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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5757, Bechukosai

And I shall set my face against you and you shall be smitten before your enemies. They that hate you shall rule over you. (26:17)

Toras Kohanim delineates between chut and tbua in that the soneih is an enemy from within, while the oyeiv is an external enemy. We will fall prey to the bitter hatred of our internal enemies, those who despise the Torah way of life, who blame our nation’s sorry state of affairs upon those faithful to the Torah, rather than upon those who have totally defected from the Torah way of life. The schism created by these misguided Jews grows to the point that our external enemies use it as an opportunity for increased antagonism. It is hard to accept the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5757, Bechukosai

I will cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols. (26:30)

The Sifra employs a meaningful story to elucidate this pasuk. During the time of the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash, when people were starving to death, Eliyahu Hanavi walked out on the streets of Yerushalayim, seeking out those Jews whose bodies had become swollen from hunger. When he came across a man who was dying of hunger, he questioned his family lineage. After the man responded with the name of his family, Eliyahu asked him about the size of his family. “We were a family of three thousand of which I am the sole survivor,” responded the man. “Do…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5757, Bechukosai

Any that passes beneath the staff, the tenth one shall be holy to Hashem. (27:32)

The animals born during the current year all pass through a corral which has a narrow opening. As they are counted, the tenth one is marked and set aside as a tithe for Hashem. While the halachah maintains that one should proclaim the tenth animal as Maaser l’Hashem, it does not change its Maaser status if the individual did not orally declare it as Maaser. Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, underscores the fact that oral expression is essential, even though the animal nevertheless becomes holy. We infer from here that even if something is holy, it must be maintained in a…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5756, Bechukosai

If you follow My decrees… then I will provide your rains in their time… But if you will not listen to Me… then I will do the same to you.” (26:3,4,14,16)

This parsha is often misunderstood to be dealing with reward and punishment, blessings and curses. This is absolutely not true. Hashem does not curse. The correct name given to that portion of the parsha in which the reader recites the various “responses” to our iniquitous behavior is the “tochachah,” warning, admonishment. Horav Moshe Swift, zl, remarks that reward and punishment are applicable in the hereafter. In this world, however, we deal with direct consequences. Every action or endeavor promotes a consequence. If we walk in Hashem’s path, if we observe His mitzvos, then the consequences are positive. We will receive…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5756, Bechukosai

“I will remember My covenant with Yaakov and also My covenant with Yitzchak and also My covenant with Avraham I will remember.” (26:42)

Rashi comments on the order in which the Patriarchs are listed in this pasuk. The order implies that the merit of Yaakov is sufficient to bring redemption to his descendants. If his merit is found to be insufficient, we can turn to Yitzchak in whose merit our redemption will be effected. If this is still not enough, we rely upon Avraham Avinu’s merit to bring about our redemption. We may question the reversed sequence of the Avos. Is not Yaakov considered to be the bchir ha’Avos, chosen of the Patriarchs? Why, then, is he listed first? In sequence, Yaakov should…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5756, Bechukosai

“Any tithe of cattle or of the flock, any that passes beneath the staff, the tenth one shall be holy to Hashem.” (27:32)

The process of maaser beheimah, tithing of animals, is unique indeed. The entire newborn herd or flock is put into a corral with a narrow opening, and the animals are permitted to leave one by one. The owner then touches each tenth animal with a paint-daubed stick, designating it as maaser. This procedure is enigmatic. Why can he not simply take one tenth of his herd and give it away as maaser? Is this process not cumbersome? Horav Shlomo Aharonson, zl, once posed this question to two brothers who were renown for their philanthropic work. The Rav had approached the…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5755, Bechukosai

“If you walk in My laws/follow My decrees.” (26:3)

The Midrash cites the pasuk in Tehillim 119, “I contemplated my path and my feet returned me to Your testimony.” It also presents Dovid Ha’Melech’s explanation of his allusion in the pasuk. Dovid Ha’Melech explained that every day he organized his activities and decided where to go.  He would begin on his way, but instead of proceeding to his intended destination, his feet literally propelled him to the Bais Ha’Midrash. This Midrash begs further explanation.  First, what connection is there between the pasuk, “If you will walk in My laws,” and Dovid Ha’Melech’s statement ?  Second, Dovid Ha’Melech’s original statement…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5755, Bechukosai

“If you will walk in My laws (My decrees) and My mitzvos you will guard/observe and perform them.” (26:3)

Mitzvah observance is the prime focus of this parsha. This pasuk presents a refreshing perspective on mitzvah observance. Many individuals desire to fulfill the mitzvos to the highest degree in order to achieve an unparalleled relationship with Hashem. The Sidduro Shel Shabbos posits that the words, “And My mitzvos you will guard,” suggest an orientation to mitzvah observance that can be summed up with one word — yearning. One should possess an inner longing to observe mitzvos to the point that he anticipates the opportunity for performing a mitzvah with love and increasing desire. This type of devotion symbolizes an…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5755, Bechukosai

“I broke the staves of your yoke and I led you erect.” (26:13)

The Midrash interprets the word ,uhnnue to mean “upright and erect”, without fear of any man. Horav Tzvi Hirsch Farber, z.l., defines this “posture” as relating to the Jew’s spiritual realm, rather than the physical. Unfortunately, some individuals tend to be apprehensive about public mitzvah observance. Our Jewish pride should not permit us to cast mitzvah performance by the wayside as a result of fear or ridicule. It is self-destructive for an individual to disavow himself from his inherent belief. To deny one’s nobility and genuine religious conviction out of fear of public reaction indicates a low spiritual self-esteem and…

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Home -> Bechukosai -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5755, Bechukosai

“You will flee with no one pursuing you.” (26:17)

What is the curse implied in fleeing from non-existent pursuers ? On the contrary, it should be a blessing that no one is pursuing us! The Gaon M’Vilna explains this pasuk by first citing the pasuk in Koheles 3:15, “Hashem always seeks (to help) the (one who is) pursued.” According to the Midrash, this applies even in the instance in which a tzaddik is chasing after a rasha; Hashem will protect the rasha, since he is the “underdog.”  This is the implication of the curse: No one will be chasing us, so that we will not be assisted by Hashem….

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