Sruly Schnair

“And He buried him in Gai.” (34:6)

Rashi explains that Moshe was buried personally by Hashem. In the Talmud Sotah 14 Chazal remark how the final activity in the Torah is an act of chesed, loving-kindness. They reflect upon the fact that the Torah begins with an act of chesed, Hashem clothing Adam and Chavah, and closes with Hashem burying Moshe. This is why the Torah is referred to as Toras Chesed, the Torah of loving-kindness. The Maharsha explains that Chazal are describing the true nature of Torah as the ultimate source of chesed. Every commandment has its source in the development of chesed. The Me’il Tzedakkah…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, V'zos HaBrachah

“(The) Torah (that) Moshe commanded us (is) the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

Chazal expound upon the concept of Torah as an inheritance. Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, differentiates between an inheritance which belongs to the heirs to transform as they please and a heritage which is to be transmitted to the next generation in its entirety. Reflecting this idea, parents have a demanding responsibility to transmit to their children the whole Torah excluding their own commentary and personal opinions. The Torah in its pristine form is the inalienable right of our children. To deny them this right is more than an infringement upon the right of possession. Rather, it is an impingement upon…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ha'azinu

“For Hashem’s portion is His people, Yaakov his measured inheritance.” (32:9)

Klal Yisrael became a nation while still in the desert — without a land to live in. Hashem did not permit His people to grow as a nation under the influence of the land of Egypt and its inhabitants. “For Hashem’s portion is His people.” This people was to be and remain “the people of Hashem.” Horav S.R. Hirsch z.l. explains that common nations are linked to the soil of their land in the same manner that Am Yisrael is linked to Hashem. Other nations view their land as the foundation of their national existence. It serves as the home…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ha'azinu

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of each generation.” (32:7)

The concept of history encompasses the perception that all events in the human experience are part of one long continuum. The Chumash begins with the story of Brias Ha’olam, creation, since that is the “genesis” of all historical events. Hashem is the G-d of creation and the G-d of history. He is the moral power whose Divine action guides world events. The Jewish “historian” sees Hashem’s Hand reflected in every aspect of history. He sees the continuous revelation of Hashem’s plan spanning the abyss of time. Everything has meaning. No right goes unrewarded, and no wrong goes without its due…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ha'azinu

“Is corruption His, no; His children’s is the blemish… Is it to Hashem that you do this… Is He not your father your master?” (32:5,6)

The commentators explain the text of the pasuk in the following manner. Although an individual may defer to his own spiritual shortcomings, he, nonetheless, desires that his children proceed in the proper path. Regrettably, the concept of “do as I say, not as I do” has almost become a way of life for some people. Parents must be aware that they serve as the primary role models for their children. When these parents are questioned regarding their hypocritical behavior, their response is, “We personally have no proclivity to be observant, but we want our children to be G- d fearing…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ha'azinu

“May my teaching drop like rain, may my utterance flow like the dew.” (32:2)

Water is used as a metaphor to describe Torah. Just as every person must have water in order to be sustained, Torah sustains Klal Yisrael. Without Torah, there is no substance to Klal Yisrael. Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l. suggests the following analogy between water and Torah. Human beings have had no input to the creation of water. It has the same essence and makeup that existed at the dawn of creation. It has maintained its unaltered state throughout time. In contrast, the earth has undergone changes as a result of mans’ participation in its development. The Torah has similarly maintained…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ha'azinu

“Give ear O Heavens and I shall speak, and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.” (32:1)

These words, which begin Shiras Ha’azinu, present the essence of the song of Ha’azinu — as well as the entire Torah, which is compared to a song. What is a song? Horav Gedaliah Shorr z.l. explains that a song suggests something which is completely synchronized, as a song must be the essence of harmony. He notes that in a song, all of the notes of the score of the song, all of the instruments of the orchestra, and all of the voices in the choir join together to create a perfect harmonious blend. Likewise, so do all of the elements…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayeilech

“And their children who do not know, they shall hear and they shall learn to fear Hashem (31:13)

The Torah implies that all Jews are able to learn Torah, no matter what their background, talents, and skills are. The Steipler Rav z.l. writes that if one just applies himself diligently to learn Torah, he will succeed and achieve scholarship even if he is not intellectually astute. A young man once came to the Steipler and, in a voice full of chagrin, complained that even though he had been studying diligently in a yeshiva for five years, he still could not master the elementary level of erudition of Talmud and the basic commentaries. The Steipler responded, “Nonetheless, you must…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayeilech

“Assemble the people, the men, and the women, and the children.” (31:12)

The above pasuk relates the mitzvah of Hakheil. This was the time, during Succos immediately following the Shemittah year, in which all of the people were to assemble in the Bais Ha’Mikdash to listen to the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read Sefer Devarim. Rashi comments that, although the young children were not able to comprehend the meaning of the event, they were to be brought ovhthcnk rfa i,hk, “to give reward to those that brought them,” their parents. Rashi is citing the words of the Talmud in Chagiga 3a which attributes this interpretation to R’ Elazar ben Azaria. Indeed, the…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayeilech

“I can no longer go out and come in.” (31:2)

In his second interpretation of this pasuk, Rashi explains that the mesoros, traditions, and maayanos, wellsprings of wisdom, in which Moshe was so erudite were closed off from him. It seems perplexing that Moshe Rabbeinu, the quintessential teacher of Klal Yisrael, should “lose” his vast storehouse of knowledge on the day in which he reached perfection, immediately before his demise. One would think that Moshe should be able to learn until the very last moment of his life. We may suggest a novel interpretation of Rashi’s text. The choice of words employed is “mesorah,” tradition, and “maayan,” wellspring. Each of…

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“And He buried him in Gai.” (34:6)

“(The) Torah (that) Moshe commanded us (is) the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

“For Hashem’s portion is His people, Yaakov his measured inheritance.” (32:9)

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of each generation.” (32:7)

“Is corruption His, no; His children’s is the blemish… Is it to Hashem that you do this… Is He not your father your master?” (32:5,6)

“May my teaching drop like rain, may my utterance flow like the dew.” (32:2)

“Give ear O Heavens and I shall speak, and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.” (32:1)

“And their children who do not know, they shall hear and they shall learn to fear Hashem (31:13)

“Assemble the people, the men, and the women, and the children.” (31:12)

“I can no longer go out and come in.” (31:2)

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