Sruly Schnair – Page 2 – Peninim on the Torah

כי יקח איש אשה חדשה לא יצא בצבא

When a man marries a new wife, he shall not go out to the army. (24:5)

The Torah understands that the battlefield is not a place for everyone. A newly-wed should remain home with his new wife. This applies during their first year of marriage. In the previous parsha (20:6,7), the Torah addresses he who has betrothed a woman and has not yet had nessuin, which is the second phase of the marriage ceremony. The Torah underscores the reason for his return from the battlefield: he will be overly concerned that upon his death, his wife will marry someone else. In any event, the Jewish soldier appears to be preoccupied more with himself than with his…

Home -> 5786 -> Shoftim

שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך

Sruly Schnair In Shoftim, 5786

Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities. (16:18)

Sefer HaChinuch explains that these judges and officers are responsible for maintaining discipline among the people. Their job is to see to it that everyone adheres to the mitzvos, and assure that those who do not, receive their due punishment. These judges represent the highest echelon of Torah erudition, ethical and moral character refinement. It goes without saying that they are G-d-fearing and represent the spiritual elite of the nation. The root of the mitzvah is obvious. A nation that witnesses its leadership reflecting the highest standards of service to Hashem will themselves be inspired to follow suit. This will…

Home -> 5786 -> Shoftim

והורידו זקני העיר ההיא את העגלה אל נחל איתן ... וערפו שם את העגלה בנחל

Sruly Schnair In Shoftim, 5786

The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a harsh valley … and they ax the back of its neck in the valley. (21:4)

The halachah of oso v’es b’no lo sischatu b’yom echad, “You shall not slaughter a mother (ox or sheep) and its offspring on the same day,” applies to kosher, domesticated animals, such as cows, sheep, and goats, and it refers to both the mother and its child. Chazal (Yoma 64A) discuss a situation in which the shliach bais din, agent of bais din, who performs the se’ir l’azazel, rite in which he pushes the goat over a cliff, is permitted to slaughter the mother that day (although it was Yom Kippur, for it was necessary for a critically ill person). …

Home -> 5786 -> Shoftim

ולא ימס את לבב אחיו כלבבו

Sruly Schnair In Shoftim, 5786

And let him not melt the heart of his fellows. (20:8)

The Torah instructs someone who is fearful or faint-hearted to remain at home. He should not go to battle, because his fear (regardless of the reason, real, or because he feels himself not spiritually worthy of surviving) would have a negative impact on the others. The Imrei Emes notes that if one “weak” heart can negatively destroy the positive feelings of a multitude of soldiers, how much more so can one who possesses a powerful good heart, who is himself inspired to serve Hashem under all circumstances? When we act with enthusiasm, our feelings are infectious; when we daven properly,…

Home -> 5786 -> Re'eh

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

Sruly Schnair In Re'eh, 5786

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

The era of Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership is coming to an end. Klal Yisrael stands poised to enter the Promised Land. Our quintessential leader and Rebbe delivers his final messages, mussar and guidance. This parsha begins with a message for life that is both timeless and deeply profound. He declares: “See, I present before you a blessing and a curse.” The text itself begs elucidation. If Moshe intended to present two entirely separate paths, he should have stated the words brachah or klalah, blessing or curse. Why does he say blessing and curse, almost as if the two are intertwined? Perhaps…

Home -> 5786 -> Re'eh

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

Sruly Schnair In Re'eh, 5786

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

What comes across as a simple statement – almost a mission statement for the Jew — is the basis for much penetrating insight into the quality and nature of life. When one peruses Chazal and the accompanying commentaries, he develops a perspective on life that explains how we have survived throughout the millennia, despite the many physical and spiritual challenges that have played a critical role in our connection to Hashem. I found one Chazal and a comment by the Alter, zl, m’Kelm, which are inspiring. Devarim Rabbah (4:2), Ha’sayaf v’ha’sefer yardu k’ruchim m’ha’Shomayim… “The scroll and the sword descended…

Home -> 5786 -> Re'eh

עשר תעשר את כל תבאות זרעך היוצא השדה שנה שנה

Sruly Schnair In Re'eh, 5786

You shall tithe the entire crop of your planting, the produce of the field, year by year. (14:22)

Maaser, taking a tithe of our produce year-by-year, is a mitzvah which is not only an obligation, but its accompanying reward provides incredible bounty for the one who observes it. Chazal teach aseir ti’aseir, aseir bishvil she’tishasher; “Tithe so that you will become wealthy.” The reward for sharing our bounty with others is that our own general economic situation will be positively enhanced. Yalkut Shimoni (Re’eh 893) makes a striking comment. “If you merit (and properly tithe your produce), the result will be that you will go out to your field in tranquility. If you do not give maaser, however,…

Home -> 5786 -> Eikev

כי כאשר ייסר איש את בנו ד' אלקיך מיסרך

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5786

That just as a father will chastise his son, so Hashem, your G-d, chastises you. (8:5)

Discipline, reward and punishment is a critical part of the educational process. An astute and caring parent knows when and how much to discipline and how to be certain that it is an act of love. When a child senses his parent’s love, the discipline takes on a different image. If the parent metes out the punishment with anger or worse, the child will harbor a sense of fear, or an unpleasant attitude toward that parent. The first mechanech, Torah educator, was Avraham Avinu. Indeed, the paradigmatic pasuk describing Hashem’s love for Avraham is based upon Avraham’s devotion toward transmitting…

Home -> 5786 -> Eikev

כי כאשר ייסר איש את בנו ד' אלקיך מיסרך

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5786

That just as a father/man will chastise his son, so Hashem, your G-d, chastises you. (8:5)

Ish is a man, a distinguished man, a gavra, as translated by Targum Onkeles. The translation rendered by the popular translator transforms the word ish into av. For our purposes, I will use the word ish as a springboard for understanding the profundity of the pasuk. Fathers are human beings and, as such, influenced by their emotions. Many spend their time, money and health to provide their children with the finest material and spiritual advantages. Thus, it is not unreasonable for a parent to be entitled to some return in the way of Yiddishe nachas. Understandably, when this does not…

Home -> 5786 -> Eikev

ועלה אלי ההרה ועשית לך ארון עץ

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5786

And ascend to Me to the mountain and make a wooden ark for yourself. (10:1)

When Moshe Rabbeinu descended Har Sinai and confronted the sin of the Golden Calf in all its indecorous ignominy, he shattered the Luchos. Chazal teach that this was not an act of impulsivity, but a deliberate and well thought out response. A nation that reveled around a molten idol was not worthy of the Luchos. There is, however, one caveat. Prior to shattering the tablets, the sacred letters ascended Heavenward. Without the letters, the Luchos were no longer worthy of preservation. Yet, those letters did not vanish. The Tzlach suggests that Hashem gathered and secured them until Moshe fashioned the…

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כי יקח איש אשה חדשה לא יצא בצבא

When a man marries a new wife, he shall not go out to the army. (24:5)

שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך

Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities. (16:18)

והורידו זקני העיר ההיא את העגלה אל נחל איתן ... וערפו שם את העגלה בנחל

The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a harsh valley … and they ax the back of its neck in the valley. (21:4)

ולא ימס את לבב אחיו כלבבו

And let him not melt the heart of his fellows. (20:8)

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

עשר תעשר את כל תבאות זרעך היוצא השדה שנה שנה

You shall tithe the entire crop of your planting, the produce of the field, year by year. (14:22)

כי כאשר ייסר איש את בנו ד' אלקיך מיסרך

That just as a father will chastise his son, so Hashem, your G-d, chastises you. (8:5)

כי כאשר ייסר איש את בנו ד' אלקיך מיסרך

That just as a father/man will chastise his son, so Hashem, your G-d, chastises you. (8:5)

ועלה אלי ההרה ועשית לך ארון עץ

And ascend to Me to the mountain and make a wooden ark for yourself. (10:1)

YEARS

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