Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! – they had done it… and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

Blessing an individual who was involved in the creation and successful completion of a project is more than a token of encouragement. It ratifies his work and shows that it is appreciated. When Klal Yisrael completed the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbeinu blessed them. Rashi quotes the text of the blessing. “Yehi ratzon, may it be Hashem’s Will that the Shechinah rests upon your handiwork. As you successfully completed the Mishkan, so should you merit to go on to build the Bais HaMikdash.” Ralbag writes that it is appropriate for the pre-eminent leader of the generation (or any other spiritual leader, for that…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Pekudei

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan… which were reckoned at Moshe’s bidding. (38:21)

Imagine Moshe Rabbeinu gave an accounting of every item used for the construction of the Mishkan. He gave this accounting to the Jewish People to allay any fears that they might have concerning the propriety of his leadership. It is astounding – almost unreal – that the adon haNaviim, master of all prophets, the quintessential leader of the Jewish nation, had to prove himself! Concerning Moshe, Hashem attests: B’chol Beisi ne’eman hu, “In all My house he is trusted” (Bamidbar 12:7). Yet, Moshe felt it necessary to give a clear accounting to the people of every piece of gold, silver,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayakhel

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

If one follows the translation of this pasuk – “Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring – brought a free-willed offering” – seems redundant: “Whoever was motivated to bring – brought.” Is there any question concerning their offering? The commentators respond to this redundancy, each in his inimitable manner. I will focus on one such interpretation. Horav Yehonasan Eibeshitz, zl, offers a practical explanation. When Moshe Rabbeinu made his appeal for the Mishkan, the entire Jewish nation responded positively – even the erev rav, mixed-multitude. This created a problem, since the members of the erev rav were…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayakhel

Moshe assembled the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (35:1)

The Avnei Nezer explains that as the Mishkan’s construction came to a conclusion, Moshe Rabbeinu assembled the entire nation for the purpose of teaching them the importance of harmony. The goal of the Mishkan is to serve as the one unifying place, the singular force towards which all of the Jewish People focus their prayers and sacrifices. Until the completion of the Mishkan, it was permissible to offer sacrifices on Bamos, personal altars. Each and every Jew did his own thing, expressing his service to Hashem on his personal wavelength, exclusive of his neighbor. Tefillah was an individual endeavor. It…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

When Klal Yisrael stood at the foot of Har Sinai, they pledged their eternal devotion to Hashem with their seminal declaration of Naaseh v’Nishma, “We will do and we will listen!” Their obedience to the Almighty and His Torah was affirmed and ratified with these words. Alas, forty days later, they broke their trust by betraying their promise, offering their allegiance instead to a molten calf of their own creation. This marked the nadir of disloyalty. Hashem stated that He would put an end to this recalcitrant people. Such people did not deserve a commutation of Hashem’s desired decree. (Nevertheless,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

“Please show me now Your Glory”… “You will see My back, but My face may not be seen.” (33:18, 23)

The question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” has plagued man from time immemorial. To the individual who does not believe in an All-good, Omniscient, and Omnipotent G-d, this question remains unanswered. If Hashem is not All-good, He could do evil and even enjoy inflicting it on others. If the Almighty is not Omniscient, bad things could easily occur, since He does not know everything that is taking place in the world which He created. And, if G-d is not Omnipotent, then bad things could just happen, because forces exist in the world which are beyond His control….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

Yehoshua heard the sound of the people in its shouting, and he said to Moshe, “The sound of battle is in the camp.” (32:17)

Moshe Rabbeinu, the Jewish People’s quintessential leader, could discern the true nature of the sounds that emanated from their camp. He understood that the shouting was an indication that the people were actually enjoying their blatant rebellion against Hashem. Yehoshua, however, thought it was the people’s response to an aggressive attack. Celebrating by means of the blasphemous and immoral behavior which accompanied their worship of the molten calf conveyed a depressing message to Moshe: these people were enjoying their sinfulness. It is very difficult to change a person who rejoices and luxuriates in his iniquity. This is one approach to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

“They have strayed quickly from the way that I have commanded them; they have made themselves a molten calf.” (32:8)

The eigel rebellion, in which a group of mutineers led the Jewish People to create a Golden Calf, is recognized as one of our people’s darkest moments. What makes it more egregious is that it took place a mere forty days after they had accepted the Torah with a resounding declaration of Naaseh v’Nishma, “We will do and we will listen!” In the Midrash Rabbah, Chazal compare this incident to a servant who has been given two very expensive goblets. “Please take great care of these goblets. They are very precious,” the king said to the servant. Understandably, the servant…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5771

Upon it shall Aharon bring the spice incense up in smoke. (30:7)

The Mizbayach HaZahav, Golden Altar, also known as Mizbayach HaPenimi, Inner Altar, and Mizbayach HaKetores, Incense Altar, was not used for the offering of animal sacrifices, but for burning ketores, incense. Nonetheless, it was called a mizbayach, derived from the root word, zevach, sacrifice. The concept of sacrifice is the reducing of something to nothingness. The burning of incense has such beneficial impact that it can defeat plagues, calamities, even death. The mysterious power of the incense burning explains the privileged place within the Mishkan reserved for the Golden Mizbayach upon which the ketores was burnt. Hence, its name –…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5771

And you, bring near to yourself Aharon, your brother…to minister to Me. (28:1)

The Yalkut (Shemos 247) makes the following somewhat cryptic statement: “Bring near to yourself Aharon, your brother.” This is to what the pasuk in Tehillim 65:5, “Praises to the one whom You choose/(select) and draw near,” is alluding: Praised is one whom Hashem selects, even though He has not brought him near; and fortunate is he whom Hashem has brought near, even though He has not chosen him. Who was chosen? Avraham Avinu, as it is written in Nechemiah 9:7, “You selected Avraham.” However, Hashem did not bring Avraham near. The Patriarch did so on his own. Yaakov Avinu was chosen…

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Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! – they had done it… and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan… which were reckoned at Moshe’s bidding. (38:21)

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

Moshe assembled the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (35:1)

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

“Please show me now Your Glory”… “You will see My back, but My face may not be seen.” (33:18, 23)

Yehoshua heard the sound of the people in its shouting, and he said to Moshe, “The sound of battle is in the camp.” (32:17)

“They have strayed quickly from the way that I have commanded them; they have made themselves a molten calf.” (32:8)

Upon it shall Aharon bring the spice incense up in smoke. (30:7)

And you, bring near to yourself Aharon, your brother…to minister to Me. (28:1)

YEARS

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