Va’eschanan – Peninim on the Torah

לא תנסו את ד' אלקיכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5777

You shall not test Hashem. (6:17)

One does not test Hashem to see whether He will fulfill His promises, because we are clueless as to the workings of the Divine. So many factors are included in the Heavenly calculations of which we are unaware. It is ludicrous to second-guess the Almighty, since we know so little of the true past and even less of the future – all of which are factored into everyone’s reward and punishment. There is one mitzvah, however, explains Horav Shimshon Pincus, zl, that we are allowed — nay, encouraged — to test Hashem: tzedakah, Maaser/tithe/charity. The Navi Malachi (3:10) quotes Hashem…

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כבד את אביך ואת ואמך כאשר צוך ד' אלקיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5777

Honor your father and mother, as Hashem, your God, commanded you. (5:16)

One would think that honoring parents is a logical mitzvah which requires no specific command from Hashem. It should be the result of overwhelming gratitude to parents for all that they do to nurture and support their children. In his Haaemek Davar commentary to the Torah, the Netziv, zl, notes that there are circumstances (including difficult children) in which hakoras hatov, gratitude, is sadly not a primary focus in life, when a child feels that respecting parents is a stretch beyond which they can tolerate. Let us face it: not all parents are perfect; neither are all children; not all…

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אנכי ד' אלקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5777

I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt. (5:6)

The Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments, the foundation of the entire Torah, begins with these words.. The Shlah HaKadosh writes that the Aseres HaDibros is comprised of 620 words, of which 613 correspond to the taryag, 613, mitzvos. And the last seven correspond to the seven mitzvos d’Rabbanan, Rabbinic mitzvos (berachos; Shabbos candles; eiruv; netilas yadayim; Chanukah; Purim; Hallel). Horav Elimelech Biderman, Shlita, suggests that the final words, v’chol asher l’reicha, “And everything that belongs to your fellow” (regarding the prohibition of, Lo sachmod, “Do not covet”), is a summary of the entire Torah. V’chol asher l’reiecha means that one is…

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כי קל רחום ד' אלקיך לא ירפך ולא ישחתך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5777

For Hashem, your G-d, is a merciful G-d, He will not abandon you nor destroy you. (4:31)

Lo yarpecha, “He will not loosen His hold on you.” Rashi adds, “From holding onto you with His Hands… He will not separate you from being next to Him.” Hashem will never let go of us. Great! So, why are so many people lost in a spiritual maze, floundering, alone, without direction, with little to no faith? Is He still holding on? Horav Shlomo Wolbe, zl, derives a frightening lesson from Rashi. Hashem holds on to us with both Hands. He never lets go/abandons a Jew. How is it possible for a Jew to disengage from Hashem? Only one way:…

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ואתם הדבקים בד' אלקיכם חיים כלכם היום... ושמרתם ועשיתם כי היא חכמתכם ובינתכם... ככל התורה הזאת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5777

But you who cling to Hashem, your G-d – you are alive today… you shall safeguard and perform them, for it is your wisdom and discernment… as this is the Torah. (4:4,6,8)

We have been bequeathed an incredible gift: the Torah. It is the source of our wisdom, understanding, character refinement, religious observance; indeed, it is chaim kulchem hayom, our life – today – and every day. Without Torah in its entirety we are lost. We may not accept the Torah piecemeal in accordance with our comfort zone. That is not Torah. It is everything – or else it is simply intellectual knowledge. It is a life source only when it is imbibed, seen, studied, understood and observed. What about someone who has had little opportunity to learn or has started late?…

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לא תנסו את ד' אלקיכם

You shall not test Hashem. (6:17)

כבד את אביך ואת ואמך כאשר צוך ד' אלקיך

Honor your father and mother, as Hashem, your God, commanded you. (5:16)

אנכי ד' אלקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים

I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt. (5:6)

כי קל רחום ד' אלקיך לא ירפך ולא ישחתך

For Hashem, your G-d, is a merciful G-d, He will not abandon you nor destroy you. (4:31)

ואתם הדבקים בד' אלקיכם חיים כלכם היום... ושמרתם ועשיתם כי היא חכמתכם ובינתכם... ככל התורה הזאת

But you who cling to Hashem, your G-d – you are alive today… you shall safeguard and perform them, for it is your wisdom and discernment… as this is the Torah. (4:4,6,8)

YEARS

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