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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5754

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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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5754

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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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5754

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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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5754

Sruly Schnair
In 5754, Ki Sisa

“See, I have called in the name of Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur of the tribe of Yehudah.” (31:2)

The Daas Zekeinim explains the reason that the Torah emphasizes Betazlel’s grandfather, Chur, while it does not trace Ahaliav’s lineage to his grandfather.  Chur was killed as a consequence of his role in the Golden Calf.  The Mishkan served as a source of atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf.  Therefore, the Torah determined that Betzalel, the unique individual designated as the prime builder of the Mishkan, should have his yichus, ancestry, delineated. His ancestry is traced to the individual whose martyred death is atoned by the Mishkan. This exposition is enigmatic. What relationship is there between Chur’s death…

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Home -> 5754 -> Tetzaveh

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5754

“Seven days shall the kohen put them on (who will be) in his place of his sons.” (29:30)

The Kohen Gadol’s position was passed on to his son after his death. The Talmud in Yoma 72b states that this halacha was not applicable to a Kohen Gadol who had been anointed specifically to lead Bnei Yisrael into war. The Mashuach Milchamah, the special Kohen Gadol who had received his position only for the purpose of leadership in battle, did not bequeath the kehunah gedolah, high priesthood, to his son. The Chofetz Chaim z.l. was once asked to decide a din Torah regarding a Rav of a community who had passed away. The members of the community chose to…

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Home -> 5754 -> Tetzaveh

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5754

“And you shall place the crown of sanctity over the turban.” (29:6)

It is interesting to note that the Torah places emphasis upon the Kohen Gadol’s crown. The Kohen Gadol had neither sovereignty nor power over Bnei Yisrael. His mission in life was to be Bnei Yisrael’s “agent” in the Bais Hamikdash by offering the korbanos and to be Bnei Yisrael’s preeminent teacher and spiritual mentor. It is, therefore, enigmatic that the Torah stresses his crown. In contrast, the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, who was charged with ruling the people and did have jurisdiction over them, is not portrayed as having a crown. The only demand placed upon the king was that…

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Home -> 5754 -> Tetzaveh

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5754

“And you shall command Bnei Yisrael that they take unto you pure olive oil… And bring near unto you Aharon your brother … that they may minister unto Me (as Kohanim)… And you shall speak … and they shall make Aharon’s garments .” (27:20, 28:1,3)

The Torah emphasizes Moshe’s direct involvement in three tasks: obtaining oil for the menorah, appointment of the Kohen Gadol, and preparation of the bigdei kehunah, priestly vestments. In all other instances which relate to building the Mishkan and its various appurtenances, the words uagu, ,hagu, or vag,, are used. This phrase implies Klal Yisrael’s collective involvement.  What distinguishes these three obligations that renders Moshe’s involvement essential? Horav Elchanan Sorotzkin z.l. posits that each of these three tasks require the direct supervision of the gadol ha’dor, prememinent Torah leader of the generation. He explains this in the following manner. The oil…

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Home -> 5754 -> Tetzaveh

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5754

“And you shall command Bnei Yisrael that they take unto you pure olive oil beaten for the light.” (27:20)

Rashi explains that the requirement of “kasis,” beaten, only applies to the oil used for the menorah. Oil which is used for menachos, meal offerings, does not have this stipulation. Horav S.Y. Zevin z.l. explains this halacha homiletically. The oil used for lighting the menorah symbolizes the light of Torah, while the oil used for the meal offerings represents man’s material sustenance. The Torah seems to admonish that “beaten” oil or “toiling” for the purpose of material sustenance is not a requirement. On the other hand, “ameilus”, toil, is an essential pre-requisite for Torah study and spiritual development. Torah study…

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Home -> 5754 -> Yisro

Sruly Schnair
In Yisro, 5754

“Do not kill.” (20:13)

One may wonder why the prohibition against murder is included in the Aseres Ha’dibros, Ten Commandments. An obvious explanation is that we should not tamper with human life. Certain forms of “murder” are overlooked because of our lack of sensitivity to others. The Ibn Ezra writes “Do not kill with your hand or with your tongue by perjuring your testimony against another fellow by blatant or even innocuous forms of slander, or by giving someone harmful advice, knowing fully well the tragic consequences that will occur. One who is privy to a secret which can save another Jew’s life, and…

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Home -> 5754 -> Yisro

Sruly Schnair
In Yisro, 5754

“I am Hashem your G-d.” (20:2)

Chazal in Talmud Shabbos (105a) say that the word hfbt, I, is an acrostic for hapb tbt, ,hcvh vch,f” I put Myself into the writing.” Hashem says that His very essence is suffused to every letter of the Torah. As Horav Moshe Swift z.t.l. explains, this amazing statement is the cornerstone for the eternal nature of the Torah. Hashem reveals Himself through the Torah. It is His will. When one reads or studies the Torah, he is actually studying Hashem.  Honoring the Torah is tantamount to honoring Hashem. There is nothing like Torah in the world of literature; other writings…

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