Ki Seitzei – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem….because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt. (23:4,5)

The character flaw which Moav exhibited was sufficient reason for the Torah to exclude them from Klal Yisrael. We must address how this negative trait was manifest in descendants of Lot, Avraham Avinu’s nephew. Lot was a person who risked his life to fulfill the mitzvah of hachnasas orchim, hospitality to the wayfarer/stranger. His daughter died as a result of his commitment. Their family exemplified a conviction to chesed, kindness to others. How then did they become so degenerate that several generations later the family served as the paradigm of those who lack chesed? Meilitz Yosher explains that the primary…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5757

An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem…Because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water…And because he hired Bilaam ben Be’or….to curse you. (23:4,5)

The Torah mentions two reasons for not accepting the Amoni and Moavi into Klal Yisrael. The first appears to be a character flaw; the second seems more substansive. We can understand taking a strict attitude towards a people that have sought to harm us, but why should their lack of decency play a role in their rejection as converts? Chazal give a number of reasons for this. Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, offers a thoughtful insight into their behavior which demonstrates their utter hatred for the Jews. Consequently, he explains why such a people should be eternally excluded from joining Klal…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5757

And your camp shall be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from behind you. (23:15)

Klal Yisrael lives in exile among the nations of the world, who at any given moment can react to us in any manner. True, democracies and governments are supposedly governed by people dedicated to upholding law and order. This was presumably also the situation prior to World War II, when so many of our people were brutally murdered in the most heinous manner. We must confront the fact that we are in exile. We have only one source of salvation–Hashem. He – and only He – protects us, not permitting our antagonists to hurt us. Why does Hashem…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5757

Remember what Hashem, your G-d did to Miriam. (24:9)

We are admonished to internalize what occurred to Miriam when she criticized Moshe. Her ordeal serves as an eternal warning to refrain from any form of slander or disparaging words, regardless of the provocation. This “zechirah,” remembrance, is one of the six zechiros we say every day. We may question the significance of Miriam’s “lashon hora.” Is it truly that critical for us to remember that Miriam spoke about her brother, Moshe, and his relationship with his wife, Tziporah? Rabbi Elchanan Sorotzkin, zl, cites the Rambam who gives insight into Miriam’s actions. He maintains that we are to develop…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“You shall not see the donkey of your brother or his ox falling on the road… you shall surely stand them up with him.” (22:4)

The Torah admonishes us to be sensitive to the pain of animals. The Chofetz Chaim renders a symbolic meaning to these words. He suggests that they apply to any activity one sets out to accomplish with Hashem’s help. For instance, when we implore Hashem daily in tefillas Shacharis:, “Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah,” we should not think that Torah scholarship will simply come down from Heaven as a gift. Erudition is not a gift; it is something for which one works, – diligently and with great toil. We cannot sit back and relax, waiting for Hashem to provide Torah…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“An Amoni or a Moavi shall not enter into the congregation of Hashem… because they did not meet you with bread and water… and because they hired against you Bilaam… Nevertheless Hashem would not listen to Bilaam. (23:4, 5, 6)

The Torah places great emphasis upon the imperative to distance the nations of Amon and Moav from our midst. Why? What did these nations do that was so invidious that they may never be accepted into the fold of Judaism? What crime did they commit that castigates them for all time? The Torah offers two responses. First, they did not come forward and welcome us with food when we passed by them during our trek in the desert. Second, they hired Bilaam to work against us. These actions, especially the second one, are unquestionably reprehensible. Are they worse, however, than…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“When you go forth in camp against your enemies, you shall guard against evil. ” (23:10)

The Torah previously addressed the problems and challenges that abound during the course of warfare. The Torah here does not seem to be speaking of physical war, but rather of spiritual war. The term “machane” is different from the term “milchamah.” We are referring here to one’s own “machane,” camp, one’s peace of mind and spiritual values – not the enemy’s. Hence, the Torah says, “You shall guard against evil.” This suggests that the only time one needs shmirah, “protection” is when he goes out. This is obviously not true. Chazal state that the Satan is particularly active during times…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“You shall observe and carry out what emerges from your lips, just as you vowed a voluntary gift to Hashem, your G-d, whatever you spoke with your mouth.” (23:24)

Upon examining the text, the end of the pasuk seems redundant. Would it not have sufficed to simply write, “You shall observe and carry out whatever emerges from your lips.” Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, makes a practical insight which explains the pasuk. When a person is involved in an “eis tzarah,” a period of pain or anguish, the neder, vow, which he makes is undoubtedly sincere. He is stressed and motivated by anxiety. At the time, he truly plans to fulfill every promise that he makes. What happens, however, when it is all over and things have calmed down, when…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“Remember what Hashem your G-d did to Miriam on the way as you came forth from Egypt.” (24:9)

Rashi explains that Miriam’s punishment serves as a model for us to use to admonish others not to speak Lashon Hora. “Do not speak Lashon Hora or you will be punished with tzaraas just like Miriam”, is the warning according to Rashi. Upon reviewing the commentary of Yonasan ben Uziel, we note an interesting interpretation of Miriam’s sin. He writes that we should warn others not to be unduly suspicious of other people’s actions, as Miriam’s suspicions of Moshe were groundless. This indicates that Miriam’s sin was not in slandering Moshe; it began much earlier with her spurious suspicions. This…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5756

“A perfect and honest weight shall you have… Remember what Amalek did to you.” (25:15,17)

Rashi explains that the juxtaposition of the admonition regarding false weights, upon the remembrance of what Amalek did to us. One who does not maintain integrity in the marketplace, who cheats his fellow man, should concern himself with the reprisal of Amalek. Horav Simcha Bunim Sofer, zl, explains Rashi’s comment. One who cheats in business demonstrates a lack of emunah and bitachon, trust and faith in Hashem. One must believe unequivocally that Hashem will sustain him and provide for all his needs. He determines how much and what one needs, and He provides it. What occurred during the war with…

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An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem….because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt. (23:4,5)

An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem…Because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water…And because he hired Bilaam ben Be’or….to curse you. (23:4,5)

And your camp shall be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from behind you. (23:15)

Remember what Hashem, your G-d did to Miriam. (24:9)

“You shall not see the donkey of your brother or his ox falling on the road… you shall surely stand them up with him.” (22:4)

“An Amoni or a Moavi shall not enter into the congregation of Hashem… because they did not meet you with bread and water… and because they hired against you Bilaam… Nevertheless Hashem would not listen to Bilaam. (23:4, 5, 6)

“When you go forth in camp against your enemies, you shall guard against evil. ” (23:10)

“You shall observe and carry out what emerges from your lips, just as you vowed a voluntary gift to Hashem, your G-d, whatever you spoke with your mouth.” (23:24)

“Remember what Hashem your G-d did to Miriam on the way as you came forth from Egypt.” (24:9)

“A perfect and honest weight shall you have… Remember what Amalek did to you.” (25:15,17)

YEARS

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