Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And they shall make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among them.”(25:8)

The Mishkan serves as the place where a Jew can have the opportunity to encounter Hashem’s Presence in a controlled and structured manner. The Ramban notes that the parsha concerning the building of the Mishkan (with its holy vessels) follows the parshios dealing with the giving of the Torah and instituting the system of laws and social justice. Only after Am Yisrael has established itself as a holy nation to be fulfilled through Torah and mitzvos do the Jewish people merit the Mishkan as a place to centralize the pre-existent holiness within the community. The Mishkan is not the source…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (21:18)

It is obviously beyond the ability of even the greatest contemporary man to memorize all of the details of the Torah in forty days, simultaneously comprehending all of its profundities. Moshe did all of this while he also learned how to observe the mitzvos, including the specifics of the construction of the Mishkan and its appurtenances, which are not written in the Torah. Consequently, we may deduce that the process of study which transpired on the mountain was nothing less than a miraculous feat. Hashem bestowed this wisdom upon Moshe as one would pour wine into a vessel. The…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And Hashem said to Moshe , Come up to Me onto the mountain and be there, and I will give you the tablets of stone and the commandments which I have written that you shall teach them.” (21:12)

The “call” that came to Moshe to ascend the heights of Har Sinai conveys the potential power inherent in man. It represents the supremacy of spirit over flesh, of the eternal over the ephemeral, of vision over reason. The event that transpired during that ascendancy cannot be explained logically. Only the arrogance of a shallow man would cause him to dismiss this revelation. Only one who has never been there, who lacks even a concept of how to approach the level of inspiration which Moshe reached, would endeavor to detract from this awesome experience. It is only Moshe who was…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And if a man will come presumptuously upon his fellow to slay him with guile, from My altar, take him for execution.” (21:14)

Rashi explains that if this murderer were a Kohen who had intended to perform the service in the Bais Hamikdash, he may be taken away to his execution. The altar does not serve as a place of refuge for those who deserve punishment. Horav Moshe Shternbuch Shlita offers a unique homiletic approach to understanding this pasuk. One should not think that by performing mitzvos he can commute the punishment he merits for the various sins he has committed. Just as a sin does not have the power to extinguish a mitzvah, likewise, a mitzvah cannot erase a sin. The only…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“If you shall acquire a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve.” (21:2)

The servant described here is actually a thief who was sold by the Bais Din into servitude because of his inability to make restitution. The Torah’s manner of punishment seems peculiar. The community takes a common thief who has exhibited complete disregard for another person’s possessions and feelings and gives him a new home, job, and lifestyle. We are giving self-respect to one who has shown so little esteem to others. This question becomes stronger when one takes into account the statement of the Talmud (Kiddushin 22b) that “one who acquires a Jewish servant is really purchasing a master for…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“Honor your father and your mother.” (20:12)

The Exodus from Egypt and the revelation of the Torah on Har Sinai are the two basic focal points in the history of the Jewish people. They constitute the foundation for our submission to Hashem. Although these events are actual historical truths, the acknowledgment of them is solely dependent upon tradition. Tradition is developed by the loyal transmission by parents to children and by the children’s willing acceptance of these ideals from the hands of the parents. Thus, the continuity of Hashem’s great institution of Judaism rests entirely upon the obedience of children to parents. Consequently, the mitzvah of honoring…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And Hashem said to Moshe, behold I come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people may hear when I speak to you and that they may believe in you forever.” (19:9)

Bnei Yisrael did not believe in Moshe because of the various signs which he performed. A belief based on signs leaves room for doubt about their true origin. Bnei Yisrael believed in Moshe at Har Sinai because of the great revelation of miracles which they witnessed with their own eyes. Their eyes saw the flames and their ears heard the thunder, so that this miraculous spectacle was integrated into their hearts and minds forever. Moshe’s personal acts were contested by members of his generation, but not one Jew questioned the actual giving of the Torah. Despite the fact that they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

Bnei Yisrael responded ,with “We will do,” prior to saying “And we will listen”. Consequently, a Heavenly voice came forth and proclaimed, “Who revealed to My sons the secret of uttering vagb before gnab, an expression reserved for angels?” Because Bnei Yisrael were absolutely prepared to accept the Torah before hearing its commandments, they attained the highest spiritual level a human being is capable of achieving. We must endeavor to understand the great secret of exclaiming vagb prior to gnab/ What difference is there in the precise order of acceptance as long as the Torah is properly observed? In order…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And Yisro heard… of all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people.” (18:1) – “And Moshe told his father-in-law all that Hashem had done.” (18:8) – “And Yisro said blessed be Hashem for saving you.” (18:10)

We may note that Yisro did not bless Hashem until after he had heard the various miracles which had transpired directly from Moshe. What was unique about Moshe’s description of the details of the Exodus and its miracles as differentiated from the information Yisro had heard while in Midyan? Indeed, the first reports of these occurrences provided incentive enough for him to leave his home to come join Bnei Yisrael in the desert. The Darchei Mussar explains that from this pasuk we may derive the importance of studying with a teacher who is replete with yiras shomayim (fear of Heaven)….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5752

“And they came to Ailam, and there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms and they camped there on the water.” (15:27)

In Parashas Masei, as the Torah recounts Bnei Yisrael’s travels and enumerates the places in which they camped, the Torah does not deem it appropriate to mention any of the great miracles that transpired for their benefit. The Torah does, however, mention their encampment in Ailim, a place where they found such material benefits as twelve springs and seventy date palms. Ramban notes this, citing a Mechilta that states that these twelve springs were created specifically for the benefit of the twelve tribes. He goes on to assert that the seventy date palms were exclusively set aside in order that…

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“And they shall make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among them.”(25:8)

“And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (21:18)

“And Hashem said to Moshe , Come up to Me onto the mountain and be there, and I will give you the tablets of stone and the commandments which I have written that you shall teach them.” (21:12)

“And if a man will come presumptuously upon his fellow to slay him with guile, from My altar, take him for execution.” (21:14)

“If you shall acquire a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve.” (21:2)

“Honor your father and your mother.” (20:12)

“And Hashem said to Moshe, behold I come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people may hear when I speak to you and that they may believe in you forever.” (19:9)

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

“And Yisro heard… of all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people.” (18:1) – “And Moshe told his father-in-law all that Hashem had done.” (18:8) – “And Yisro said blessed be Hashem for saving you.” (18:10)

“And they came to Ailam, and there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms and they camped there on the water.” (15:27)

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