Va’eschanan – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“And I beseeched Hashem at that time, saying.” (3:23)

Chazal state that Moshe prayed 515 prayers, entreating Hashem to permit him to enter Eretz Yisrael. He was even willing to enter as an animal, sustaining himself on grass and water, as long as he could be in Eretz Yisrael. When Hashem denied him this request, he asked to be transformed into a bird which could fly throughout the land. Hashem also denied Moshe this plea. This Chazal demands an explanation. What could Moshe have accomplished in Eretz Yisrael as an animal or a bird? If he could not perform mitzvos in Eretz Yisrael what value would his merely dwelling…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“And see with your eyes.” (3:27)

Rashi explains that Hashem responded to Moshe’s request that he be permitted to see the “good land” by showing him the entire land. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., questions this response. Did Moshe merely want to “see” Eretz Yisrael? The Talmud in Sotah 14A states that Moshe’s yearning for Eretz Yisrael originated from a deep longing to perform the specific mitzvos which are applicable only in Eretz Yisrael. Why, then, did Moshe want to “see” the land, and what was Hashem’s response? Horav Alpert explains that Moshe cherished Eretz Yisrael for its holiness. He sought the opportunity to imbue Klal Yisrael…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“And now Yisrael, listen to the statutes and the laws . . . so that you may live and go and take possession of the land.” (4:1)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., notes that this pasuk presents the Torah’s prescription for life. Free-willed obedience and adherence to the laws mandated by Hashem allows us truly to “live.” Only by devoting all of our energies to the observance of Hashem’s laws do we attain life. His laws must shape our thought processes and regulate our sensitivities. If Torah does not regiment our life, if its values are not our values, then we have not lived; we have merely existed. Free-willed obedience to the Torah serves as the criterion for our individual lives, transforming mere existence into true living. So,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“Love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your might.” (6:5)

The Talmud in Berachos explains “with all your heart,” “levovcha,” is the plural form of “lev,” which implies two hearts or two distinct natural drives, the good nature and evil nature of a person. This statement seems enigmatic. How does one serve Hashem with his evil inclination? Should not evil be uprooted? Horav Moshe Rosenstein, z.l., posits that serving Hashem with one’s evil impulse is actually easier and less complex than serving Hashem with one’s good nature. Horav Rosenstein explains that to love someone means to relinquish one’s possession to the other person. The ability to surrender an object, to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“And you shall teach them diligently to your children.” (6:7)

Rashi explains that “your children” refers to one’s students. Indeed as Rashi notes, “talmidim,” students, are often referred to as “banim,” children. It seems puzzling that the Torah would refer to students as children, thereby attributing to the rebbe, teacher, the status of a father. Chazal clearly state that a rebbe has greater halachic status than a father, since the rebbe “brings” the student into “Olam Ha’bah,” while the father brings him only into Olam Ha’zeh. Horav M. Feinstein, z.l., explains that, just as a father bequeaths his child specific natural traits, so, too, a rebbe imbues his student with…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it.” (4:2)

The admonishment against diminishing a word of the Torah is easily comprehensible. Why are we exhorted, however, not to add mitzvos to the Torah? Would not adding mitzvos serve to enhance our service of Hashem? Horav Yaakov Neiman Z”l responds with a simple, but emphatic, statement. We must believe that the Torah was given directly to Moshe by Hashem. He presented the book with all aspects of each mitzvah fine-tuned to perfection. Thereafter, he handed the Torah to Moshe to transmit to Bnei Yisrael in its entirety. As it is expressed so eloquently in Tehillim (19) “the Torah of Hashem…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And know this day and lay it to your heart that Hashem, He is G-d.” (4:39)

We may question the use of the word emunah, “faith”, regarding belief in Hashem. Is it not one of the most basic axioms that a world such as ours could not have come into existence and continue to endure without a supreme Creator and Ruler? This is especially obvious when one notes the intricacies of human development. It is not even remotely possible for man to have appeared on earth without any form of Divine intervention. The Rambam cites the above pasuk as the proof text for the knowledge that there is a supreme Creator who is the very…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And he shall flee unto one of these cities and he shall live.” (4:42)

The Rambam states that a student who is exiled to the cities of refuge because he has inadvertently killed a fellow Jew must be accompanied by his Torah teacher. He cites the word “hju” – “and he shall live”, as the basis for this law. Torah is the lifeblood of a Jew. Torah study keeps one’s soul alive in this world and enables him to continue life even after his physical death. Since a student cannot properly study without his teacher, his “rebbe” is obligated to go with him. One who understands the value of this life force will…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“Hear, O’ Israel, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.” (6:4)

This pasuk has been emphasized more than any other words of the Torah. We are commanded to recite it twice daily, to bind it to us in our Tefillin, and to write it in the Mezuzahs on our door posts. Throughout our tumultuous history this pasuk has been our source of courage, inspiration, and salvation. It has been the first pasuk a Jew is taught as a child and the last he utters before he dies. This proclamation of Hashem’s Oneness has been on the lips of the martyrs throughout the generations as they sacrificed their lives on Kiddush Hashem….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.” (6:8)

We may suggest that this pasuk implies an important truth concerning the manner of serving Hashem. The Tefillin we place on the forehead represent man’s external focus in serving Hashem. This concept is in conformity with the pasuk: And all the people of the earth shall see that Hashem’s Name is called upon you (Devarim 28:10). The Tefillin we place on the arm represent man’s inner struggle in serving Hashem. This concept can be derived from the daily prayer which we recite prior to putting on the Tefillin: That it be opposite the heart to subjugate the desires and thoughts…

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“And I beseeched Hashem at that time, saying.” (3:23)

“And see with your eyes.” (3:27)

“And now Yisrael, listen to the statutes and the laws . . . so that you may live and go and take possession of the land.” (4:1)

“Love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your might.” (6:5)

“And you shall teach them diligently to your children.” (6:7)

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it.” (4:2)

“And know this day and lay it to your heart that Hashem, He is G-d.” (4:39)

“And he shall flee unto one of these cities and he shall live.” (4:42)

“Hear, O’ Israel, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.” (6:4)

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.” (6:8)

YEARS

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