Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

ויאמר אלקים יהי אור ויהי אור

And G-d said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (1:3)

In Sefer Tehillim (119:130) David Ha’melech says, “The introduction ofYour words illuminates.” The Midrash in Sefer Shemos explains that thispasuk refers to the opening words of the Torah, “In the beginning G-dcreated.” Light preceded all of the rest of Creation. Similarly, the AronHaKodesh, which housed the Torah, also called ohr, light, preceded the othervessels of the Mishkan. Light must precede every other creation; in fact, it mustprecede everything. The ability to see clearly, to understand the basic foundationof knowledge, is a prerequisite for an undistorted view of life. Clarity of visionis the framework upon which all understanding is based. How…

Home -> 5766 -> Bereishis

ויאמר אלקים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5766

And G-d said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” (1:26)

Why is the word naaseh, let us make, in the plural form, used todescribe the creation of man? It should have said, “I willmake.” The Imrei Emes explains that man is not createdcomplete with an array of middos tovos, positive character traits. Therefinement of these character traits entails considerable hard work. Indeed,man is a microcosm of the animal world. The nature of all of the animals thatpreceded his creation is a part of him. He must refine and cleanse himself ofany base character traits as he ascends the ladder of spirituality. He mustrecreate himself and become G-d-like. To accomplish this…

Home -> 5765 -> Bereishis

בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5765

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and the earth. (1:1)

Sefer Bereishis is aptly given its name since it is the “first” of theChumashim. The Talmud in Avodah Zarah 25a has another name forSefer Bereishis: Sefer HaYashar or Sefer Yesharim, the Book ofRighteousness. Yashar means more than righteousness. It means straightforwardness,integrity, mentchlichkeit, human decency. Sefer Bereishischronicles the lives of the Avos, Patriarchs, men who exemplifiedrighteousness to G-d and mentchlichkeit to all human beings. In the prefaceto his commentary on Sefer Bereishis, the Netziv, zl, expands on this idea.The Patriarchs distinguished themselves not only in their relationships withHashem, which was on the highest spiritual plane, but also in their dailydealings with…

Home -> 5763 -> Bereishis

בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5763

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and earth. (1:1)

The Baal HaTurim notes that the last letters of the words Bereishisbara Elokim — taf, aleph, mem — spell out (when rearranged) theword emes, truth. This teaches us that the world was created via theattribute of emes. Interestingly, the Torah alludes to the word emes in anindirect manner, since the sequence of the letters is out of order. HoravShmuel David Walkin, zl, infers a profound lesson from here. The Torahteaches us that one must strive for the truth, regardless of the situation. One isnot obligated to be truthful only during times of smooth sailing in which hehas no extenuating circumstances…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, V'zos HaBrachah

“And the days of tearful mourning for Moshe ended.” (34:8)

In the Talmud Shabbos, 106a, Chazal say, “Whoever lets down/ weeps over the passing of an adam kasher — upright, virtuous man — Hashem counts his tears and puts them aside in His treasury.” What is the meaning of “counting tears,” and what is its significance? Olas Shlomo on Seder Kedoshim, cited by Shai LaTorah, explains that it is human nature to weep for a person who passes from This World, regardless of the level of his virtue. We are an emotional people. Therefore, when someone dies, our first reaction is to express our emotion – an emotion that may…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, V'zos HaBrachah

“He (Moshe) carried out Hashem’s justice and His ordinances with Yisrael.” (33:21)

In Pirkei Avos, 5:18, Chazal teach us, “Whoever makes a multitude meritorious; no sin shall come through him…” Moshe Rabbeinu attained virtue and brought the multitude to virtue; therefore, the merit of the multitude is attributed to him, as it is stated, “He carried out Hashem’s justice and His ordinances with Yisrael.” We live in a complex world, in an environment that is not necessarily conducive to spiritual growth. While whether or not to sin consciously is based upon individual discretion, it is often difficult to avoid an inadvertent sin. When we act in haste without forethought, we might suffer…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Ha'azinu

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

Rashi tells us that the phrase, “b’etzem ha’yom ha’zeh,” “on that very day,” is mentioned in two other places. When Noach entered the Teivah, Ark, the Torah writes that he entered “on that very day”(Bereishis 7:13). Also, when the Jews left Egypt, the Torah writes that they left “on that very day” (Shemos 12:51). The reason for emphasizing when they left and when Noach entered the Ark, is to demonstrate that even if the people would have said, “We will not let Noach leave; we will not let the Jews depart Egypt,” Hashem enabled them to leave in the middle…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5761

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Ha'azinu

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

Rashi tells us that the phrase, “b’etzem ha’yom ha’zeh,” “on that very day,” is mentioned in two other places. When Noach entered the Teivah, Ark, the Torah writes that he entered “on that very day”(Bereishis 7:13). Also, when the Jews left Egypt, the Torah writes that they left “on that very day” (Shemos 12:51). The reason for emphasizing when they left and when Noach entered the Ark, is to demonstrate that even if the people would have said, “We will not let Noach leave; we will not let the Jews depart Egypt,” Hashem enabled them to leave in the middle…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5763

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5763, Ha'azinu

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

Rashi tells us that the phrase, “b’etzem ha’yom ha’zeh,” “on that very day,” is mentioned in two other places. When Noach entered the Teivah, Ark, the Torah writes that he entered “on that very day”(Bereishis 7:13). Also, when the Jews left Egypt, the Torah writes that they left “on that very day” (Shemos 12:51). The reason for emphasizing when they left and when Noach entered the Ark, is to demonstrate that even if the people would have said, “We will not let Noach leave; we will not let the Jews depart Egypt,” Hashem enabled them to leave in the middle…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5764

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, Ha'azinu

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

Rashi tells us that the phrase, “b’etzem ha’yom ha’zeh,” “on that very day,” is mentioned in two other places. When Noach entered the Teivah, Ark, the Torah writes that he entered “on that very day”(Bereishis 7:13). Also, when the Jews left Egypt, the Torah writes that they left “on that very day” (Shemos 12:51). The reason for emphasizing when they left and when Noach entered the Ark, is to demonstrate that even if the people would have said, “We will not let Noach leave; we will not let the Jews depart Egypt,” Hashem enabled them to leave in the middle…

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ויאמר אלקים יהי אור ויהי אור

And G-d said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (1:3)

ויאמר אלקים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו

And G-d said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” (1:26)

בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and the earth. (1:1)

בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and earth. (1:1)

“And the days of tearful mourning for Moshe ended.” (34:8)

“He (Moshe) carried out Hashem’s justice and His ordinances with Yisrael.” (33:21)

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

“Hashem spoke to Moshe on that very day… ‘Ascend to this mount of Avarim… and die on the mountain.’” (32:48- 50)

YEARS

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