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Home -> 5752 -> Ki Savo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Savo, 5752

“Hashem has not given you a heart to recognize, and eyes to see, and ears to hear until this day.” (29:3)

In compliance with the Divine imperative, Moshe gave a special Sefer Torah to the tribe of Levi. Upon hearing this, Bnei Yisrael reacted in an unanticipated manner. They said, “Moshe, we also stood at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, why should you give dominance to the people of your tribe over it? In the future your descendants might claim it was given only to them and not to all of us. This could, Heaven-forbid, lead to the Torah ultimately being lost from Klal Yisrael.” When Moshe heard their reaction he responded, “Today, you have become a nation. This day…

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Home -> 5752 -> Ki Savo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Savo, 5752

“And all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you… because you did not serve Hashem with joy.” (28:45-47)

We may note that the Torah reveals that the only sin which will effect these terrible curses is a deficiency in serving Hashem joyously. An insipid service of Hashem is not only wrong, but it also distorts the very essence of spirituality. As the Nefesh Hachayim points out, a service devoid of passion is comparable to the interaction characteristic of the relationship of a slave to his master or a prisoner to his captor.   Why does the Torah inflict such terrible punishment upon one who fails to achieve this spiritual apex? Individual personalities vary, and not all people are…

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Home -> 5752 -> Ki Savo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Savo, 5752

“And it shall come to pass if you listen more seriously to the voice of Hashem your G-d… conscientiously to do all the mitzvos… and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Hashem, your G-d.” (28:1-2)

The above pasuk characterizes the observance of Hashem’s mitzvos as the primary vehicle of demonstrating our obedience to Him. We are to listen to Hashem’s voice for the sole purpose of fulfilling His law. In return for this life of service to Him, we have been promised an abundance of material blessing wherever we go. Wherever we may be, we will be accompanied by Hashem’s blessing. One simple criterion must be met: “To obey Hashem in order to fulfill His laws.”   Material wealth should serve as a means, but never as the goal, for the Jewish people. We will…

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Home -> Ki Savo -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, Ki Savo, 5752

“This day you became a people (nation).”

Horav Elchonon Wasserman Z”l explains the distinction between the term “am” and the term “goy”, both of which are commonly translated as “nation”. “Goy” connotes an autonomous nation which is settled in its own land under its own governance. In contrast, “am” implies a people or large group of individuals who speak the same language and maintain a common culture. They comprise a “nation” despite their lack of their own land.   This differentiation clarifies Moshe’s declaration to Bnei Yisrael, “Today you have become an am”, for they had accepted the Torah, which was written in seventy languages on the…

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