Shelach – Peninim on the Torah

“Do not turn after your heart and after your eyes.” (15:39)

This pasuk’s admonishment does not seem consistent with the natural sequence of sin. First, the eyes see something inappropriate. The heart subsequently desires that which the eyes have seen. Only after the eyes have registered that which it should not have seen does the heart lust after it. In a lecture focusing upon the issue of tznius, proper dress, Horav Yehudah Leib Fine, zl, commented that in regard to inappropriate dress, the sequence is reversed. The individual whose heart leads him astray, who follows the blandishments of the yetzer hora, chooses to dress in an improper fashion. Hence, the roving…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“I am Hashem your G-d, Who has taken you out from the land of Egypt to be a G-d unto you.” (15:4)

The Torah commands us to remember the exodus from Egypt everyday. The Talmud in Bava Metzia 61b explains the juxtaposition of yetzias Mitzrayim upon the parsha of tzitzis in the following manner. Hashem declared, “I discerned between a drop that was a first born to that which was not. I will in the future punish he who places a kala ilan, thread dyed blue with a cheap dye called indigo, and claims it is techeles.” One of the four threads which are to be doubled over into eight should be colored techeles, a form of blue. This dye is prepared…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“And the entire assembly said to pelt them (Yehoshua and Calev) with stones.” (14:10)

It seems that Bnei Yisrael were acting in a totally irrational manner. Hurling stones is something one might do to punish someone or to protect oneself from a future aggressor. Yehoshua and Calev would not have elicited such behavior for either reason. They were righteous people who had never hurt anyone. What effect could they have on the future of Klal Yisrael? They were only two people. This is, however, the nature of those who have alienated themselves from a Torah lifestyle. The diffidence that permeates their every action is manifest in their attitude towards their more observant counterpart. No…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire congregation of the assembly of Bnei Yisrael.” (14:5)

Moshe and Aharon were no longer able to tolerate Bnei Yisrael‘s invidious behavior. Their ranting and raving, their inane fear and lack of faith, were no longer bearable. Moshe and Aharon gave up in frustration. This defeatist attitude is not typical of Moshe and Aharon’s leadership characteristics. Are these the same individuals who stood fearlessly before Pharaoh and demanded that he release the Jews from slavery? Is this the same Moshe who smashed the Luchos to the ground, when he descended from Har Sinai to witness the decadent behavior of Bnei Yisrael, as they worshipped the Golden Calf? Was he…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“Moshe called Hoshea ben Nun – Yehoshua.” (13:6)

Chazal teach us that Moshe prayed for Yehoshua as he was about to embark on the journey to investigate the land. Moshe suspected that this mission would end in tragedy, and he was concerned lest his student be ensnared in the spies’ conspiracy. The commentators all ask the obvious question: Why did Moshe pray only for Yehoshua? While it was true that Yehoshua was his foremost student, was it not a bit prejudicial to single out one individual from amongst the rest? The commentaries suggest that Yehoshua was more susceptible to the persuasive tactics of his fellow spies. Horav Yaakov…

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Back to Home -> Shelach -> 5756

“Do not turn after your heart and after your eyes.” (15:39)

“I am Hashem your G-d, Who has taken you out from the land of Egypt to be a G-d unto you.” (15:4)

“And the entire assembly said to pelt them (Yehoshua and Calev) with stones.” (14:10)

“Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire congregation of the assembly of Bnei Yisrael.” (14:5)

“Moshe called Hoshea ben Nun – Yehoshua.” (13:6)

YEARS

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