Va’eschanan – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5771

You shall love Hashem, your G-d. (6:5)

The Talmud Yoma 86b delineates between chillul Hashem, desecrating Hashem’s Name, and Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying Hashem’s Name. Four varieties of penance atone for the sins one commits. First is teshuvah, repentance, which atones without the need for added yissurim, pain and troubles. There are sins for which teshuvah requires Yom Kippur as an added penance. We have so far alluded to three forms of teshuvah: teshuvah alone; teshuvah with yissurim; teshuvah with Yom Kippur. One last sin goes beyond the parameters of teshuvah, yissurim and Yom Kippur. It is a transgression that is neither atoned for by Yom Kippur, nor…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5771

You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart… And these words… shall be upon your heart. (6:5,6)

The pasuk tells us that one should love Hashem with all of his heart. This is followed by the admonition to place “these words” on one’s heart. A connection must exist between the two “hearts” mentioned. The Sifri asks how does one manifest his love for Hashem? The Almighty is not a mortal. He has no corporeality. How does one experience this sense of love? Chazal answer that the key lies in the words, V’hayu ha’devarim ha’eileh… al l’vavecha, “And these words … shall be upon your heart.” By inscribing Hashem’s words on our heart, we come to recognize, acknowledge…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5770

“For inquire now regarding the early days… from the day when G- d created man on the earth…Has there ever been anything like this great thing or has anything like it ever been heard?” (4:32)

Horav Nissan Alpert z.l., offers an anecdote in explanation of this pasuk: A Jew once stood before a gentile magistrate, attempting to describe to him the greatness of the saintly Chafetz Chaim z.l. He told how the Chafetz Chaim’s prayers penetrated the Heavens to implore the Almighty’s blessing for those in need. He described the Chafetz Chaim’s spiritual eminence and his ability to have miracles made for him. The judge brushed him aside, refusing to believe all of the stories. Hearing the disdain in the gentile’s voice, the Jew looked into his eyes and, in an accusing voice said, “My…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5770

“Guard the Shabbos day to sanctify it, as Hashem, your G-d, has commanded you.” (5:12)

Rashi explains that Hashem commanded us to observe the Shabbos in Marah, even before the Giving of the Torah. Likewise, in regard to the mitzvah of Kibud Av v’Eim, honoring one’s parents, Rashi cites Chazal who assert that we were commanded to honor our parents in Marah. This is enigmatic, since in the parshah that tells about the manna, the Torah also details the laws of Shabbos. Why do they not say, “kaasher tzivcha,” “As He commanded you,” in the parsha of the manna? Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, z.l., gives a practical response to this question. The mitzvos of Shabbos and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5770

“Do not kill and do not commit adultery, and do not steal, and do not bear false witness against your fellow. And do not covet.” (5:17–18)

Noting the order of these prohibitions, we may assume that they are written in a logical, descending order. The prohibition against murder, clearly the most grievous sin, is first, followed by the other “lesser” sins. In this manner, the Torah tells us that all of these acts are prohibited – not only the more serious ones. We wonder why the Torah joins these transgressions with the prefix “vav” – “and”? Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, explains that the Torah emphasizes to us that all mitzvos have equal significance. Had the Torah not used the “vav”, “and” prefix, we might think that…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5770

“You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your possessions.” (6:5)

Throughout the millennia, Hashem has tested the Jewish nation. He has challenged us collectively as a nation, as well as personally as individuals. We have been subject to the most cruel and inhuman ordeals, and we have survived. We have maintained our faith in the Almighty with all of our heart and all of our soul. Today, most of us live in areas where threats to our physical survival rarely present themselves. There is, however, another area in which the committed Jew is tested: in the area of material advancement. We live in a society in which people are regrettably…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5769

“For inquire now regarding the early days… from the day when G- d created man on the earth…Has there ever been anything like this great thing or has anything like it ever been heard?” (4:32)

Horav Nissan Alpert z.l., offers an anecdote in explanation of this pasuk: A Jew once stood before a gentile magistrate, attempting to describe to him the greatness of the saintly Chafetz Chaim z.l. He told how the Chafetz Chaim’s prayers penetrated the Heavens to implore the Almighty’s blessing for those in need. He described the Chafetz Chaim’s spiritual eminence and his ability to have miracles made for him. The judge brushed him aside, refusing to believe all of the stories. Hearing the disdain in the gentile’s voice, the Jew looked into his eyes and, in an accusing voice said, “My…

Home -> 5769 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5769

“Guard the Shabbos day to sanctify it, as Hashem, your G-d, has commanded you.” (5:12)

Rashi explains that Hashem commanded us to observe the Shabbos in Marah, even before the Giving of the Torah. Likewise, in regard to the mitzvah of Kibud Av v’Eim, honoring one’s parents, Rashi cites Chazal who assert that we were commanded to honor our parents in Marah. This is enigmatic, since in the parshah that tells about the manna, the Torah also details the laws of Shabbos. Why do they not say, “kaasher tzivcha,” “As He commanded you,” in the parsha of the manna? Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, z.l., gives a practical response to this question. The mitzvos of Shabbos and…

Home -> 5769 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5769

“Do not kill and do not commit adultery, and do not steal, and do not bear false witness against your fellow. And do not covet.” (5:17–18)

Noting the order of these prohibitions, we may assume that they are written in a logical, descending order. The prohibition against murder, clearly the most grievous sin, is first, followed by the other “lesser” sins. In this manner, the Torah tells us that all of these acts are prohibited – not only the more serious ones. We wonder why the Torah joins these transgressions with the prefix “vav” – “and”? Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, explains that the Torah emphasizes to us that all mitzvos have equal significance. Had the Torah not used the “vav”, “and” prefix, we might think that…

Home -> 5769 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5769

“You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your possessions.” (6:5)

Throughout the millennia, Hashem has tested the Jewish nation. He has challenged us collectively as a nation, as well as personally as individuals. We have been subject to the most cruel and inhuman ordeals, and we have survived. We have maintained our faith in the Almighty with all of our heart and all of our soul. Today, most of us live in areas where threats to our physical survival rarely present themselves. There is, however, another area in which the committed Jew is tested: in the area of material advancement. We live in a society in which people are regrettably…

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You shall love Hashem, your G-d. (6:5)

You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart… And these words… shall be upon your heart. (6:5,6)

“For inquire now regarding the early days… from the day when G- d created man on the earth…Has there ever been anything like this great thing or has anything like it ever been heard?” (4:32)

“Guard the Shabbos day to sanctify it, as Hashem, your G-d, has commanded you.” (5:12)

“Do not kill and do not commit adultery, and do not steal, and do not bear false witness against your fellow. And do not covet.” (5:17–18)

“You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your possessions.” (6:5)

“For inquire now regarding the early days… from the day when G- d created man on the earth…Has there ever been anything like this great thing or has anything like it ever been heard?” (4:32)

“Guard the Shabbos day to sanctify it, as Hashem, your G-d, has commanded you.” (5:12)

“Do not kill and do not commit adultery, and do not steal, and do not bear false witness against your fellow. And do not covet.” (5:17–18)

“You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your possessions.” (6:5)

YEARS

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