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Home -> 5752 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5752

“And Moshe made Yisrael journey from the Red Sea.” (15:22)

Rashi explains that Moshe was obligated to force Bnei Yisrael to journey away from the Red Sea. One would imagine that once they had triumphed over the Egyptian enemy, Bnei Yisrael would anxiously proceed with all available speed to reach their desired destination. This was not the case, however. They stopped to collect the booty left over by their enemy. As Chazal state, the gold, silver, and precious stones which had adorned the Egyptian horses and chariots were now available to the victors. Bnei Yisrael became preoccupied with the collections of these material goods.   Unfortunately. throughout Jewish history, Jews…

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Home -> 5752 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5752

“And all the chariots of Egypt.” (14:7)

Rashi cites the Midrash that states that the animals which were hitched to these chariots belonged to those select Egyptians who feared the word of Hashem. They had removed their animals from the fields during the hailstorm, which was the sixth plague. The cattle of these G-d fearing individuals were endangering Jewish lives. This Midrash clearly satirizes the G-d-fearing Egyptians. They feared Hashem only when the lives of their cattle were at stake, but overtly defied Him when the issue was Jewish survival. Our people have confronted this type of blatant hypocrisy throughout history. The very same people who professed…

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Home -> 5752 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5752

“And Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him, for he had caused the Bnei Yisrael to swear… and you shall bring up my bones with you.” (13:19)

At first glance, the pasuk seems to downplay the performance of this mitzvah, by implying that the incentive was purely a result of a previous promise made to Yosef. The Talmud (Sota 9b) states, however, that because of Moshe’s preoccupation with this mitzvah he merited that Hashem Himself would engage in his burial. Therefore, we must deduce that the Torah is , in fact, teaching us the reason that Moshe merited Hashem’s personal engagement in this endeavor. Obviously, it wasn’t necessary for Yosef to exact a promise from Bnei Yisrael to take his bones out of Egypt. There were many…

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Home -> 5752 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bo, 5752

“And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, it is because of that (which) Hashem did for me when I went out of Egypt.” (13:8)

A father has the holy obligation to educate his child, as well as to serve as a paradigm of guidance and inspiration to his child. Just as parents are required to provide for their child’s physical needs, they must also be vigilant in sustaining them spiritually. Various techniques have been developed for the appropriate manner in which to educate children.   The Rambam cites Avraham Avinu’s unique approach to reaching out in order to educate the members of a pagan society concerning belief in Hashem . Avrohom had the ability to relate to each person according to his individual level…

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Home -> 5752 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bo, 5752

“It was a night of watching unto Hasehm, for bringing them out of Egypt.”(12:42)

The events preceding and including that fateful night are indelibly engraved in the hearts and minds of the Jewish people. The Ten Plagues were the equivilant of ten seminars of instruction in the recognition of the true G-d and the election of Am Yisrael as His people. At each plague, the Jewish people were elevated to new heights of awareness of these two foundamental beliefs. After the tenth lesson they had attained such understanding that Hashem considered them ready to go forward towards the ultimate rendezvous at Mt. Sinai. These experiences will remain with us as ultimate lessons for all…

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Home -> 5752 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bo, 5752

“And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians.” (12:30)

One who reads the above pasuk cursorily may miss its profound message. How was Pharaoh and all of Egypt capable of going to bed, let alone falling asleep, when they were fully cognizant of what might transpire if Moshe’s warning were to be realized? Had not the first nine plagues taken their toll on the Egyptian people? Even if there has been room to doubt the potential for this plague’s fulfillment, sleep would still have been impossible. This was an integral part of Hashem’s divine plan. Had Pharaoh stayed awake, anxiously waiting to see if this latest warning would be…

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Home -> 5752 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bo, 5752

“This month shall be to you the beginning of the months.” (12:2)

The Sforno explains that from this point forward the months of the year shall be yours, to do with them as you will. During the bondage, however, “time” did not belong to you. Rather, slaves spend their time fulfilling the will of others. A slave has no time which he can consider his own. He lacks freedom of choice due to his subservience to his master, who determines his complete schedule. In contrast, freedom grants the individual mastery over his own time, enabling him to decide the most effective course for its utilization. Perhaps we may suggest a more profound…

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Home -> 5752 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bo, 5752

“And that you shall tell in the ears of your son and your son’s son… that you should know that I am Hashem” (10:2)

The end of this pasuk “and you should know” seems to be inconsistent with its beginning. The purpose of teaching about the exile and exodus to our children is that these fundamental experiences become an intgral part of our nation’s heritage. They will be employed as a vehicle to emphasize and imbue our children with faith in Hashem. Thus, it should have stated, “And they shall know.” Obviously, we may note that the lessons to be derived are not only for the children, but also for the parents. When these pivotal experiences are taught with an air of complacency and…

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Home -> 5752 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5752

“He that feared the word of Hashem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” (9:20)

In Moshe’s warning to Pharaoh preceding the plague of hail, he explicitly stated that any man or animal who remained outside during the hailstorm would surely perish. Nevertheless, the Torah clearly states that the only ones who went inside were those few individuals who were G-d fearing. In contrast to this select group, the majority of Egyptians disregarded Hashem’s word and left their slaves and animals outside. We must remember that this warning came after Hashem’s warning already had been confirmed through the six prior plagues. Each of these plagues were effected only after three weeks of warning and each…

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Home -> 5752 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5752

“And the river shall swarm (with) frogs which shall go up and enter your home… and into your ovens.” (7:28)

The second plague which Hashem brought against the Egyptians was frogs, which invaded the entire Egyptian community. No place was free of this menace, not even the heated ovens. The Talmud (Pesachim 53b) relates that Chananya, Mishael and Azaria, who entered the fiery furnace in defiance of Nevuchadnezar, had developed a kal v’achomer (a priori argument) from the frogs. If frogs who have no mitzvah to sanctify Hashem’s Name, nevertheless entered the fiery furnaces in order to glorify His Name, how much more so should we who are enjoined in the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem be obligated to do so….

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