Ki Sisa – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

“The Bnei Yisrael shall observe the Shabbos.” (31:16)

Shabbos observance is a foundation of our faith. It is a sign of our commitment to the Almighty and His Torah. In his sefer, M’loh Ha’omer, the Aruch L’ner notes an intriguing phenomenon. Those years that the first day of Rosh Hashanah was on Shabbos, Klal Yisrael either experienced its most wonderful years or its most tragic years. Indeed, our greatest national tragedies, the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash and the most devastating pogroms against our People, occurred during years when Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos. Why is this? The answer given by the Aruch L’ner, based upon a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Ki Sisa

“When He finished speaking to him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moshe the two Tablets of Testimony.” (31:18)

Rashi notes that the words “k’chaloso,” when he finished, is spelled defectively, without the letter “vov” between the “lamed” and the “saf,” as if it were vocalized “k’kalaso,” which means like his bride. This implies that the Torah was given to Moshe as a gift, as a bride to a groom. Moshe was not able to grasp the entire Torah in such a short time. Indeed, as the Midrash comments, throughout the forty days that Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai, Hashem taught him the Torah, but he constantly forgot what he had learned. Moshe turned to Hashem and said,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Ki Sisa

“And he (Moshe) saw the calf and the dances, and Moshe’s anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands.” (32:19)

The sin of the Golden Calf is viewed as the worst, most reprehensible transgression against the Almighty. Indeed, Chazal compare it to a bride who proves herself unfaithful on her wedding night. It is such a difficult sin to understand. Klal Yisrael had reached the zenith of holiness, the apex of spirituality. They were privy to an incredible Revelation. Yet, they fell; they quickly descended to the nadir of depravity. How did a nation that had experienced the miracles of the exodus from Egypt and had stood at Har Sinai to receive the Torah amidst an unprecedented revelation of Hashem’s glory,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Ki Sisa

“See I have called by the name — Betzalel son of Uri… I have filled him with a G-dly spirit.” (31:2-3)

We note that referring to Betzalel, Hashem says, “See, I have called by name – Betzalel.” Should it not simply have said, “I have called Betzalel”? What does the word “by name” add to this pasuk? Moreover, when Moshe Rabbeinu repeats Hashem’s statement, he also says the word “b’shem,” by name. Furthermore, the taam, sound/cantillation note, beneath the word, b’shem, is an “esnachta,” which separates this word from the next. In other words, the word b’shem and the name Betzalel are distanced from one another. This implies an element of significance to the word b’shem, as if calling Betzalel…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Ki Sisa

“The Bnei Yisrael shall observe the Shabbos.” (31:16)

Shabbos observance is a foundation of our faith. It is a sign of our commitment to the Almighty and His Torah. In his sefer, M’loh Ha’omer, the Aruch L’ner notes an intriguing phenomenon. Those years that the first day of Rosh Hashanah was on Shabbos, Klal Yisrael either experienced its most wonderful years or its most tragic years. Indeed, our greatest national tragedies, the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash and the most devastating pogroms against our People, occurred during years when Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos. Why is this? The answer given by the Aruch L’ner, based upon a…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Ki Sisa

“When He finished speaking to him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moshe the two Tablets of Testimony.” (31:18)

Rashi notes that the words “k’chaloso,” when he finished, is spelled defectively, without the letter “vov” between the “lamed” and the “saf,” as if it were vocalized “k’kalaso,” which means like his bride. This implies that the Torah was given to Moshe as a gift, as a bride to a groom. Moshe was not able to grasp the entire Torah in such a short time. Indeed, as the Midrash comments, throughout the forty days that Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai, Hashem taught him the Torah, but he constantly forgot what he had learned. Moshe turned to Hashem and said,…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Ki Sisa

“And he (Moshe) saw the calf and the dances, and Moshe’s anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands.” (32:19)

The sin of the Golden Calf is viewed as the worst, most reprehensible transgression against the Almighty. Indeed, Chazal compare it to a bride who proves herself unfaithful on her wedding night. It is such a difficult sin to understand. Klal Yisrael had reached the zenith of holiness, the apex of spirituality. They were privy to an incredible Revelation. Yet, they fell; they quickly descended to the nadir of depravity. How did a nation that had experienced the miracles of the exodus from Egypt and had stood at Har Sinai to receive the Torah amidst an unprecedented revelation of Hashem’s glory,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Ki Sisa

The wealthy shall not increase and the destitute shall not decrease from half a shekel. (30:15)

As part of an annual compulsory tax, the Torah instructs each member of Klal Yisroel to give a half-shekel towards the korbanos tzibur, communal offerings. The Toldos Yaakov Yosef explains that the requirement for half a shekel underscores the importance of unity among Jews. No Jew is complete unless he joins with others. Indeed, even the simple person has the potential to complete the most noble Jew. In the beginning of Meseches Shekalim, the Mishnah says: On Rosh Chodesh Adar, they (Bais Din) would proclaim regarding the obligation to contribute the Shekalim and Kilayim, reminding people to rid themselves…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Ki Sisa

For six days work may be done and the seventh day is a day of complete rest. (31:15)

Rabbeinu Bachya says that Shabbos is the principle of faith. It is equivalent to all the mitzvos because it confirms our belief in the creation of the world. As we believe that Hashem created the world in six days, we affirm that He rested on the seventh. Throughout Rabbinic literature, Chazal underscore the mitzvah of Shabbos and emphasize its significance. Throughout the ages, Jews have sacrificed material comfort – and even their lives – in observance of this mitzvah. The following story reinforces this idea: Horav Simcha Kaplan, Shlita, Rav of Tzfas, relates that when he studied at the Mirrer…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Ki Sisa

And the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods…The entire people removed the gold rings… He (Aharon) took it from their hands and bound it up in a cloth, and fashioned it into a molten calf. (32:1, 3,4)

One of the most grievous sins and tragic episodes in the history of our People is the chet ha’eigel, sin of the Golden Calf. What makes things worse is Aharon HaKohen’s involvement in its construction. Indeed, when Moshe questioned Aharon about his role in its creation, he responded that he was overwhelmed by the people. Hoping to create some delay, he had them bring their gold and jewelry to him. Regrettably, their response to his request was incredible. It always seems to be like this when people have the passion of sin in their hearts: nothing stands in their way. …

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“The Bnei Yisrael shall observe the Shabbos.” (31:16)

“When He finished speaking to him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moshe the two Tablets of Testimony.” (31:18)

“And he (Moshe) saw the calf and the dances, and Moshe’s anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands.” (32:19)

“See I have called by the name — Betzalel son of Uri… I have filled him with a G-dly spirit.” (31:2-3)

“The Bnei Yisrael shall observe the Shabbos.” (31:16)

“When He finished speaking to him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moshe the two Tablets of Testimony.” (31:18)

“And he (Moshe) saw the calf and the dances, and Moshe’s anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands.” (32:19)

The wealthy shall not increase and the destitute shall not decrease from half a shekel. (30:15)

For six days work may be done and the seventh day is a day of complete rest. (31:15)

And the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods…The entire people removed the gold rings… He (Aharon) took it from their hands and bound it up in a cloth, and fashioned it into a molten calf. (32:1, 3,4)

YEARS

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