Sruly Schnair

“Come up to Me to the mountain… and I will give you the tablets of stone, and the law and the commandment which I have written that you may teach them.” (24:12)

We have two festivals dedicated to the Torah. On Shavuos, we celebrate the giving of the Torah and our acceptance of it. On Simchas Torah, we joyfully express our gratitude to Hashem as we conclude the annual Torah reading. We may wonder at the need to have two festivals. Would it not have been more appropriate to celebrate Simchas Torah on Shavuos, the day we received the Torah? Horav Simcha Zissel Broide, Shlita, distinguishes between two forms of gifts. A gift is valued commensurate with its worth and significance, as well as the stature and eminence of the one who…

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Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“From a false matter you shall keep far away.” (23:7)

The Torah administers its admonishment against falsehood in an idiosyncratic manner. Rather than discoursing about the evils of falsehood and its devastating effect on people, the Torah simply states, “Distance yourself from falsehood.” Lies are so reprehensible and destructive that no room for dialogue can co-exist. One must detach himself from falsehood in any form. We suggest that in light of the text, the Torah‘s admonition may be viewed as pragmatic advice. This approach is especially crucial in view of the fact that well-intended individuals may become involved in endeavors that reek of deception and hypocrisy. Why are people of…

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Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“You shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts of the field.” (22:30)

The term “torn of beasts” originally was applied only to the meat torn by the beasts in the field. It is now applied to any meat which is not ritually fit for Jewish consumption. The Kol Yehudah offers a homiletic rendering of this pasuk, which is unfortunately appropriate in contemporary times. Some individuals would “never” ignore the kashrus laws while they are within their community, i.e. home, family or in public where they are well known. This is the result either of a sense of shame or the accessibility of kosher food. When they are out “in the field,” however,…

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Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“He shall make restitution; if he has nothing then he shall be sold for his theft.” (22:2)

The gedolim of previous generations would emphasize that one can learn avodas Hashem, the manner in which to serve the Almighty, from any individual — even a sinner. The Pardes Yosef cites three scholars who derived lessons in avodas Hashem from none other than the ganov, thief. He mentions Rav Bunim, z.l., of Peshischa. Rav Bunim felt that three valuable lessons can be gleaned from the behavior of the thief. First, the thief is not lazy. Neither rain nor sleet, cold nor heat, prevent the thief from accomplishing his life’s work. Indeed, the resourceful thief takes advantage of the inclement…

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Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“And he who curses his father and mother shall be put to death.” (21:17)

The Ramban notes that the punishment for one who curses his parents is more severe than the punishment for one who strikes and wounds them. The one who curses is put to death by stoning while the one who wounds is executed by choking. The Ramban attributes this discrepancy to the relative frequency of the transgression. The fool curses whenever he gets upset. He berates his Creator, his parents and everyone who, in his small mind, is responsible for his life situation. In order to discourage these wanton acts of disparagement, the Torah has assessed a severe punishment for this…

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Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“And these are the laws which you shall set before them.” (21:1)

What does it mean to place laws “before them”? Rashi explains that the Torah demands that its teachers transmit the law in its completeness, explain it lucidly, and clarify its underlying principles. This is required so that people can easily understand the laws and apply them properly. Literally, one is to place the laws “before them,” as a table is set ready for a meal. In an alternative explanation, Rashi comments that the phrase “before them” refers to Jewish judges. We are admonished to take our litigation only to a bais din, Jewish court, comprised of G-d fearing, halachically erudite…

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Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5756

And when you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build them hewn, for you will have raised your sword over it and desecrated it. (20:22)

The Bobover Rebbe, Horav Bentzion Halberstam, z.l., interpreted this pasuk in a novel homiletic manner. He once davened in a shul where the chazan, instead of focusing on achieving proper kavanah, devotion, was priding himself on his ability to enunciate the words clearly with the proper syllables. His melodious voice only increased his arrogance. Witnessing this degradation of the sanctity of Tefillah, prayer, the Bobover Rebbe remarked: The Torah states: “If you will make for Me an altar of stones.”; Chazal teach us that tefillah has replaced the altar with its sacrifices. The Sefer Yetzirah states that in kabbalistic vernacular,…

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Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5756

“You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain.” (20:7)

The Torah admonishes us not to swear falsely or in vain. Horav Reuven Katz, z.l., interprets this pasuk homiletically. Do not “raise up/attach Hashem’s Name to that which is false. Do not misguide people by placing Hashem’s endorsement on your illicit behavior. Regrettably, some individuals resort to the most cruel forms of character assassination in order to undermine, and even destroy, communal Torah-oriented endeavors. They present their deeds under the guise of l’shem shomayim, in the Name of Heaven. Their negative propaganda thinly veils an apparent disdain for the individual or organization they seek to defame. These individuals publicly proclaim…

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Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5756

“When the ram’s horn sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.” (19:13)

One would assume that after such a singular event in history, when Hashem revealed Himself to Am Yisrael for the purpose of giving the Torah, that this mountain would remain eternally holy. Yet, we see that immediately when the Shechinah “left,” the mountain reverted to its natural state; anyone, even the animals, were permitted to walk on it. Shouldn’t some of this distinctive holiness have permeated this mountain, transforming it into a makom kadosh, holy place? Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, explains that being the designated site for Matan Torah does not give Har Sinai license for eternal kedushah, holiness. It…

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Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5756

And now if you listen well to My voice and guard My covenant you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all people. (19:5)

The Da’as Zekeinim in Parashas Vayeira, (Bereishis 18:8) states that when the three angels came to visit Avraham Avinu, they ate basar b’cholov, an admixture of milk and meat. When Hashem prepared to give the Torah to Bnei Yisrael, the ministering angels came before Hashem and demanded that the Torah would be more appropriately welcomed and observed if it remained in Heaven. Hashem responded by reminding them that the Torah demands that one not eat an admixture of milk and meat, an activity which was not consistent with their behavior during their brief visit with Avraham. Immediately upon hearing these…

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“Come up to Me to the mountain… and I will give you the tablets of stone, and the law and the commandment which I have written that you may teach them.” (24:12)

“From a false matter you shall keep far away.” (23:7)

“You shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts of the field.” (22:30)

“He shall make restitution; if he has nothing then he shall be sold for his theft.” (22:2)

“And he who curses his father and mother shall be put to death.” (21:17)

“And these are the laws which you shall set before them.” (21:1)

And when you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build them hewn, for you will have raised your sword over it and desecrated it. (20:22)

“You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain.” (20:7)

“When the ram’s horn sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.” (19:13)

And now if you listen well to My voice and guard My covenant you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all people. (19:5)

YEARS

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