Devarim – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

“These (are) the words which Moshe spoke unto all Yisrael… and it was in the fortieth year… (that) Moshe spoke unto t Bnei Yisrael according to all that Hashem had commanded him unto them.” (1:1,3)

Citing the Sifri, Rashi explains that these “words” were actually words of rebuke which Moshe spoke to Bnei Yisrael, reminding them of past offenses committed during their forty year trek in the desert. Moshe Rabbeinu veiled his words. He did not state Bnei Yisrael‘s transgression overtly for the sake of preserving their dignity. Horav Chaim Shmuelevitz z.l. infers that even when rebuke must be delivered, it should be expressed in a manner that will not degrade the offender more than necessary. There is no “mitzvah” to humiliate someone in the course of reprovement. All too often, those that admonish feel…

Home -> Devarim -> 5754

Sruly Schnair In 5754, Devarim

“Hashem, our G-d spoke unto us in Chorev saying, you have dwelt long enough in this mountain. Turn you and take you and take your journey and go to the hill-country of the Emorites and unto all the places near there.” (1:6,7)

Rashi explains Moshe’s statement in the following manner: You have received a great reward for your dwelling in this mountain. You have made a Mishkan, a Menorah and the various appurtenances. You have received the Torah, you have appointed for yourselves a Sanhedrin, officers of thousands and hundreds. Now you should go forth into the neighboring nations. This statement seems enigmatic. One would think that after lauding the great spiritual accomplishments, Moshe would now proceed to explain to them the profound intricacies of the Torah and the various codes. Instead, the Torah relates a geographical description of the neighboring countries!…

Home -> Devarim -> 5754

Sruly Schnair In 5754, Devarim

“And you came near to me all of you and said, ‘let us send men before us.” (1:22)

Rashi distinguishes between the way that Bnei Yisrael approached Moshe to request spies to precede them into Eretz Yisrael and the way that they acted at the foot of Har Sinai. During their rebellion the Torah states “all of you” which implies “in confusion,” in which the young pushed the elders and the elders pushed the leaders. There was a total lack of self-control and respect. Regarding Har Sinai, the Torah states, “You came near unto Me, the leader of your tribes, and your elders,” implying a proper and dignified approach, in which the young accorded reverence to their elders….

Home -> Devarim -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Devarim

“May He make you so many more like you a thousand times, and may He bless you as He has promised you.” (1:11)

Just as Moshe Rabbeinu was on the verge of leaving Am Yisrael, he offered up a tefillah, prayer, that the nation be blessed with amazing future growth. He adds one word, however, which sheds light on the Torah‘s perspective upon Jewish survival. Moshe says, “May He make you so many more like you.” The true blessing is that the future generations are “like you,” following in the traditional path paved by their ancestors with blood, sweat, and tears. In order to insure that the Jewish children of today and tomorrow serve as links in the chain of tradition, it is…

Home -> Devarim -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Devarim

“How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance and your burden and your strife?” (1:12)

The Midrash in Eichah distinguishes among three prophets who prefaced their prophecy with the word “Eichah.” The first was Moshe, who remonstrated about his obligation to deal personally with all of Klal Yisrael’s strife and complaints. Yeshayahu, the second, lamented Bnei Yisrael’s infidelity with the words vbuzk v,hv vfht, ‘How had the faithful city become like a harlot?” Third, Yirmiyahu, who beheld Klal Yisrael in their disgrace, said, ssc vcah vfht, “Alas, she (Klal Yisrael) sits in solitude.” These three statements apply to our people in the various stages of their development and ultimate disgrace. Horav M. Rogov, z.l., explains…

Home -> Devarim -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Devarim

“And you murmured in your tents and said ‘because Hashem hated us, He has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Emori to destroy us.” (1:27)

In Parashas Shelach the Torah extensively addresses the sin of the meraglim, spies. In this parsha, a new dimension to this sin is revealed as Moshe recounts Klal Yisrael’s past iniquities. In their unfounded complaint against Hashem, Klal Yisrael added the above statement, “Because Hashem hated us, He took us out of Egypt.” Such harsh criticism is not offered in any other context. In fact, this explains the eternal punishment effected by the sin of the meraglim. Klal Yisrael experienced the greatest miracles in Egypt. The Red Sea was wondrously split before their eyes. They were fed manna in the…

Home -> Devarim -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Devarim

“And we circled Mount Seir many days. And Hashem spoke to me saying ‘you have long passed this mountain, turn you northward.'” (2:1,2,3)

The Midrash interprets the phrase vbupm ofk ubp “turn you northward,” as vru,k ofk ubhpmv “hide yourselves for Torah.” This Midrash suggests a profound idea. Throughout our history, we have attempted to solve all of our problems with one common panacea, assimilation. If only we would develop a greater, more open-minded relationship with the gentile world, we would be accepted as equals and all of our problems would dissipate. Unfortunately, a perusal through Jewish history indicates the opposite. Every time we have attempted to break through the religious barriers by assimilating with our gentile neighbors, we have been driven back…

Home -> Devarim -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Devarim

“And Di Zahav.” (1:1)

Rashi interprets the place of Di Zahav etymologically to refer to the “excess gold” that Bnei Yisrael acquired upon leaving Egypt. Unfortunately they submitted to their cravings and created the Golden Calf from this abundant gold. Boredom coupled with affluence can create a highly volatile situation. If Moshe’s goal was to rebuke Bnei Yisrael for the Golden Calf, why did he provide them with a defense for this deed? Excess gold may, indeed, have been the reason for the sun of the Golden Calf. Horav Dovid Feinstein Shlita explains that there are two distinct possible orientations towards newly…

Home -> Devarim -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Devarim

“You shall not respect persons in judgment, the small and the great alike, you shall listen to, you shall not fear the face of any man, for the judgment is Hashem’s.” (1:17)

Rabeinu Yonah in his Sharei Teshuvah (3:33) cites this pasuk as a reassurance to Torah leadership that they should not fear reprisal from any decision they render. Judgment comes from Hashem and He will protect those who stand resolute in executing His imperatives. We may question the stated rationale for this mandate, “for judgment is Hashem’s”. What relationship exists between the source of judgment and the need for courage in administering legislation? This pasuk may be clarified in the following manner. Chazal made a very strong statement regarding the character of a Talmid Chacham (Torah scholar). Any Talmid Chacham…

Home -> Devarim -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Devarim

“And you came near to me all of you.” (1:22)

Rashi explains the words “all of you” to mean the young pushing elders and the elders pushing the heads in a sort of confusion. In essence this was Moshe’s rebuke to Bnei Yisrael. In order to encourage its own growth, the younger generation ought to be able to accept guidance from the elders. In this instance, however, there was complete chaos, as the young gave orders and advised the leadership. What is even more notable is that the elders heeded the dictates of this new “leadership”. Indeed, a similar phenomenon occurred during the near tragic recognition of the infamous false…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5754 ->

“These (are) the words which Moshe spoke unto all Yisrael… and it was in the fortieth year… (that) Moshe spoke unto t Bnei Yisrael according to all that Hashem had commanded him unto them.” (1:1,3)

“Hashem, our G-d spoke unto us in Chorev saying, you have dwelt long enough in this mountain. Turn you and take you and take your journey and go to the hill-country of the Emorites and unto all the places near there.” (1:6,7)

“And you came near to me all of you and said, ‘let us send men before us.” (1:22)

“May He make you so many more like you a thousand times, and may He bless you as He has promised you.” (1:11)

“How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance and your burden and your strife?” (1:12)

“And you murmured in your tents and said ‘because Hashem hated us, He has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Emori to destroy us.” (1:27)

“And we circled Mount Seir many days. And Hashem spoke to me saying ‘you have long passed this mountain, turn you northward.'” (2:1,2,3)

“And Di Zahav.” (1:1)

“You shall not respect persons in judgment, the small and the great alike, you shall listen to, you shall not fear the face of any man, for the judgment is Hashem’s.” (1:17)

“And you came near to me all of you.” (1:22)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!