Eikev – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

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

The words V’achalta v’savata, “You will eat and you will be satisfied,” are mentioned twice in this Parsha: in the above pasuk, and later in (11:15). There is one difference, however, the above pasuk has an added word: u’beirachta, “and you will bless [Hashem].” In the second pasuk, the words V’achalta v’savata are followed in the next pasuk by, He’shamru la’chem pen yifteh l’vavchem v’sartem, “Beware for yourselves, lest your heart be seduced and you will turn astray.” Wherein lay the difference between the two phrases? Why is the second one followed with, “beware,” while the first concludes, “you will…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5771

You shall cut away the barrier of your heart, and no longer stiffen your neck. (10:16)

The Torah is speaking metaphorically. The heart is the seat of emotion and desire. As long as one has not cut away the spiritual dross that surrounds his heart, his trend towards sinful behavior continues unabated. If one addresses his impulses and desires, puts them in check, he weakens their ability to cause him to gravitate towards sin. Ibn Ezra puts it, “One must distance himself from the thick and heavy desires (that weigh down on him) like an orlah, uncircumcised foreskin. Alternatively, it might mean that one should purify his heart, so that he understands the truth.” Essentially, Ibn…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5771

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

The words, l’daber bam, “to discuss/speak in them,” are a key to understanding the essence of a father’s obligation of limud haTorah to his son. In the Talmud Bava Basra 60b, Chazal relate the story of two litigants that came before Rabbi Yanai – with a halachic dispute. One litigant insisted that Rabbi Yanai require his disputant to cut the branches of his tree which were encroaching on his property. The sage heard their arguments and asked them to return the next day for his rendering of judgment. As soon as they left, Rabbi Yanai quickly ran home to cut the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5770

“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, 5770

“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, 5770

“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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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5770

“Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d; that it was He Who gave you strength to make wealth.” (8:18)

How easily we forget what Hashem does for us. When we are in need, we know to Whom to turn in prayer and supplication. When we are answered, however, our attitude takes a sudden change of course. We no longer attribute our success to the Source of all success. We quickly say that it was our endeavor, our strength, our ability that catalyzed the success that we enjoy. What happened? How did we suddenly become myopic, failing to recognize that it was Hashem Who was clearly the one Who brought about every achievement that we attribute to our own prowess?…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5770

“And Hashem gave me the two tablets of stone.” (9:10)

The word “luchos,” tablets, is usually written with a “vav” to designate the plural. Rashi explains that the word luchos is written here without a “vav,” in the singular. Yet, it is vocalized in the plural, by design. This indicates that while there were two luchos, they had equal significance as if they had been one. Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, adds that the word “shnei,” two, also indicates that the two luchos were really one, reflected by the apparent redundancy of the word. Obviously, the word luchos, which is the plural form, implies two luchos, since, as Chazal teach us,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5769

“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…

Home -> 5769 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5769

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

You shall cut away the barrier of your heart, and no longer stiffen your neck. (10:16)

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

“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)

“Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d; that it was He Who gave you strength to make wealth.” (8:18)

“And Hashem gave me the two tablets of stone.” (9:10)

“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)

YEARS

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