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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5760, Bechukosai

“If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments… then I will provide your rains in their time…you will eat your bread to satiety…I will provide peace in the land.” (26:3-6)

The Torah provides the recipe for success, material abundance, and peace: connect with the Torah. We are faced with problems, vexing situations, challenges to overcome. Where do we turn for the answer? How do we get out of the quicksand of life’s challenges? “If you will follow My decrees” – “Im bechukosai teileichu” – connect with the Torah. It is the wellspring, the source of life and sustenance. In it you will find the answer. It will provide the solution to your problems. Horav Yaakov Galinski, Shlita, once spoke to a group of not yet observant Jews and gave the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5760, Bechukosai

“If you consider My decrees loathsome.” (26:15)

Rashi explains that this pasuk refers to one who hates the sages that have expounded the ordinances, who denigrates Torah scholars, ridiculing them, humiliating them, despising them. The reason for this unwarranted hatred is simple: they represent everything he seeks to destroy. The Torah scholar demonstrates that Torah is viable; it refines and develops an individual into the consummate example of what a human being should be. The individual who blatantly takes it upon himself to impugn the authority and honor of a venerable Torah sage will answer to Hashem. In the sefer, Likutei Imrei Avos, cited by Horav Yitchak…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

If you will follow my decrees. (26:3)

Chazal tell us that to “follow/walk” in Hashem’s decrees is to engage in intensive Torah study, to toil and labor in Torah.  Horav Gedalyah Shorr, zl, explains this in the following manner: The distinction  between a man and an angel is found in the fact that the malach, angel, is an omeid, stands still, while man is a mehaleich, moves/walks.  The Torah reveals to us that man “moves” through ameilus, by toiling in Torah.  He goes higher and higher, from strength to strength by toiling in Torah. Horav Shorr cites the Rogatshover Gaon, zl, who adds that this “halichah,” form…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

If you will not listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments. (26:14)

Rashi explains that “not listening” to Hashem refers  to an individual  who studies Torah without ameilus, toil. One who does not labor in Torah, but rather takes a complacent, back-seat attitude, will eventually refrain from performing Hashem’s mitzvos.   Rashi adds that this is just the first step in a seven step chain-reaction of sin, in which  one regresses from a lack of intensity in Torah study to the point that he denies the very existence of Hashem.  This is a remarkable statement.  To think that a lack of intensity, a weakening of one’s resolve to toil in Torah study, leads …

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

And you behave toward me with casualness. I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness. (26:27, 28)

As Jews,  we believe in Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence.  This means that Hashem observes, is aware of and controls everything  that occurs during our lives.  Everything is totally inclusive to the point that Chazal teach us that “one does not stub his finger in this world unless it has been predecreed from Above.”  To paraphrase Horav Baruch Sorotzkin, zl, there is no concept of coincidence in Jewish theology.  It is sinful for one to think or say “it just happened.”  Things do not “just happen.”  They are preordained by the Almighty.  This is the meaning of the pasuk.  If one…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bechukosai

They will stumble over one another. (26:37)

They will become so demoralized and fearful of the enemy that they will flee without seeing where they are going, stumbling over one another.  Chazal add a new twist to the interpretation of this pasuk.  They will stumble over each other’s sins.  Since all Jews are inherently responsible one for another, one Jew will be held liable for the transgression perpetrated by his fellow Jew.  We are all components of a large unit called Klal Yisrael.  We cannot ignore one another’s shortcomings. A visitor once came to the Volozhiner Yeshiva and noticed Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, delivering a shiur.  As…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich
In 5758, Bechukosai

And five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand. (25:8)

Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics understands that the ratio presented above is inconsistent.  If five Jews can pursue a hundred enemies, then the ratio of one to twenty should translate into a hundred Jews pursuing two thousand.  The pasuk, however, does not say that.  It writes that one hundred Jews will pursue one thousand of the enemy!  Rashi cites the Sifri that infers that when people work  as a group, when more people are united in serving the Almighty, the consequences of their actions are much more significant. A mitzvah, when performed by a large group, has…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich
In 5758, Bechukosai

But if you will not listen to Me……and if you despise My laws (26:14,15)

Rashi explains the phrase, “and if you despise My laws,” as meaning, “if you despise the performance by others of My laws.”  In his commentary on Rashi, the Mizrachi gives further meaning to this statement when he says this refers to one who, although performing mitzvos himself, resents others who do the same.  This explanation is striking.  It is also a condemnation of  so many of us who do not tolerate the spiritual achievements of others, especially if we think they are plagurizing our own efforts.     For instance, one organization has succeeded in building up a following.  Suddenly,…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich
In 5758, Bechukosai

And if you will not listen to Me….and I will set My face against you. And you shall be smitten before your enemies…..and I will bring a sword upon you executing the vengeance of the Covenant….and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. (29:14,17,25)

The main feature in Parashas Bechukosai is the Tochachah, admonition,  the curses to befall Klal Yisrael as a result of their transgressions.  The Torah speaks in a sharp tone as it describes in detail the terrible calamities to strike us for our iniquitous behavior.  Destruction, havoc, terrible illness and devastation are the main topics of these curses.  Did the Torah have to go into such detail?  Could the punishments not have been tempered,  expressed in milder language?  Such strong words could really frighten someone! Horav Moshe Swift, zl, feels that this specifically was the Torah’s intention.  Tell it like it…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5757, Bechukosai

If you will walk in My laws. (26:3)

Rashi cites Chazal who maintain that “halichah b’mitzvos,” walking in Hashem’s mitzvos, refers to intensive Torah study. One who diligently applies himself to studying Torah merits the blessings detailed in the parsha. Horav Chaim Shmulevitz, zl, cites Chazal in the Talmud Yoma 35b who suggest a possible scenario of the dialogue that ensues in the Heavenly Court on the Day of Judgment when each human being stands before Hashem. If a poor man is questioned regarding his lack of Torah study and he replies, “I was poor and too busy earning a living,” he is admonished for not following the…

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