Devarim – Page 9 – Peninim on the Torah

“They came until the valley of Eshkol, and spied it out.” (1:24)

Avraham Avinu had three close friends and confidants: Avner, Eshkol and Mamre, whom he consulted when he was commanded to circumcise himself. Avner advised him not to do it because of his advanced age. Eshkol presented arguments in support of Avner’s advice. He felt that in Avraham’s weakened condition post-circumcision, his enemies would be able to overpower him. Mamre encouraged Avraham to circumcise himself. When the meraglim, spies, came to Eretz Yisrael, they stopped at Nachal Eshkol and picked a cluster of grapes which they brought back to Moshe. Horav Eli Munk, z.l., suggests an analogy between the episode of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Devarim

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

At the end of the fortieth year of their sojourn in the wilderness, Moshe Rabbeinu is about to take leave of the flock that he had nurtured. He commenced his rebuke on Rosh Chodesh Shevat and culminated his words on the day that he died – the seventh of Adar. The Sifri comments that Moshe purposely decided to admonish the people close to the time when he was leaving this world. He learned this practice from Yaakov Avinu, who also chided his sons prior to his death. Chazal suggest four reasons why one might leave rebuke until the end – close…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Devarim

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

Rebuke is far from simple. It is difficult for the one who renders the admonishment and difficult for he who is being reproached. In his commentary to Sefer Mishlei 9:8, the Gaon M’Vilna writes that tochachah, rebuke, is like a mirror that presents an individual with a clear picture of his real self. He can either look at the image and accept what it shows, or he can ignore the image and go about his business as usual. The Sefas Emes says that the word tochachah has its root in the word toch, which means inside. The purpose of rebuke is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Devarim

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

Parashas Devarim is always read on the Shabbos which precedes Tisha B’Av. This is due to the word eichah, how, the opening word of Megillas Eichah, which is read on Tisha B’Av. Indeed, the word eichah has become synonymous with Tisha B’Av and mourning. In the Midrash Eichah, Chazal say three prophesized using the word eichah: Moshe Rabbeinu, Yeshayah HaNavi, and Yirmiyahu HaNavi. Moshe said, “How can I alone carry your burdens?” Yeshayah said, “How did (Klal Yisrael) become like a harlot?” (Yeshayah 1:21). Yirmiyahu said, “How does she (Klal Yisrael) sit alone?” (Eichah 1:1). What is the Midrash alluding to?…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Devarim

“Any matter that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me and I shall hear it.” (1:17)

Many people want to lead, but most are incapable – nonetheless that does not seem to stop them. A rav should not be remote, inflexible and uncaring. He should have a profound influence on the daily lives of his flock. Yet, this does not stop many from seeking positions of leadership. A rav should certainly be a scholar, but not every scholar should be a rav. A rav should be people-oriented, a communicator, friendly, compassionate and sensitive to the needs of all his members. Yet, lacking these criteria does not stop certain people from assuming positions of leadership. Horav Eliezer M….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Devarim

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael…in the wilderness, in the plain, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan, and Chatzeiros, and Di Zahav.” (1:1)

In this pasuk, Moshe Rabbeinu bids farewell to his flock. His leadership of the nascent nation is coming to an end, as he is about to leave this world. His predecessor, Yaakov Avinu, blessed his sons before he left this world. His blessing took on the form of rebuke, since rebuke represents true blessing. To guide someone out of love, to point out his shortcomings constructively with the hope that it will steer him onto the correct path of life is a blessing of the highest order. Indeed, when we see another person doing something wrong, we are obligated to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Devarim

“How can I alone carry?” (1:12)

In the annual cycle of parshiyos, we always read Parashas Devarim, on the Shabbos preceding Tishah B’Av, our national day of mourning. This Shabbos is known as Shabbos Chazon, after the opening word of the Haftorah, Chazon Yeshayahu, where the Navi Yeshayahu foretells the great tragedy to befall the Jewish nation. Also, an obvious connection to Tishah B’Av is the word “Eichah,” how, which appears in Megillas Eichah, Book of Lamentations, that is read on Tishah B’Av. The Gaon M’Vilna sees a deeper connection between this parsha and Tishah B’Av in the third word of our pasuk, “levadi” – “Eichah esa…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Devarim

“You answered me and said, ‘The thing that you proposed to do is good.’” (1:14)

Rashi explains Moshe’s critique in the following manner: “You decided the matter to your benefit without considering that you were being disrespectful. You should have responded to the suggestion about instituting sub-leadership by saying, ‘Our teacher Moshe, from whom is it more appropriate to learn: you or your student? Is it not better to learn from you because you suffered over the Torah?’” The last few words, “because you suffered over the Torah,” seem to be superfluous. It would have been sufficient merely to posit that it is better to learn from the master than to learn from the student….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Devarim

“They came until the valley of Eshkol, and spied it out.” (1:24)

Avraham Avinu had three close friends and confidants: Avner, Eshkol and Mamre, whom he consulted when he was commanded to circumcise himself. Avner advised him not to do it because of his advanced age. Eshkol presented arguments in support of Avner’s advice. He felt that in Avraham’s weakened condition post-circumcision, his enemies would be able to overpower him. Mamre encouraged Avraham to circumcise himself. When the meraglim, spies, came to Eretz Yisrael, they stopped at Nachal Eshkol and picked a cluster of grapes which they brought back to Moshe. Horav Eli Munk, z.l., suggests an analogy between the episode of…

Home -> Devarim -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Devarim

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael…in the wilderness, in the plain, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan, and Chatzeiros, and Di Zahav.” (1:1)

In this pasuk, Moshe Rabbeinu bids farewell to his flock. His leadership of the nascent nation is coming to an end, as he is about to leave this world. His predecessor, Yaakov Avinu, blessed his sons before he left this world. His blessing took on the form of rebuke, since rebuke represents true blessing. To guide someone out of love, to point out his shortcomings constructively with the hope that it will steer him onto the correct path of life is a blessing of the highest order. Indeed, when we see another person doing something wrong, we are obligated to…

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“They came until the valley of Eshkol, and spied it out.” (1:24)

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

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

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

“Any matter that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me and I shall hear it.” (1:17)

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael…in the wilderness, in the plain, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan, and Chatzeiros, and Di Zahav.” (1:1)

“How can I alone carry?” (1:12)

“You answered me and said, ‘The thing that you proposed to do is good.’” (1:14)

“They came until the valley of Eshkol, and spied it out.” (1:24)

“These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael…in the wilderness, in the plain, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan, and Chatzeiros, and Di Zahav.” (1:1)

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