Masei – Page 8 – Peninim on the Torah

“These are the journeys of Bnei Yisrael when they left the land of Egypt.” (33:1)

The Midrash which Rashi quotes employs a parable to explain the reason that Hashem chose to recount Bnei Yisrael’s travels. A king once took his ill son abroad to seek a cure for his illness. When they joyously returned home, the father reviewed their stopovers and in retrospect said, “Here you had a fever, at this inn you head hurt, etc.” Similarly, in this parsha Hashem enumerates for Bnei Yisrael the various places where they had angered Him. Although it is easy enough to understand, the parable does not seem consistent with the “maladies” to which the stopovers allude. The…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Masei

“The six cities of refuge.” (35:6)

After Moshe endured the forty years of travel and travail with Bnei Yisrael in the wilderness, he was distressed at not being able to share in their forthcoming joy, entry into Eretz Yisrael. The Abarbanel explains that Hashem, in an attempt to console Moshe, gave him the task of teaching Bnei Yisrael the mitzvos relating to Eretz Yisrael, He also charged him with five specific missions which Moshe was to initiate, but which would not be completed until after his death. They were: to conquer and seize the land from its present inhabitants; to divide it fairly among the twelve…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Masei

“And they shall be for you cities of refuge . . . so that anyone who inadvertently kills a person shall be able to escape there.” (35:12,15)

One who killed b’shogeg, inadvertently, was to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the Kohen Gadol. Consequently, not all killers received the same punishment. While some had to remain a considerable length of time, some were liberated quickly. Not so with the deliberate killers. Each one received a similar punishment. Why is there such a discrepancy between the punishments of the deliberate and the inadvertent murderer? The Korban Chagigah offers an interesting response, which serves as a lesson in regard to appreciating the apportionment of punishment. In the case of the intentional murderer, it is difficult…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Masei

Cities of refuge they shall be for you. And there shall run the murderer who kills any person through error… And he shall dwell there until the death of the Kohen Gadol.” (35:11-25)

It is well known that one who accidentally murders is exiled to the cities of refuge to reside there until the demise of the current Kohen Gadol. What is the halacha, however, in the event that the Kohen Gadol dies immediately following the announced verdict? Is the murderer to be exiled or is he free to return home? The halacha in this case is clear: He may go home, and it is considered as though he had fulfilled his commitment in the city of refuge. There is yet another situation that must be halachically clarified. If the Kohen Gadol…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Masei

“For blood pollutes the land.” (й”о д”о)

The word “yachnif” is a derivative of the Hebrew word “chanufah” which means flattery. It seems peculiar that the Torah uses such a word in regard to murder. Horav Moshe Feinstein Z”l cites the contrast between the perspectives of the Torah and contemporary society regarding murder as the Torah’s basis for the use of this word. Current society deplores murder because of its damaging effect on the world. For example, if a nation feels that another nation is a threat to its future, it will wage war against that nation. Indeed, many nations feel that war is constructive, for it…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, Masei

“And the cities which you shall give unto the Leviim, they shall be the six cities of refuge which you shall give to the murderer to flee therein.” (35:6)

The Chinuch states two reasons why the Leviim were chosen by Hashem as the “protectors” of the accidental killers. He attributes this to their being men of great nobility who, by virtue of the worthiness of their activity and the grace of their distinction, were chosen to use their territory as refuge to anyone who kills someone accidently. Perhaps their land, hallowed by their holiness, would effect atonement for him. He suggests another reason for this matter. Since they were men who possessed a good heart, and were renown for the eminent worth of their qualities and wisdom, it was…

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“These are the journeys of Bnei Yisrael when they left the land of Egypt.” (33:1)

“The six cities of refuge.” (35:6)

“And they shall be for you cities of refuge . . . so that anyone who inadvertently kills a person shall be able to escape there.” (35:12,15)

Cities of refuge they shall be for you. And there shall run the murderer who kills any person through error… And he shall dwell there until the death of the Kohen Gadol.” (35:11-25)

“For blood pollutes the land.” (й”о д”о)

“And the cities which you shall give unto the Leviim, they shall be the six cities of refuge which you shall give to the murderer to flee therein.” (35:6)

YEARS

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