Shelach – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

ועשו להם ציצית על כנפי בגדיהם לדרתם...וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

They shall make Tzitzis on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations…that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38,39)

The Eliyahu Rabbah (Ohr HaChaim 24:3) quotes, “It is found in the Rishonim that, whoever passes the Tzitzis over his eyes during the recital of Krias Shema, is ensured that he will not become blind. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, writes that he was questioned by an ophthalmologist concerning this segulah, talisman, that protects from blindness. How does it work? What reason is there? Rav Zilberstein explained, quoting the Chida, who explains why Egypt was struck with the plague of Choshech, darkness. The Egyptians “closed their eyes,” made themselves forget the good fortune which they experienced with the arrival of Yaakov…

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כלם אנשים ראשי בני ישראל המה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5774

They were all distinguished men; heads of Bnei Yisrael were they. (13:3)

There are many episodes in the Torah which are not easy to explain; yet, we try to explain them. The chet ha’meraglim, sin of the spies, is an aveirah, collective sin, which begs elucidation. Once we understand the sin, acknowledge its ramifications, and prepare for the consequences of its actions, we still must focus on its origin. Why did we act this way? What compels us to sin? How have we changed? Much has been written concerning the chet ha’meraglim. While the actual sin has been addressed, the “why” needs to be explained. These were no ordinary men. These were…

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ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5774

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

Probably the most common catalyst for sinful behavior is low self-esteem, which is often the precursor of depression. While depression alone is not a sin, it leads one to commit the most egregious transgressions. When one thinks ill of himself, he has little reason to act positively. After all, who cares? This, explains the Kotzker Rebbe, zl, was the motivation for the sin perpetrated by the meraglim, spies. They felt worthless; they had no chance of overcoming such a strong nation. Their negativity was infectious, causing the entire nation to feel bereft of their leadership. They all began to cry….

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ונקה לא ינקה פקד עון אבות על בנים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5774

And Who cleanses – but does not cleanse completely, recalling the iniquity of parents upon children. (14:18)

Children are held to task for the iniquities of their parents. Is this fair? Let each generation pay for its own sins – not those of its predecessors. We have enough to deal with from our own mistakes, why should we be responsible to pay for those of our parents? Chazal explain that this unique form of reparation applies when banim ochazin b’maaseh avosam, “Children maintain their father’s iniquities.” The son will be punished when he continues actively to expand and extol his father’s egregious behavior. Still, is this a reason for the son to pay for his father’s sins?…

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וימצאו איש מקשש עצים ביום השבת... וירגמו אתו באבנים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5774

And they found a man gathering wood on the Shabbos day… and they pelted him with stones. (15:32,36)

The mekoshesh eitzim, wood gatherer, who was the first mechalel Shabbos, desecrator of Shabbos, was executed by stoning. The Torah writes, Vayirgemu oso b’avanim, “And they pelted him with stones,” in the plural. Interestingly, when the mekallel, blasphemer, was executed by stoning, the Torah writes, Viyirgemu oso even, “And they stoned him to death,” in the singular (Vayikra 24:23). What is the reason for this change in the Torah’s vernacular? This question was asked of the Chidushei HaRim when he was a young boy. Known as a child prodigy, Rabbinic leaders would often pepper him with difficult questions to see…

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ומה הארץ אשר הוא יושב בה הטובה היא אם רעה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5773

And how is the land in which it dwells – is it good or is it bad? (13:19)

Prior to their departure for their ill-fated trip to reconnoiter Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu gave the spies a“shopping list” of things they should investigate. One of these questions for which Moshe sought an answer was: Is it a good land or not? It is almost impossible to pass over this pasuk without wondering how our quintessential leader could ask such a question. If Hashem had promised that He was taking us into eretz tovah u’rechavah, “A land that was good and spacious” (Shemos 3:8), then what need is there for investigation? Did anyone doubt Hashem’s word? The mere fact that…

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ויהס כלב את העם אל משה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5773

Calev silenced the people. (13:30)

How did Calev get the attention of the people? How was he able to halt the rebellion momentarily, so that he could get a word in edgewise? Rashi explains that Calev intimated that he, too, was about to disparage Moshe. How did he indicate this? The Sifsei Chachamim quotes the Mizrachi, that when Calev referred to Moshe Rabbeinu as Ben Amram, the son of Amram, the people thought that he was on their side. After all, he had referred to Moshe by something other than his given name. This constituted disrespect. Obviously, he did not esteem Moshe as a leader….

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במדבר הזה יפלו פגריכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5773

In this wilderness shall your carcass drop. (14:29)

During their forty-year trek through the wilderness, Klal Yisrael breached their relationship with Hashem, as they committed a number of transgressions. Yet, the Almighty punished the actual perpetrator and forgave the rest of the populace. These were not simple sins. The chet ha’eigal, sin of the Golden Calf, was no simple transgression. Shortly after they left Egypt, Klal Yisrael committed a sin of grave proportions, as they turned their backs on Hashem, Who had done so much for them. They were scared; their leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, was late in descending the mountain, so they sinned. This was no excuse. Yet,…

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והיו לכם לציצת וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5773

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38)

What is it about the mitzvah of Tzitzis that the Torah, more so than for any other mitzvah, emphasizes that it will engender within us the remembrance of all of the other mitzvos? The commentators render explanations, ranging from the simple p’shat, to the homiletic and even to the esoteric. Perhaps, we might suggest the following: Tzitzis, unlike any other mitzvah, also comprises the Jew’s uniform. A Tallis katan is worn all day. The Tallis gadol is worn during davening, and some righteous Jews even sit in their Tallis and Tefillin throughout the day. In any event, the Tallis is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5772

“Moshe sent them to spy out the land of Canaan.” (13:17)

Yehoshua also sent spies to spy out the land prior to conquering it. He had no problem with his spies. In contrast, when Moshe Rabbeinu, his rebbe, sent twelve distinguished leaders of the Jewish nation, a terrible calamity resulted. The impact of this calamity affected the entire Jewish nation. Wherein lay the difference between the two groups of spies? Perhaps the difference is in the numbers. Doleh U’mashkeh cites the pasuk in Devarim (1:22): “Vatikrevun eilai kulchem”, “And you all came close to me,” when the people requested spies. Yehoshua sent two representatives of the people, whom he felt were…

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ועשו להם ציצית על כנפי בגדיהם לדרתם...וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

They shall make Tzitzis on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations…that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38,39)

כלם אנשים ראשי בני ישראל המה

They were all distinguished men; heads of Bnei Yisrael were they. (13:3)

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

ונקה לא ינקה פקד עון אבות על בנים

And Who cleanses – but does not cleanse completely, recalling the iniquity of parents upon children. (14:18)

וימצאו איש מקשש עצים ביום השבת... וירגמו אתו באבנים

And they found a man gathering wood on the Shabbos day… and they pelted him with stones. (15:32,36)

ומה הארץ אשר הוא יושב בה הטובה היא אם רעה

And how is the land in which it dwells – is it good or is it bad? (13:19)

ויהס כלב את העם אל משה

Calev silenced the people. (13:30)

במדבר הזה יפלו פגריכם

In this wilderness shall your carcass drop. (14:29)

והיו לכם לציצת וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38)

“Moshe sent them to spy out the land of Canaan.” (13:17)

YEARS

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