Re’eh – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

When one peruses Jewish history, it is apparent that the pendulum of Jewish fortune swings to extremes. We have been blessed with either incredible prosperity or drastic misfortune. Even concerning the individual, one is either highly successful, very observant, or sadly, the extreme opposite. While it may not be obvious to the casual observer, if one were to cogently look at life, he would see that for the Jew, life is either about ceaseless blessing or unbearable curse. Even with regard to sin, the Torah relates in the parsha of Krias Shema: He’shamru la’chem pen yifteh levavechem – v’sartem, va’avaditem…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5771

You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations from whom you shall take possession worshipped their gods… You shall not do so to Hashem, your G-d. (12:2,4)

Rashi quotes the Sifrei (61), which offers a homiletic rendering of this pasuk: “Would it enter one’s mind that the Jews (Israel) would shatter their Altars?” What, then, does the Torah mean when it writes, “You shall not do this to Hashem, your G-d?” We would never do to our holy places what we are being commanded to do to the shrines of the idol worshipers. “Rabbi Yishmael taught that Israel (Jews) should [be careful] not to do [deeds] like their deeds (i.e., commit sins that will cause them to be exiled) and [thus] your sins would cause the Bais…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5771

You shall surely tithe the entire crop of your planting… And you shall eat [it] before Hashem, your G-d. (14:22,23)

Rashi comments that the pasuk is referring to Maaser Sheini, the second tithe. He also tells us that it cannot be discussing Maaser Rishon, the first tithe, because that tithe was given to the Levi. Thus, when the Torah writes that the fruits of the present tithe may be eaten in any place, it obviously must be a different Maaser. Later, in pasuk 27, the Torah writes, “And the Levi who is in your cities, do not forsake him, for he does not have a portion or inheritance with you.” Rashi comments, “Do not forsake him by refraining from giving him…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5770

“You shall not eat any abomination.” (14:3)

When the cemetery in Kovno was emptied, the Chevra Kadisha found two bodies that were untouched by time; the bodies of the Kovno Rav, z.l., and that of a Jewish soldier upon whose tombstone was engraved, “Here lies the kosher/proper Jewish soldier.” These were the two bodies that had defied the natural process of decomposition. What merit catalyzed this miracle? It is told that this soldier, who was conscripted into the Polish army, absolutely refused to eat non-kosher food. He would not eat the army’s rations, sustaining himself on vegetables alone. One day a group of anti-Semitic soldiers decided to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5770

“And you shall eat it before Hashem, your G-d… the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil… so that you will learn to fear Hashem…” (14:23)

Daas Zekeinim emphasize the “your” part of the grain, wine and oil. They explain that the pasuk conveys a profound message: If you give Maaser, if you tithe your grain, oil, and wine, then it is yours. In other words, Hashem grants us these possessions because we listen to His command and either share it with the Levi or the poor man, or we eat it in Yerushalayim. Giving Maaser does more than fulfill a mitzvah, it creates our ownership, it grants us license to claim these possessions as our own. Whatever Hashem created is for a purpose – to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5770

“Rather, you shall surely open your hand to him; and you shall grant him enough for his lack which is lacking for him.” (15:8)

When a poor man comes to the door requesting assistance, he certainly needs a comforting word, some sound advice, even a nice Torah thought. We often forget, however, that he is there for one purpose: to raise sorely needed funds for himself and his family. His time is limited, and his needs are great. The Dubno Maggid once went on a fundraising mission. He came to the home of adistinguished scholar who was also quite wealthy. The wealthy man was honored to have someone of the Maggid’s stature visit him, and he reciprocated this honor. Prior to asking for a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5770

“You shall surely give him, and let your heart not feel bad when you give him, for because of this matter, Hashem, your G-d, will bless you.” (15:10)

The Torah is teaching us a significant lesson: Tzedakah is our insurance policy. It protects us, as it circumvents any evil from coming close to us. The following story is one of countless episodes that recount the remarkable consequence of giving tzedakah. We must add that, as in all instances, there are many variables which play a role in a given situation. We do see, however, in the following episode, how giving tzedakah with mesiras nefesh, utter devotion and self-sacrifice, saved a life. A poor woman once knocked on the door of the home of a very special Torah scholar,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5769

“You shall not eat any abomination.” (14:3)

When the cemetery in Kovno was emptied, the Chevra Kadisha found two bodies that were untouched by time; the bodies of the Kovno Rav, z.l., and that of a Jewish soldier upon whose tombstone was engraved, “Here lies the kosher/proper Jewish soldier.” These were the two bodies that had defied the natural process of decomposition. What merit catalyzed this miracle? It is told that this soldier, who was conscripted into the Polish army, absolutely refused to eat non-kosher food. He would not eat the army’s rations, sustaining himself on vegetables alone. One day a group of anti-Semitic soldiers decided to…

Home -> 5769 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5769

“And you shall eat it before Hashem, your G-d… the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil… so that you will learn to fear Hashem…” (14:23)

Daas Zekeinim emphasize the “your” part of the grain, wine and oil. They explain that the pasuk conveys a profound message: If you give Maaser, if you tithe your grain, oil, and wine, then it is yours. In other words, Hashem grants us these possessions because we listen to His command and either share it with the Levi or the poor man, or we eat it in Yerushalayim. Giving Maaser does more than fulfill a mitzvah, it creates our ownership, it grants us license to claim these possessions as our own. Whatever Hashem created is for a purpose – to…

Home -> 5769 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5769

“Rather, you shall surely open your hand to him; and you shall grant him enough for his lack which is lacking for him.” (15:8)

When a poor man comes to the door requesting assistance, he certainly needs a comforting word, some sound advice, even a nice Torah thought. We often forget, however, that he is there for one purpose: to raise sorely needed funds for himself and his family. His time is limited, and his needs are great. The Dubno Maggid once went on a fundraising mission. He came to the home of adistinguished scholar who was also quite wealthy. The wealthy man was honored to have someone of the Maggid’s stature visit him, and he reciprocated this honor. Prior to asking for a…

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See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations from whom you shall take possession worshipped their gods… You shall not do so to Hashem, your G-d. (12:2,4)

You shall surely tithe the entire crop of your planting… And you shall eat [it] before Hashem, your G-d. (14:22,23)

“You shall not eat any abomination.” (14:3)

“And you shall eat it before Hashem, your G-d… the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil… so that you will learn to fear Hashem…” (14:23)

“Rather, you shall surely open your hand to him; and you shall grant him enough for his lack which is lacking for him.” (15:8)

“You shall surely give him, and let your heart not feel bad when you give him, for because of this matter, Hashem, your G-d, will bless you.” (15:10)

“You shall not eat any abomination.” (14:3)

“And you shall eat it before Hashem, your G-d… the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil… so that you will learn to fear Hashem…” (14:23)

“Rather, you shall surely open your hand to him; and you shall grant him enough for his lack which is lacking for him.” (15:8)

YEARS

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