chazal view the word, “all of you”, as the cause of the tragic outcome of their mission to spy out Eretz Yisrael. The people came forward in an unbecoming manner. They were demanding and disrespectful. The young pushed aside their elders, and the older people pushed ahead of their leaders. This was in sharp contrast to their behavior at Kabalas HaTorah when the entire nation came forth with a request, but in a respectable and orderly manner; the young encouraged their elders to go forward, while the elders displayed the proper respect to their leadership. Why is it necessary to…

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The son of the Yisraelite woman pronounced the name and blashphemed – so they brought him to Moshe…They placed under guard to clarify for themselves through Hashem. (24:12,13)

I should be sanctified among the Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

They shall be holy to their G-d and they shall not desecrate the Name of their G-d. (21:6)

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them: Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead) person among his people. (21:1)

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (11:13)

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem your G-d ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

YEARS

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