Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

לא תלין פעלת שכיר אתך עד בקר. לא תקלל חרש

You shall not withhold a worker’s wage with you until morning. You shall not curse the deaf. (19:13,14)

The Baal HaTurim notes the juxtaposition of the prohibition against cursing a deaf person, or anyone for that matter, upon the prohibition against withholding a worker’s wages. He explains that, despite one’s justification for monetary claim, he may not curse him. He should take him to court to litigate whatever claim he may have against him. The Torah outlines the parameters of dispute for us. Reuven worked for Shimon. It was not easy labor. He put in his time and effort, and now he expects to be paid. He has every right to demand his wages. His children were home…

Home -> 5777 -> Kedoshim

קדושים תהיו... איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתותי תשמרו אני ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5777

You shall be holy… every man: your father and mother shall you revere and My Shabbasos shall you observe. I am Hashem. (19:2,3)

It was 1945 and Horav Moshe David Tenenbaum, zl, who was then head of the Vaad HaYeshivos in the Holy Land, went for a vacation in a small village in the north. As he was walking one day, a member of a nearby kibbutz approached him and asked if he could serve as the tenth man for a minyan. At first, he thought the fellow was teasing him, since it was a non-religious kibbutz and tefillah b’tzibur, davening with a minyan, was uncommon (to say the least). How surprised he was when he arrived at the kibbutz to meet the…

Home -> 5777 -> Acharei Mos

אשר יעשה אתם האדם וחי בהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5777

Which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

V’chai bahem – “By which he shall live (by them)” is an enjoinment to us that mitzvos, commandments, are not to come in contradistinction to life. Thus, if performing a mitzvah endangers one’s well-being, his life supersedes the mitzvah, except for the three cardinal sins of idolatry, murder and forbidden relationships. Furthermore, if violating a mitzvah is under such circumstances which would bring about a chillul, desecration, of Hashem’s Name, his life takes second place to the mitzvah. The Chiddushei HaRim views the words, v’chai bahem, as setting the standard for mitzvah performance. We are exhorted to perform mitzvos in…

Home -> 5777 -> Acharei Mos

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימותו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5777

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash (quoted by the Chida in Nachal Kedumim) relates that when Iyov heard of the incident concerning the tragic passing of Nadav and Avihu, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi, “Even for this my heart trembles.” The Midrash Rabba (Vayikra 20) elaborates concerning Iyov’s trembling: (Iyov said to himself) “Titus the wicked had the audacity to enter the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies (a place where only the Kohen Gadol entered on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur), brandishing a sword. He pierced the Paroches, Curtain, and his sword emerged blood-soaked. Yet, he went in peacefully (unharmed)…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not seen/favored him”; his brothers he did not recognize and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Shevet Levi, he details their qualities and the perfection of their souls, which they exhibited while standing up for the Glory of Hashem and His Torah. They withstood enormous challenges to their spiritual persona and emerged better people, to the point that their individual personal lives had no meaning to them. They lived for Hashem. When Moshe stood in the midst of the Jewish camp following the tragic sin of the Golden Calf, he called out, Mi l’Hashem eilai! “Who is for Hashem should come forward and stand by me!” It was the tribe of Levi…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight for him and may You be a Helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

The Talmud Sotah 7b, teaches that, during all of the years that the Jewish People sojourned in the Wilderness, the bones of Yehudah were rolling around in his coffin. Moshe Rabbeinu then prayed on his soul’s behalf. He entreated Hashem, saying, “Who caused Reuven to confess – if not Yehudah?” Immediately, Hashem listened. Yehudah’s bones came to rest, but they were not permitted to enter into the Yeshivah Shel Maalah, Heavenly Academy. Moshe prayed again, requesting, “And return/bring him to his people.” Hashem listened, and Yehudah’s neshamah entered the Yeshivah. He was unable, however, to establish a Torah dialogue with…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

Hashem is Klal Yisrael’s King in the fullest sense only when the nation acts like a klal, united in each individual’s conviction and obedience to carry out His Will. When we received the Torah at Har Sinai it was as ish echad b’lev echad, “One man with one heart.” The nation was unified as one. We pray for that day to return. Unity among Jews is all-important. Without it, we cannot exist as a nation under G-d. Great tzaddikim have gone out of their way to promote achdus, unity. Horav Moshe Epstein, zl, the Admor of Ozrov, was a well-known…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

This pasuk, which claims that the Torah is our morashah, heritage, seems to contradict Rabbi Yossi’s statement in Pirkei Avos 2:12, “And prepare yourself to study the Torah, for it does not come to you by inheritance.” Is it a yerushah – or not? Horav Meir Lehmann, zl, Rav of Mainz, Germany, (1850’s-1890) explains that indeed, the Torah is the heritage of the community of Yaakov – but not an inheritance of the individual Jew. The Torah belonging to the Jewish community-at-large will never be lost. There will always be men who will see to it that it is transmitted…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ha'azinu

If/that I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand shall grasp judgment, I shall return vengeance upon My enemies and upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution. (32:41)

In the Midrash, Chazal derive from the words, v’so’cheiz b’mishpat Yadi, “and My hand shall grasp judgment,” that Hashem’s meting out of punishment is unlike that of human judges. A human being who releases an arrow from a bow, or allows a bullet to exit the gun chamber, knows that there is no turning back. Once the arrow/bullet is released it is “deadset” on reaching its target. There is no pulling back, no reprieve. It is too late. For Hashem, it is never too late. The Almighty can retrieve His “arrows”, call back His “bullets”, at any time. Hashem is…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ha'azinu

For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them. (32:28)

One would think that an individual who is unable to render sound advice lacks discernment. There is a reason we refer to it as “sage” advice. One who “can” renders advice. One who is unable to determine, make distinction or perceive, is not one from whom we seek advice. If so, the pasuk is redundant. “For they are a nation bereft of counsel” – means that they are too foolish to recognize their own conceit. Why does the Torah add that “there is no discernment in them”? Obviously, they are not rocket scientists if they cannot figure out the course…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Kedoshim ->

לא תלין פעלת שכיר אתך עד בקר. לא תקלל חרש

You shall not withhold a worker’s wage with you until morning. You shall not curse the deaf. (19:13,14)

קדושים תהיו... איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתותי תשמרו אני ד'

You shall be holy… every man: your father and mother shall you revere and My Shabbasos shall you observe. I am Hashem. (19:2,3)

אשר יעשה אתם האדם וחי בהם

Which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימותו

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not seen/favored him”; his brothers he did not recognize and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight for him and may You be a Helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

If/that I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand shall grasp judgment, I shall return vengeance upon My enemies and upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution. (32:41)

For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them. (32:28)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!