Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them to the Bnei Yisrael”. (6:13)

Chazal (Yerushalmi Rosh Hashana 3:5) explain that the special commandment at this time was the dictate concerning the laws of setting one’s slaves free. It seems peculiar that Hashem deemed it necessary to enjoin them with this specific mitzvah at this particular time. We may explain this in the following manner. At various times every individual experiences a moment of such import that it has the potential to transform one’s entire life. When such an experience takes place, it is necessary that he immediately immortalizes those fleeting moments and integrate them into his outlook on life. This concept does not…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5752

“And I will take you to Me for a nation.” (6:7)

With these two words “to Me for a nation”, Hashem expresses the destiny of Am Yisrael for the first time. He simultanously defines the unique quality of Judaism. People tend to classify Judaism under the category of religions in general. They are amazed to discover that so much within the dictates of Judaism lies outside the sphere of ordinary religions. “To Me, to be a nation”. This pasuk declares that Judaism has been founded by Hashem as a way of life and it cannot be described as a religion. The Jewish people are to be a nation unto Hashem. While…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Shemos

“Come and I will send you to Pharaoh that you shall bring forth My people.” (3:10)

If Hashem wanted the Jews to leave Egypt, surely He could have arranged it in the twinkling of an eye. Certainly nothing could stand in the way of the Supreme Master of the world! Why then did he send Moshe to Pharaoh to plead with him to allow the Jews to leave Egypt? Why was it deemed necessary to send one plague after another to induce Pharaoh into agreement? What purpose did Moshe serve by constantly returning to this most obstinate ruler? We may suggest that herein lies the important lesson of hakoras hatov (the obligation to acknowledge and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Shemos

“But the midwives feared Hashem, and they did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed them; rather they kept the children alive.” (1:17)

The heroic behavior of the two midwives, who Chazal identify as Yocheved and Miriam, is unquestionably a classic illustration of self-sacrifice. Ignoring a king’s decree is a great risk at any time, especially during times of such a tumultous political climate. Yocheved and Miriam accepted this challenge and excelled. In describing their heroism the Torah emphasizes that the motivation for their behavior is reflected in the pasuk “The midwives feared Hashem.” Their self-sacrifice did not emenate from an innate compassion which prohibited them from executing brutal genocide against the infants in order to save their own lives. Rather, their actions…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Shemos

“And they made the Bnei Yisrael work with rigor.” (1:13)

The Talmud states that the word lrpc should be read as” lr vpc” with a gentle mouth (Sotah 11b). This implies that the Egyptians did not compel the Jews to serve at first, but rather induced them to work using diverse methods of seduction. They paid wages to the builders of Pisom and Ramses. The king himself hung a golden brick upon a worker’s chest to show the esteem in which he held his work. Noting this, the masses quickly transferred their residences from the sheltered Goshen to the Egyptian metropolis. The members of the tribe of Levi, however, did…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Shemos

“And Yosef died and all his brothers and all that generation. And the land was filled with them… and there arose a new king who did not know Yosef.” (1:6-8)

The opening pesukim of this parsha deal with the history of the first generation of Bnei Yisrael in the Egyptian exile. They imply that there are three stages in the process of the spiritual decline of Jewish life. First, the entire generation of immigrants dies. The “old school” passes on and disappears. Some children, even if they are not “practicing Jews,” will not exhibit their indifference to Judaism in the presence of their parents out of fear that it would break their hearts. Often children refrain from breaking with their heritage until immediately after their parents’ death. Such behavior illustrates…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayechi

“All these” were the twelve tribes of Israel. And “this” was what their father said to them and he blessed them, each according to his blessing he blessed them.” (49:28)

Yaakov was able to discern the diversity within the twelve tribes. In his blessing to his sons he reflected upon this. “All these” represented the tribes of Israel. Yaakov spoke to them of “this,” recognizing the underlying unity that existed among the tribes. When divergent opinions exist within any group, discord rules: Each member is struggling to impose his opinion on the other members. Regarding Am Yisrael, however, while each tribe and each community may have its own particular traditions, reflecting its own individual virtue, Yaakov blessed each one distinctively. Yet, as long as each remembers to ascribe to the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayechi

“Yehudah, your brothers shall praise (elevate) you.” (49:8)

Despite the fact that he was the fourth son, Yehudah spoke up to save Yosef’s life. He was also the valiant spokesman for Binyamin. Hashem rewarded him for his valor, promising that the future leadership of Am Yisrael was to be his. Yaakov’s prophesy applied not only to royalty, but also to the full name of nationhood which eventually was derived from Yehudah’s name: “Yehudim”. Horav Avigdor Miller Shlita explains that the word “Yehudah” in its noun form, is derived from “hod” which denotes elevation, splendor, or majesty. As a verb it acquires the meaning of praising or elevating. It…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayechi

Shimon and Levi are brothers… into their council let my soul not come.” (49:5-6)

Despite the fact that Yaakov rebuked Shimon and Levi equally, we find that historically these two brothers went disparate ways. The tribe of Levi was chosen to carry the mantle of the priesthood, while the tribe of Shimon seemingly did not attain such a lofty position. We may suggest that this was because Shimon was the instigator whose aggressive actions led to the execution of the men of Shechem. In contrast, Levi was merely a follower who came under the influence of his brother. This characterization of Levi lies in his name, which is derived from the pasuk “Now this…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayechi

“And like fish they shall multiply in the midst of the earth.” (48:16)

Rashi explains that the word udshu originates from the word ds (fish). Thus, the blessing was that Efraim and Menashe should multiply and grow just as fish multiply and grow without the evil eye affecting them. This part of the blessing was so basic that the fish symbol served as the emblem on the banner of the tribe of Efraim. Even today the fish emblem serves as a talisman against the effect of the evil eye. This effect stems from the occult power of the jealousy, hatred, and envy of others. The Sefas Emes states that if Yosef and his…

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“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them to the Bnei Yisrael”. (6:13)

“And I will take you to Me for a nation.” (6:7)

“Come and I will send you to Pharaoh that you shall bring forth My people.” (3:10)

“But the midwives feared Hashem, and they did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed them; rather they kept the children alive.” (1:17)

“And they made the Bnei Yisrael work with rigor.” (1:13)

“And Yosef died and all his brothers and all that generation. And the land was filled with them… and there arose a new king who did not know Yosef.” (1:6-8)

“All these” were the twelve tribes of Israel. And “this” was what their father said to them and he blessed them, each according to his blessing he blessed them.” (49:28)

“Yehudah, your brothers shall praise (elevate) you.” (49:8)

Shimon and Levi are brothers… into their council let my soul not come.” (49:5-6)

“And like fish they shall multiply in the midst of the earth.” (48:16)

YEARS

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