Shelach – Page 14 – Peninim on the Torah

And Moshe called Hoshea Ben Nun – Yehoshua. (13:16)

Chazal tell us that Moshe added the “yud” to Hoshea’s name, so that his name would now begin with the letters of Hashem’s Name. (yud-hay) Moshe apparently suspected that the spies were not acting in good faith. Realizing the disaster that awaited his student, Moshe prayed that Yehoshua be spared and not fall under the influence of the other spies. The obvious question is why Yehoshua merited his prayers more than Calev — or anyone else for that matter? The commentators offer various reasons for this. Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, cites Horav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zl, who offers a profound…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5757

And you shall look at it, and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:39)

The tzitzis stand as a constant reminder of the Jew’s duties to Hashem and of his special relationship with Him. Chazal teach us that the techeiles, blue thread, in the tzitzis symbolizes the sea. In turn, the sea represents the Heavens, and the Heavens allude to Hashem’s Throne. Thus, when a Jew gazes at the tzitzis he should think of Hashem and, consequently, feel an affinity with His mitzvos. We infer from here what it means to “see,” what visual perception stimulates. One can look at an object and see a plain, inanimate form before him. Alternatively, he can…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5757

And you will see it, and remember all the commandments of Hashem, and perform them, and not explore after your heart and after your eyes. .. So that you may remember and perform all My commandments. (15:39, 40)

Chazal tell us that the numerical equivalent of the word tzitzis is 600. The eight threads and the five knots supplement this number to equal 613, the number of mitzvos a Jew is enjoined to perform. The tzitzis, according to some commentators, are viewed as Hashem’s insignia which we, as His servants, wear with pride. The Sefer Hachinuch says that by wearing tzitzis we are wearing Hashem’s emblem. What greater motivation is there for remembering to perform His mitzvos than realizing that we are clothed in the uniform of Hashem’s servants? If so, why do we continue to neglect performing…

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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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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

“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

“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

“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, 5755

“Send forth for you men and let them spy out the land of Canaan.” (13:2)

The narrative of the meraglim, spies, and the ensuing reaction of Klal Yisrael to the unfounded slander against Eretz Yisrael, constitute one of the saddest moments in Jewish history. Twelve great men left for a mission, but only two return with their faith in the Almighty intact. The other ten returned with an account of the land that was, at best, sufficiently ambiguous to dishearten the people. This led to a night of weeping whose sin is still commemorated on Tishah b’Av, our national day of mourning. Why did the scouting mission to Canaan fail so miserably? After all, the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5755

“And Calev silenced the people toward Moshe.” (13:30)

Calev attempted to still the rebellious hysteria of Bnei Yisrael. Confident that he would continue with the same type of slander as the other spies, the people listened to him when he rose to speak. He began his remarks in an inciteful manner by saying, “Is that all the son of Amram has done to us?” Upon hearing this opening statement, the crowd became silent anticipating a vicious censure against Moshe Rabbeinu. Calev, however, sought to attract their attention. He added, “He took us out of Egypt, split the sea, brought us the manna, and gathered together the quail.” Although…

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And Moshe called Hoshea Ben Nun – Yehoshua. (13:16)

And you shall look at it, and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:39)

And you will see it, and remember all the commandments of Hashem, and perform them, and not explore after your heart and after your eyes. .. So that you may remember and perform all My commandments. (15:39, 40)

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

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

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

“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)

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

“Send forth for you men and let them spy out the land of Canaan.” (13:2)

“And Calev silenced the people toward Moshe.” (13:30)

YEARS

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