Devarim – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

I instructed your judges…saying, “Listen among your brethren and judge righteously.” (1:16)

Moshe adjured the judges to be deliberate in judgement, to listen to the litigants and to understand their claims — not to make rash decisions. Rashi adds, if a case comes before you two or three times, do not say, “I have already rendered my decision in this case. Rather, listen to each case, regardless of its redundancy, and be deliberate in rendering your decision”. The Mizrachi contends that Rashi derives his thesis from the words, “Listen among your brothers.” How do we infer from this phrase that one should view each case as original, regardless of how many times…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Devarim

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

Chazal claim that the key to their error lies in the word “kulchem” – all of you. All of Klal Yisrael came together in total disarray, with disrespect for their elders, each one pushing ahead of the other. This approach contrasted the situation at Kabbolas HaTorah, when everyone maintained proper decorum as they prepared to accept the Torah. The Netziv, zl, contends that “all of you” is not factual. Certainly, not everyone came forward. Only the leaders of the tribes, the noblemen who represented the masses came forward, requesting that spies go to search out the land. Horav Elyakim Schlessinger,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Yisrael. (1:1)

Rebuking Klal Yisrael prior to his death, Moshe Rabbeinu recounted their past sins, so that they would learn from their errors. Rashi tells us that out of respect for Klal Yisrael, Moshe did not elaborate their sins. Rather, he mentioned them b’remez, alluding to them through the names of their encampments. These names refer to the various sins committed in these places. The Maharal questions this statement, since apparently Moshe did delineate Klal Yisrael‘s most outstanding sins. Furthermore, the Shach asks why Moshe rebuked the people who were about to enter Eretz Yisrael. After all, they were not the sinners; …

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding, and well known to your tribes, and I shall appoint them as your heads. (1:13)

In a play on the word “onhatu” , “and I will appoint them,” the Midrash changes the “sin” to a “shin”, transforming the word “onhatu” to “and I shall hold them guilty”. The Midrash is teaching us the importance of listening to our spiritual leaders. If they lead properly and the common people still do not respond with respect, the people are liable. They cite an interesting analogy. Once a snake was sliding along its path, when the tail began complaining to the head, “Why are you always in the front with me dragging along behind? I want to lead,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

Chazal view the word, “all of you”, as the cause of the tragic outcome of their mission to spy out Eretz Yisrael. The people came forward in an unbecoming manner. They were demanding and disrespectful. The young pushed aside their elders, and the older people pushed ahead of their leaders. This was in sharp contrast to their behavior at Kabalas HaTorah when the entire nation came forth with a request, but in a respectable and orderly manner; the young encouraged their elders to go forward, while the elders displayed the proper respect to their leadership. Why is it necessary to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

Moshe Rabbeinu recounted the events surrounding the spies’ ill-fated mission to Eretz Yisrael. He attempted to refresh their minds concerning their prior mistakes, so that hopefully they would not repeat the same errors. He admonished them to remember their murmurings and rebellions, the slander that demoralized a nation, the ingratitude that catalyzed a rebellion for which we still suffer today. What did they do that night that still haunts us to this very day? They cried! Does crying deserve such a severe punishment? It depends what type of crying and for what reason. Chazal tell us that the people…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Devarim

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

From the fact that Hashem told Moshe not to fear Og, the Torah was suggesting that Moshe had reason to fear him. What could there be about Og that would engender fear in Moshe. As Rashi says, Og had received merit for a good deed that he had performed many years earlier. Og was the one who told Avraham that Lot had been taken captive. This act of kindness gave him a zechus. The question is obvious. Og had an ulterior motive in communicating this message to Avraham. Chazal tell us that Og hoped Avraham would rush into battle…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

Hashem tells Bnei Yisrael that one year at Har Sinai was sufficient. They had achieved remarkable benefits at this place. The Torah, the Mishkan with its various vessels, and their spiritual leadership all were established at Har Sinai. The time had come to move on. Let us examine this statement. Imagine that one is living in a community in which he has abundant material benefit, amazing financial success, and many friends. Are we going to tell him that since he is achieving such a high level of success, the time has come to move away? Is this not essentially what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

The Midrash in Eichah distinguishes the context of Moshe’s use of the word “eichah” from the ways in which Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu use the same word. Moshe was lamenting his obligation to deal personally with Klal Yisrael‘s petty complaints. On the other hand, Yeshayahu lamented Bnei Yisrael‘s unfaithfulness to Hashem. vbuzk v,hv vfht, “How had the faithful city become like a harlot,” he cried out. Yirmiyahu, who saw their humiliation and destruction cried out, vfht ssc vcah, “Alas, she (Klal Yisrael) sits in solitude.” The commentators differentiate among these three “eichahs” as referring to distinct stages of Klal Yisrael‘s iniquity….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“All of you approached and said, “Let us send men ahead and let them spy out the land.” (1:22)

Chazal find a hidden message in the word ofkf, “all of you.” They contend that the manner in which they approached Moshe, the young showing disrespect towards their elders by pushing ahead, was the precursor of the disastrous outcome of their mission. We must endeavor to understand this statement. Is Moshe rebuking the people for their lack of derech eretz? Was not their sin a lack of faith in Hashem’s ability to bring them into the land? The mere fact that they requested spies in itself represented insurrection. How does their lack of proper manners correlate with their transgression? Horav…

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I instructed your judges…saying, “Listen among your brethren and judge righteously.” (1:16)

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Yisrael. (1:1)

Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding, and well known to your tribes, and I shall appoint them as your heads. (1:13)

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

You slandered in your tents and said, ” Because of Hashem’s hatred for us did he take us out of Egypt…to destroy us. (1:27)

An Og, King of Bashan, went out toward us…Hashem said to me, “Do not fear him.” (3:1,2)

“Enough of your dwelling by this mountain. Turn yourselves around and journey.” (1:6,7)

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

“All of you approached and said, “Let us send men ahead and let them spy out the land.” (1:22)

YEARS

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