Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, V'zos HaBrachah

“To Zevulun he said, ‘Rejoice, O’ Zevulun in your excursions and Yissachar in your tents.'” (33:8)

Zevulun and Yissachar maintained a unique partnership. While Zevulun engaged in the world of business, Yissachar devoted his entire time to Torah study. Zevulun supported his older brother in his life’s endeavor, thereby creating a relationship that has been adopted by many Jews throughout the ages. The Yissachar-Zevulun partnership has been emulated by those whose time is devoted to the world of finance, while they sustain those whose life’s work is the study and dissemination of Torah. Horav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, zl, the Admor M’ozrov, takes note of the fact that Zevulun is mentioned prior to Yissachar. He suggests that…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, V'zos HaBrachah

“And this is the blessing that Moshe… bestowed upon the Bnei Yisrael before his death.” (33:1)

Moshe was acutely aware that the end was near; these would be his final words. In his last mandate to the people, he blessed them. All of the tribes to whom he had devoted so much of his life passed before him to receive their final blessing from the individual who had been more than leader and prophet – he was a compassionate father who had sacrificed himself for his children. He was a father who wished to leave this world with words of consolation, encouragement, and hope with which his children could face the future. The Sifri states a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, V'zos HaBrachah

“And this is the blessing that Moshe the man of G-d bestowed upon the Bnei Yisrael.” (33:1)

The Midrash teaches us that prior to his death, Moshe Rabbeinu continued in the tradition which the Patriarchs had initiated. As Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov before him had blessed their sons before they took leave of this world, Moshe, likewise, blessed Bnei Yisrael, his spiritual children, before his death. The Midrash adds that the members of each ensuing generation began their blessing with the words with which the previous generation had closed. Hence, Avraham ended his blessing to Yitzchak with “nesinah,” “giving,” as is stated in Bereishis 25:6, “And Avraham gave all that he had to Yitzchak.” Yitzchak followed suit…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Ha'azinu

“When he sees that every power progresses, and none is saved or assisted.” (32:37)

The power of Klal Yisrael’s enemies will have grown to the point that they are apparently unassailable. It seems as if there is no hope. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 96a, Chazal derive from this pasuk that Moshiach will not arrive until the Jewish people have given up hope for salvation. Specifically when the future looks the bleakest, Hashem will “step in.” This is enigmatic! Is it necessary to forsake one of the thirteen principles of our faith, the belief in the advent of Moshiach, in order for him to arrive? Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zl, addresses this question and offers an…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Ha'azinu

“And Yeshurun became fat and wicked, you became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent. And it deserted G-d its Maker, and was contemptuous of the Rock of its salvation.” (32:15,16)

Why is the text redundant? The Dvar Avraham explains that the second part of the pasuk states the reason for the nation’s rebellion. What occurred that catalyzed Klal Yisrael’s corpulence? What transformed them from G-d fearing, decent, refined human beings into ox-like personalities who would reject the yoke of Hashem? The answer lies in the “taf,” the suffix of the words. This letter transforms the word into second person, which implies, you became thick, you became corpulent. Thinking only of yourself, you excluded yourself from the nation. This attitude of exclusivity led to the individuals completely separating themselves from the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Ha'azinu

“Ask your father and he will relate it to you, and your elders and they will tell you.” (32:7)

The people are reproved for their unwillingness to take counsel, to listen to the voice of experience. Those who have lived through ordeals, who have experienced the ups and downs of life, who have seen the reward and punishment incurred by the behavior of previous generations, have advice for us. We must seek out their guidance and listen to their opinion. The voice of experience is not hypothetical. It has lived through various situations and has learned how to handle them. Horav Aharon Walkin, zl, supplements this idea. The determining factor by which one can discern who is a chacham,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Ha'azinu

“Is He not your Father, your Master?” (32:6)

Horav Chaim Berlin, zl, translated the word “kanecha,” as a derivative of the word “ken,” nest. This would then mean that Hashem is Klal Yisrael’s nest, their home, their source of sustenance and protection. He rendered this interpretation in light of an interesting story that occurred when he was Rav of Moscow. One day a Jew came to him and implored him to circumcise his newborn son – secretly. This strange behavior aroused the Rav’s curiosity, and he questioned the man regarding his desire to keep his son’s circumcision secret. The man responded that he was a totally assimilated Jew…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Ha'azinu

“The Rock! Perfect in His work, for all His paths are justice. A G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He.” (32:3,4)

Hashem’s judgement is perfect! The fact that we may not understand His ways does not in any manner affect the righteousness of His judgement. We must view every decree that Hashem issues as perfect. The essence of emunah is our belief that Hashem in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for us. We find this concept expressed in the Talmud Avodah Zarah 18b in an incident concerning Rabbi Chaninah ben Tradyon. Together with his wife, he recited these pesukim as he was led to a most terrible and painful death. It is difficult for a human being with limited…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5756

“Because you did not serve Hashem, your G-d, amid gladness and goodness of heart, when everything was abundant.” (28:47)

The Torah emphasizes that the underlying reason Klal Yisrael fell prey to the many curses that Moshe enumerated was their lack of joy in mitzvah observance. This is enigmatic! Imagine that one is careful to observe the mitzvos, even punctilious in their observance. Yet, if he lacks “gladness of heart” in performing the mitzvos, he might be subjected to terrible curses. Is this right? Horav M.D. Soloveitchik, Shlita, distinguishes between two types of sin. The first is represented by the sinner who transgresses and is remorseful about it. He is aware that he did something wrong, that he fell into…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5756

“You will go mad from the sight of your eyes that you will see.” (28:33)

Rav Akiva Eiger, zl, interprets “your eyes,” as alluding to the “eyes” of the nation, the spiritual leadership of Klal Yisrael. Hence, the curse is that we will be dumbfounded by the behavior and the rhetoric which will emanate from some of our people’s own leadership. The mar’ei einecha, image, presented by these “leaders” will be humiliating and degrading. They will act in a manner unbecoming a Torah Jew, let alone a spiritual leader. This is our thrice daily prayer to Hashem “Return (to us) our judges as before,” we pray to Hashem that our leaders be worthy of their…

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“To Zevulun he said, ‘Rejoice, O’ Zevulun in your excursions and Yissachar in your tents.'” (33:8)

“And this is the blessing that Moshe… bestowed upon the Bnei Yisrael before his death.” (33:1)

“And this is the blessing that Moshe the man of G-d bestowed upon the Bnei Yisrael.” (33:1)

“When he sees that every power progresses, and none is saved or assisted.” (32:37)

“And Yeshurun became fat and wicked, you became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent. And it deserted G-d its Maker, and was contemptuous of the Rock of its salvation.” (32:15,16)

“Ask your father and he will relate it to you, and your elders and they will tell you.” (32:7)

“Is He not your Father, your Master?” (32:6)

“The Rock! Perfect in His work, for all His paths are justice. A G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He.” (32:3,4)

“Because you did not serve Hashem, your G-d, amid gladness and goodness of heart, when everything was abundant.” (28:47)

“You will go mad from the sight of your eyes that you will see.” (28:33)

YEARS

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