Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“You slandered in your tents and said, “Because of Hashem’s hatred of us did he take us out of the land of Egypt.” (1:27)

Moshe Rabbeinu begins Sefer Devarim with words of rebuke. He attempts to alert Bnei Yisrael to their past errors. He is hoping that their march onward into Eretz Yisrael will not be tainted by a continuation of their sinful behavior. They could have had an easy, smooth journey into the land — if only they would not have been encumbered by foolish mistakes. Each mistake was a blemish that needed correction; each sin had to be expiated prior to their entry. His words would have all been in vain, their entire stay in the desert a waste, however, if they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

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

Chazal find a hidden message in the word ofkf, “all of you.” They contend that the manner in which they approached Moshe, the young showing disrespect towards their elders by pushing ahead, was the precursor of the disastrous outcome of their mission. We must endeavor to understand this statement. Is Moshe rebuking the people for their lack of derech eretz? Was not their sin a lack of faith in Hashem’s ability to bring them into the land? The mere fact that they requested spies in itself represented insurrection. How does their lack of proper manners correlate with their transgression? Horav…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

The Midrash in Eichah distinguishes the context of Moshe’s use of the word “eichah” from the ways in which Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu use the same word. Moshe was lamenting his obligation to deal personally with Klal Yisrael‘s petty complaints. On the other hand, Yeshayahu lamented Bnei Yisrael‘s unfaithfulness to Hashem. vbuzk v,hv vfht, “How had the faithful city become like a harlot,” he cried out. Yirmiyahu, who saw their humiliation and destruction cried out, vfht ssc vcah, “Alas, she (Klal Yisrael) sits in solitude.” The commentators differentiate among these three “eichahs” as referring to distinct stages of Klal Yisrael‘s iniquity….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

Hashem tells Bnei Yisrael that one year at Har Sinai was sufficient. They had achieved remarkable benefits at this place. The Torah, the Mishkan with its various vessels, and their spiritual leadership all were established at Har Sinai. The time had come to move on. Let us examine this statement. Imagine that one is living in a community in which he has abundant material benefit, amazing financial success, and many friends. Are we going to tell him that since he is achieving such a high level of success, the time has come to move away? Is this not essentially what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Masei

“And the assembly shall return him to his city of refuge where he fled, he shall dwell in it until the death of the Kohen Gadol … (35:25,28)

In the Talmud Makos 11b Chazal rule that the unintentional murderer may not leave his city of refuge under any circumstance, even if he is a witness who is to testify in a case of capital punishment. They go so far as to say that even if all of Klal Yisrael were in dire need of his leadership, such as Yoav ben Tzruyah, he still may not leave. There he shall live, there he shall die, and there he is to be buried. This halachah is enigmatic! Is it not true that pikuach nefesh, a case which involves life and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Masei

“These are the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael…. and they journeyed… and they camped.” (33:1,3)

Forty two times the Torah reiterates ubjhu – ugxhu “and they journeyed/and they rested.” The commentators suggest reasons for the Torah’s recounting each and every situation in Klal Yisrael’s sojourn. One thing is clear: Each word is there for a purpose; it is there to teach us a lesson. Horav Moshe Swift, zl, infers a meaningful lesson from this apparent redundancy. Life has its ups and downs, its moments of opportunity and success, and its periods of mistakes and catastrophe. The important lesson to remember is to take each of life’s situations in mind, study it and apply it. It…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Matos

“The children of Reuven and the children of Gad had abundant livestock… they approached him (Moshe) and they said, pens for the flock we shall build here for our livestock and cities for our children… and Moshe said to them… Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your livestock.” (37:1,16,24)

Chazal teach us that Moshe criticized Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven for the prioritization of their values. They said they would build pens for their animals and cities for their children. They were implying that their livestock rated higher priority than their children. In Moshe Rabbeinu’s response, he implied that they should respond first to the needs of their children, and only then take the necessary steps to care for their livestock. It is difficult to comprehend that such great people would place their livestock before their children. This is not a question of priorities – it represents sheer stupidity!…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Matos

“Take vengeance for the Bnei Yisrael against the Midyanites afterward you will be gathered unto Your people.” (31:2)

Moshe Rabbeinu’s death was dependent upon his waging war against the Midyanites. Why was this so? What would have happened if vengeance had been meted against Midyan after Moshe’s death? Meshech Chochmah posits that had Moshe not been at the forefront of the battle against Midyan, some individuals would infer that Moshe did not support taking adverse action against them. Moshe benefitted greatly from his stay in Midyan. He married the daughter of Yisro, the high priest of Midyan. He lived there for a number of years, safe and secure from the clutches of Pharaoh. Perhaps he was beholden to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 75a Chazal remark, “Of your honor – but not all of your honor.” The elders of that generation said, “The face of Moshe is like that of the sun, while the face of Yehoshua is similar to that of the moon. Woe to such embarrassment; woe to such humiliation.” We are taught that Yehoshua’s spiritual brilliance paled in comparison to that of Moshe. Indeed, the elders who observed this apparent disparity viewed Yehoshua as an embarrassment in light of Moshe. We must endeavor to understand Chazal’s statement. Is it common to find someone whose spiritual…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

Our parsha begins by recounting Pinchas’s courageous act of zealousness which took place in the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu and the entire Jewish leadership. Everyone stood watching while Zimri flaunted his repulsive act. Yet, only one person stepped forth and followed through with the halachic demand for purging Klal Yisrael of this incursion. Pinchas demonstrated decisiveness in reacting to Zimri’s transgression. He was not concerned with “what people might say.” He did not act impulsively. He responded bravely to the travesty, catalyzing an end to a tragic episode in the history of Klal Yisrael. It would, therefore, seem natural that…

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“You slandered in your tents and said, “Because of Hashem’s hatred of us did he take us out of the land of Egypt.” (1:27)

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

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

“And the assembly shall return him to his city of refuge where he fled, he shall dwell in it until the death of the Kohen Gadol … (35:25,28)

“These are the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael…. and they journeyed… and they camped.” (33:1,3)

“Take vengeance for the Bnei Yisrael against the Midyanites afterward you will be gathered unto Your people.” (31:2)

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

YEARS

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