Va’eschanan – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5762

“And it shall be, when Hashem, your G-d brings you to the land… to give you great and good cities that you did not build, and houses… which you did not fill, and wells dug, which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you did not plant… Then beware for yourself lest you forget Hashem.” (6:10-12)

The Torah seems to emphasize that Eretz Yisrael is a land of abundance, for which we can take no credit. The cities are great, but we did not build them. The houses are filled with all sorts of good things, but we did not fill them. The wells, vineyards, olive trees are all wonderful, but we did not dig or plant them. Material abundance is everywhere, but we had nothing to do with it. Does it really matter whether we had a hand in preparing this incredible abundance? The primary problem is that when people have too much, they might forget…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5762

“Honor your father and your mother, as Hashem, your G-d, commanded you, so that your days will be lengthened.” (5:16)

Rashi says that the commandment to honor one’s parents was first given at Marah. Does it really make a difference where Hashem first commanded Klal Yisrael in regard to this mitzvah? Perhaps this teaches us that our entire approach to the mitzvah of Kibbud Av v’Eim is wrong. There are those who think that we have an obligation to honor our parents out of a sense of gratitude for what they have done for us. They bring us into the world, clothe and feed us, arrange our education and provide for our basic material needs. This is not the Torah’s perspective…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5762

“Safeguard the Shabbos day to sanctify it.” (5:12)

Shabbos is more than a mitzvah in the Torah; it is a staple of our religion. Yet, it is one of the first mitzvos that was forsaken during the waves of the European immigration to America. “Shabbos was important,” the immigrants agreed, “but if you cannot make a living, its significance takes second place to survival.” Consequently, shemiras Shabbos, Shabbos observance, was identified with the European shtetl. Much of Orthodoxy and the moral, ethical and social behavior that was endemic to Orthodox Judaism in Europe was discarded along with Shabbos. They were, however, as wrong then as they are wrong today….

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“Honor your father and your mother, as Hashem, your G-d, commanded you, so that your days will be lengthened.” (5:16)

“Safeguard the Shabbos day to sanctify it.” (5:12)

YEARS

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