Sruly Schnair

Sruly Schnair In Tzav, 5754

“If for a thanksgiving he offers it.” (7:12)

Rabeinu Bachya asserts that a chasan and kallah should offer a korban todah in gratitude for their abundant joy. This seems inconsistent with the Talmud in Berachos 54b which cites the injunction that one who has been saved from danger must bring a korban todah. There are four general categories of people who are required to bring a korban todah. They are those who have crossed a wilderness, those who have been imprisoned, those who have been dangerously ill, and those who have crossed a sea. These are people who had been in situations that could have cost them their…

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Sruly Schnair In Tzav, 5754

“In the place where the olah shall be slaughtered shall the chatas be slaughtered.” (6:18)

The Avnei Nezer asserts that the location of these korbanos suggests a deep insight into the origin of sin. The korban olah was slaughtered in the northern portion of the courtyard, the tzafon. This word “tzafon,” which means north, can also be read as “tzafun,” hidden. The symbolic relationship between these two interpretations can be explained by the fact that the korban olah, among other things, atones for sins perpetrated by sinful “hidden” thoughts. One must atone these seemingly innocuous thoughts. In contrast, the korban chatas is brought to atone for sins committed unintentionally. Although an unintentional sin results from…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayikra

“When a ruler sins.” (4:22)

Rashi cites the Sifri which translates the word rat, when, as implying hrat, fortunate and praised. This refers to a generation whose ruler directs himself to bring an atonement for a sin committed in error. How much more so when he repents of his deliberate sins! Why should the entire generation be credited for having a penitent leader? What role does the community play in its leader’s desire to publicly seek atonement for his transgressions? Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, cites Rav Yisrael Salanter z.l. who explained this Chazal in the following manner. Some communal leaders do not follow in the…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayikra

“You may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from upon your meal offering, with all your sacrifices you shall offer salt.” (2:13)

Salt symbolizes the covenant of Hashem. The commentators, noting the varied qualities of salt, infer different lessons from this pasuk. Horav S.R. Hirsch z.l. asserts that besides salt’s practical use as an indispensable enhancer of the taste of food, it is both concretely and metaphorically used as the means of suppression of all vegetable growth. A field is rendered sterile if it is sown with salt. On the other hand, salt prevents decay from setting in. When we contemplate these two attributes of salt, the ability to retard growth and to prevent decay, we consider the traits of immutability and…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayikra

“When any man of you offers an offering unto Hashem, of the cattle, of the herd, or the flock.” (1:2)

Sefer Shemos ends with the construction of the Mishkan, the model on which the sanctuary of every Jewish home is built. Horav Moshe Swift z.l. draws a parallel between the Mishkan, in which the Shechinah “reposed” in the desert, and the Mishkan of every Jewish home. At the end of Parashas Pikudei, the Torah describes Mishkan as ,usgv ifan, the Mishkan which bears testimony. This may be understood homiletically as the place which bears testimony to Hashem who dwells within it. In order that a Jewish home be viewed as a Torah home, it must likewise bear testimony to Hashem….

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayikra

“And He (Hashem) called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him out of the Ohel Moed, saying. Speak unto Bnei Yisrael, and say unto them, when any man of you offers an offering unto Hashem.” (1:1,2)

Rashi explains that the term And He called, implies endearment. Therefore, when Hashem called to Moshe it was in an intimate manner. Rashi’s explanation seems inconsistent with the term rcshuw And He spoke, which suggests a forceful form of address. This inconsistency becomes more apparent with the succeeding word rntkw saying, which alludes to a soft spoken tone. This is followed by the phrase ktrah hbc kt rcsw speak unto Bnei Yisrael, which once again connotes a strong manner of communication. Horav Yosef Zayat, Shlita, explains the succession of terms in the following manner. The Torah continues with the laws…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“And Moshe said Aharon, what did these people do to you that you have brought upon it great sin?” (32:21)

The extent of Aharon’s involvement in the sin of the Golden Calf is ambiguous. Moshe seems to blame him for “causing” the calf to be created. Indeed, before his own death, Moshe recounts how he prayed on Aharon’s behalf to effect forgiveness for him. Moshe’s prayers were only partially answered; Aharon lost two of his four sons. On the other hand, in contrast, we note that Aharon was appointed to the venerable position of Kohen Gadol. He was privileged to enter into the Kodshei Ha’Kodoshim, Holy of Holies in order to attain penance for Klal Yisrael. This notion seems to…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“Go down, for your people have dealt corruptly… they have made them a molten calf… and he cast out of his hand the tablets and he broke them.” (32:7,15,19)

The shattering of the luchos is probably the most impressive act performed by Moshe during his tenure as the leader of Klal Yisrael. The last pasuk in the Torah, in which Hashem portrays the climax of Moshe’s life mentions the vezjv sh, mighty hand, and the kusd trun, the great awe which Moshe wrought in the sight of all Bnei Yisrael. Chazal state that Moshe’s act of might and awe was his shattering of the luchos. It would seem that this is Moshe’s greatest epitaph. There remains a question, however, which demands a response . Why did Moshe wait to…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears.” (32:3)

Did “all the people” break off their earrings? Weren’t the sinners only a small group of malcontents? Indeed, the Midrash in Koheles expounds on the pasuk, “One man from a thousand I have found” (Koheles 7:28). The Midrash states that this is a reference to the sinners involved in the Golden Calf. Only one out of every thousand of Bnei Yisrael was really involved in the sin! Why does the Torah exaggerate the number of sinners? Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l. explains that the entire Klal Yisrael suffered a “yeridah,” spiritual decline. Had they remained on the pinnacle of faith and…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“And Bnei Yisrael shall keep the Shabbos, to make the Shabbos for their generations an eternal covenant.” (31:16)

Horav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor z.l. explains the repetition of the word “Shabbos” in the following manner. How does one ensure that shimiras Shabbos, Shabbos observance, will be an everlasting covenant between Bnei Yisrael and Hashem? The pasuk responds: One must see to it that his children and generations after him will also observe it. It is not sufficient for one to simply concern himself with his own spiritual needs while neglecting his children’s simultaneous spiritual development. If this is the case, he can be certain that mitzvah observance will cease with him! One’s focus in religious observance should be “to…

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“If for a thanksgiving he offers it.” (7:12)

“In the place where the olah shall be slaughtered shall the chatas be slaughtered.” (6:18)

“When a ruler sins.” (4:22)

“You may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from upon your meal offering, with all your sacrifices you shall offer salt.” (2:13)

“When any man of you offers an offering unto Hashem, of the cattle, of the herd, or the flock.” (1:2)

“And He (Hashem) called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him out of the Ohel Moed, saying. Speak unto Bnei Yisrael, and say unto them, when any man of you offers an offering unto Hashem.” (1:1,2)

“And Moshe said Aharon, what did these people do to you that you have brought upon it great sin?” (32:21)

“Go down, for your people have dealt corruptly… they have made them a molten calf… and he cast out of his hand the tablets and he broke them.” (32:7,15,19)

“And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears.” (32:3)

“And Bnei Yisrael shall keep the Shabbos, to make the Shabbos for their generations an eternal covenant.” (31:16)

YEARS

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