Eikev – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“And at Taveirah and at Masah and at Kivros Ha’Taavah you made Hashem angry.” (9:22)

In Pirkei Avos 5 Chazal enumerate the ten trials with which Bnei Yisrael “tested” Hashem in the desert. It is interesting to note that Moshe interrupted his admonishment of Bnei Yisrael concerning the Golden Calf in order to mention the above sins as well as to mention the sins of the meraglim, spies. Why specifically does he mention these four sins? Horav Zalmen Sorotzkin z.l. asserts that this interruption is deliberate. Its purpose is to dispute the notion that Bnei Yisrael sinned with the Golden Calf as a result of their panic at the temporary absence of Moshe, their leader. …

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“And (therefore) you shall place these My words on (in) your hearts and on (in) your soul.” (11:18)

Rashi states that the mitzvos of tefillin and mezuzah are distinct from others in that Bnei Yisrael are expected to continue to practice them even in exile. Thus, when they return to Eretz Yisrael, tefillin and mezuzah would not seem to be new/foreign mitzvos. The Vilna Gaon questions Rashi’s statement from the Talmud Kidushin 3b, which states that any mitzvah whose observance is limited specifically to the land (Eretz Yisrael) is not applicable to chutz la’aretz, countries outside of Eretz Yisrael. Those mitzvos which are not bound to the land, however, are applicable in Eretz Yisrael, as well as outside…

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways, and to cleave/cling unto Him.” (22:11)

Chazal explain the concept of walking in Hashem’s ways as following in “His footsteps.” This means to emulate Hashem. Just as He is merciful, so should we be merciful. Just as He is charitable so should we be charitable. Emulating Hashem should be the governing factor in our performance of mitzvos. Horav Yaakov Neiman z.l. asserts that to perform a mitzvah for Hashem while simultaneously hurting a fellow Jew even indirectly is wrong and diametrically opposed to Hashem’s intention concerning mitzvah performance. We must remember our responsibility to reflect Hashem’s traits of mercy and caring. In Parashas Va’eschanan 4:9, the…

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ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ד' אלקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

This is the commandment that enjoins us to recite Bircas Hamazon, Grace after meals, Bentch. Moshe Rabbeinu initiated the blessing of Hazan es hakol kulo b’tuvo, “Who nourishes the entire world, in His goodness,” following the descent of the manna to sustain the nation. Horav Moshe Tzvi Nariyah, zl, observes that in no other instance does a person become so absorbed with his ani, himself, with his existence and personal pleasure, as when he is engaged in eating. Food/eating can have a compelling and almost vulgar effect on a person, often catalyzing his base instincts. Therefore, claims Rav Nariyah, the…

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וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He who gave you strength the make wealth. (8:18)

How easy it is to believe in ourselves – to think that our power is the result of our own strength; our battle skills, the result of our being formidable warriors. Hashem wants us to dispel this notion, by remembering that whatever success we enjoy is only because He gives us the means. In his Ben Ish Chai, Horav Yosef Chaim, zl, m’Bagdad, observes that whenever it is demanded of a person to remember, it is because it is concerning a subject that he is prone to forget. Indeed, there are six places in which the Torah enjoins us to…

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ואתפוש בשני הלוחות מעל שתי ידי ואשברם לעיניכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

I took hold of both of the Tablets, and I cast them from my hands, and I broke them before your eyes. (9:17)

A powerful lesson can be derived from this pasuk, which describes Moshe Rabbeinu’s act of shattering of the Luchos not simply as a negative act or an act of weakness, but rather, as a forceful, compelling, even positive act. Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zl, comments that, were it not for the Torah’s unembellished description, one might harbor the thought that Moshe was so overcome with shock in seeing the Golden Calf that he dropped the Luchos. Perhaps another scenario would be that they were too heavy. Moshe’s strength came from the People. Their merit infused him. Once they fell off their…

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ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך ללכת בכל דרכיו ולאהבה אותו ולעבוד את ד' אלקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d, to go in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul. (10:12)

In the Talmud Menachos 43b, Chazal derive from this pasuk that a Jew is obligated to recite one hundred brachos, blessings, daily. This is derived from the word, Mah, before the words, Hashem Elokecha sh’oel meimach, “What – does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you?” The “mah” is interpreted to mean meah, which means one hundred. Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 12, adds that David Hamelech initiated the decree to recite one hundred blessings daily as a merit to save the nation from continuing to lose one hundred men each day. Apparently, as explained by the Tur Orach Chaim 46, one hundred…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5772

“That as a man will chasten his son, so does Hashem, your G-d, chasten you.” (8:5)

Some people experience yisurim, suffering, in greater measure than others. The Torah is defining for us the essence of suffering: It is a loving Father’s necessary and beneficial act toward His child. Although many of us acknowledge this notion from an intellectual perspective, when it hurts, it truly hurts. When we experience pain and suffering, our intellect does not necessarily influence our emotions. Great and righteous people throughout history have accepted Hashem’s decree with great faith and love. Indeed, countless stories detail the devotion of the great, as well as the simple, believing Jew. We have selected two narratives…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5772

“You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d.” (8:10)

The following story, related by Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, does not actually address the parsha. Its lesson and message, however, is compelling. It is especially significant in that it conveys to us the far-reaching effect of our behavior. We hope that our actions will all have similar positive consequences as evidenced in this episode. A young kollel fellow in Yerushalayim went to a Judaica library in search of a certain volume not accessible in the local shuls. Knowing that the library was not located in an area that had a kosher restaurant, he brought along a sandwich for lunch. After…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5772

“Lest you eat and be satisfied, and you build good houses and settle… and your heart will become haughty and you will forget Hashem, your G-d.” (8:12,14)

The text of these pesukim is ambiguous. The Torah seems to imply that satisfaction and success in Eretz Yisrael are doubtful, while haughtiness and forgetting Hashem, the Source of success, seems to be a certainty. Horav Yosef Konvitz, z.l., explains that if we scan Jewish history, we will note that during those times when we were blessed with material success, we were, regrettably, not able to withstand the allure of sin that inevitably accompanies it. The yetzer hara, evil inclination, works very hard to ensnare his prey. When he utilizes material benefits and comforts, he has added ammunition for success….

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“And at Taveirah and at Masah and at Kivros Ha’Taavah you made Hashem angry.” (9:22)

“And (therefore) you shall place these My words on (in) your hearts and on (in) your soul.” (11:18)

“To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways, and to cleave/cling unto Him.” (22:11)

ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ד' אלקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך

You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל

Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He who gave you strength the make wealth. (8:18)

ואתפוש בשני הלוחות מעל שתי ידי ואשברם לעיניכם

I took hold of both of the Tablets, and I cast them from my hands, and I broke them before your eyes. (9:17)

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך ללכת בכל דרכיו ולאהבה אותו ולעבוד את ד' אלקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d, to go in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul. (10:12)

“That as a man will chasten his son, so does Hashem, your G-d, chasten you.” (8:5)

“You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d.” (8:10)

“Lest you eat and be satisfied, and you build good houses and settle… and your heart will become haughty and you will forget Hashem, your G-d.” (8:12,14)

YEARS

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