Sruly Schnair – Page 27 – Peninim on the Torah

איש איש כי תשטה אשתו ומעלה בו מעל

Sruly Schnair In Naso, 5784

Any man whose wife shall go astray and commit treachery against him. (5:12)

The Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments, mentions adultery as one of the cardinal sins for which one must sacrifice his life rather than transgress it. Yet, surprisingly, throughout the parshah of sotah, the wayward wife, no mention is made of the woman’s transgression against Hashem. Never is the phrase, mo’alah maal b’Hashem, mentioned. It is against the husband. This leads us to suggest that the egregious nature of the sin of adultery is its destruction of the marriage bond. As a result, it is a transgression against Hashem. First and foremost is what the sotah does to the institution of holy…

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ולא יתן עליו לבונה

Sruly Schnair In Naso, 5784

And he shall not put frankincense upon it. (5:15)

Rashi explains that the ingredients which comprised the Minchas Sotah were unlike that of other Menachos. The sotah’s Minchah used barley, which is eaten by animals, as opposed to wheat, which is consumed by humans. Her base actions were indicative of someone who had gravitated more to the animal sphere. There was no oil, since oil is the symbol of light, and the sotah acted in darkness. Last, there is no frankincense because the Hebrew word for frankincense is levonah, which is the term the Torah uses to describe our Imahos, Matriarchs. Implied by the lack of frankincense is that…

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כל ימי נזרו קדש הוא לד'... ועשה הכהן אחד לחטאת

Sruly Schnair In Naso, 5784

All the days of his abstinence he is holy to Hashem… The Kohen shall make one as a sin-offering. (6:8,11)

On the surface, the term nezirus begs elucidation. Is the Nazir a tzaddik, a righteous person, or is he, on some level, a sinner? The Torah refers to him as a kadosh, holy, to Hashem. Yet, he must bring a Korban Chatas, sin-offering, at the end of his period of nezirus. Surely, someone who is considered kadosh should not have to bring a sin-offering. What sin did he commit? Various opinions are stated concerning the Nazir’s “breach” in holiness. He should not have achieved this pinnacle through the vehicle of abstinence from wine. A person should override his gravitation toward…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5784

ויהיו כל הפקודים שש מאות אלף ושלשת אלפים וחמש מאות וחמשים. והלוים למטה אבתם לא התפקדו בתוכם

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bamidbar

All their countings were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. The Leviim according to their father’s tribe were not counted among them. (1:46,47)

In Parashas Pekudei, when the nation brought the machatzis ha’shekel, half-shekel for the Mishkan, they numbered 603,550, as cited here. On the surface, it appears that an overt miracle took place which did not result in any change in the census. A difference, however, exists between the numbers: In Parashas Pekudei, the entire nation, Shevet Levi included, was counted. In Parashas Bamidbar, the Leviim had already been separated/designated for their sacred service. They were now counted from the age of one month (as opposed to those in the rest of the nation who were counted from the age of twenty…

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איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of his father’s household. (2:2)

While talents, skills, acumen, financial support and family background each plays a role in one’s success, the role is, at best, supportive. The attribute which plays the leading role in garnering one’s success is ambition, one’s aspiration and striving to work his way to the top. Personal effort, dedication and the ability to withstand and ultimately overcome challenges, lay the groundwork upon which success is established. It is the interplay of these elements that shapes an individual’s journey towards the top. This does not, by any means, disregard the role of talents, financial resources and upbringing. It is just that,…

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איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם ... יחנו בני ישראל

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner according to the insignias of their father’s household… shall they camp. (2:2)

Chazal (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:7) teach that signs/insignias in the form of a flag and a color represented every leader of a shevet, tribe. Each banner contained a color similar to the color of the precious stones that were upon the heart of Aharon HaKohen (Choshen HaMishpat). Rabbeinu Bachya (Shemos 28:15) demonstrates how each tribe’s color and stone underscored a unique attribute and strength of that tribe’s progenitor. For example, Reuven’s color was red. This symbolized his strength of character in not being embarrassed to confess his wrongdoing with regard to Bilhah’s tent. Interestingly, Binyamin’s color was an amalgam of all…

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והייתי לכם לאלקים ואתם תהיו לי לעם

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bechukosai

I will be G-d unto you, and you will be a people unto Me. (26:12)

For what more can one ask? When we look around at an environment whose degenerative societal values and plummeting moral compass and virtue are pervasive, we should feel a sense of relief and deep pride that we are part of the am kadosh, holy nation. A life wholly dedicated to moral purity, ethical integrity, virtue and kindness is, in and of itself, deeply fulfilling. It involves a strong sense of purpose and adherence to the ethical and moral principles of the Torah. In order to achieve these lofty goals, Torah study and prayer play central roles in a life dedicated…

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וזכרתי את בריתי יעקוב ואף את בריתי יצחק ואף את בריתי אברהם אזכר והארץ אזכר

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bechukosai

I will remember My covenant with Yaakov, and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avraham will I remember and I will remember the Land. (26:42)

Noticeably, the Torah mentions the word “remembering” (v’zacharti, ezkor) only in connection with Avraham Avinu and Yaakov Avinu. Rashi explains that “remembering” is not necessary with regard to Yitzchak, because afro, the ashes, of Yitzchak appear before Hashem as they rest upon the Mizbayach. [This, of course, refers to ashes of the ayil, ram, which was offered in place of Yitzchak.] Veritably, the concept of “remembering” with regard to Hashem is unimaginable. He does not require a symbol to remind Him of anything. Hashem does not forget. If so, the issue is not why remembering is not mentioned by Yitzchak,…

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לא יבקר בין טוב לרע ולא ימירנו ואם המר ימירנו והיה הוא ותמורתו יהיה קדש

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Bechukosai

He shall not distinguish between good and bad and he shall not substitute for it, and if he does substitute for it, then it and its substitute shall be holy. (27:33)

The Torah addresses the laws of maaser beheimah, tithing of animals. Unlike other offerings, for which it is most appropriate to select the choicest animal, the tithe is left purely to chance. Even if the tenth animal to be selected is blemished and thus disqualified from being offered on the Altar, it remains maaser. It is consecrated and may be used only for food. One may neither work with it, nor shear its wool. If, however, he does substitute it (temurah) for another animal, it and its substitute are both holy. Once sanctified, it remains so. Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber,…

Home -> Behar -> 5784

ושבתה הארץ שבת לד'

Sruly Schnair In 5784, Behar

The land shall observe a Shabbos rest for Hashem. (25:2)

In addition to our biological ascendance from the Avos Hakedoshim, Patriarchs, we are distinguished as Jews because of our acceptance of – and adherence to – the Torah. Hashem offered the Torah to the other nations, who refused it due to its incompatibility with the prevalent lifestyle. Stealing, murder and adultery are prohibited as part of our religious code. The other nations live by a different moral compass. Hashem presented us with the Torah, accompanied by an unprecedented and unparalleled Revelation on Har Sinai. We accepted with the resounding declaration, Naaseh v’Nishmah, “We will do and we will listen!” All…

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איש איש כי תשטה אשתו ומעלה בו מעל

Any man whose wife shall go astray and commit treachery against him. (5:12)

ולא יתן עליו לבונה

And he shall not put frankincense upon it. (5:15)

כל ימי נזרו קדש הוא לד'... ועשה הכהן אחד לחטאת

All the days of his abstinence he is holy to Hashem… The Kohen shall make one as a sin-offering. (6:8,11)

ויהיו כל הפקודים שש מאות אלף ושלשת אלפים וחמש מאות וחמשים. והלוים למטה אבתם לא התפקדו בתוכם

All their countings were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. The Leviim according to their father’s tribe were not counted among them. (1:46,47)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of his father’s household. (2:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם ... יחנו בני ישראל

Each man by his banner according to the insignias of their father’s household… shall they camp. (2:2)

והייתי לכם לאלקים ואתם תהיו לי לעם

I will be G-d unto you, and you will be a people unto Me. (26:12)

וזכרתי את בריתי יעקוב ואף את בריתי יצחק ואף את בריתי אברהם אזכר והארץ אזכר

I will remember My covenant with Yaakov, and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avraham will I remember and I will remember the Land. (26:42)

לא יבקר בין טוב לרע ולא ימירנו ואם המר ימירנו והיה הוא ותמורתו יהיה קדש

He shall not distinguish between good and bad and he shall not substitute for it, and if he does substitute for it, then it and its substitute shall be holy. (27:33)

ושבתה הארץ שבת לד'

The land shall observe a Shabbos rest for Hashem. (25:2)

YEARS

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