Vayeilech – Page 7 – Peninim on the Torah

“And many evils and troubles shall come upon them, and they shall say on that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because G-d is not in our midst?’ And I will surely have concealed My face on that day.” (31:17-18)

These two pesukim begin by asserting Hashem’s anger, followed by the concealment of His countenance as a result of Klal Yisrael’s transgressions. Afterwards, when the nation recognizes that its suffering is due to Hashem’s concealment, the next pasuk continues with Hashem concealing Himself once again. This is enigmatic. One would think that recognition of sin is a step towards teshuvah, repentance. Surely, it should not be followed with more hester Panim, concealment of Hashem’s countenance. Indeed, this is a difficult and most tragic prophecy. What could be worse than Hashem removing Himself from our midst? It is softened only…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Vayeilech

“This song shall speak up before it as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring.” (31:21)

This is the only consolation for a prophecy foretelling Klal Yisrael’s slide into a life of sin and rebellion against the Almighty. The Torah might be ignored; it might even be snubbed, but it will never be completely forgotten. Throughout history, there has always been a revival of Torah study following a period when many thought that its end was near. During the Holocaust of World War II, when Europe was burning, there were those doomsayers that said the end of Torah was near. It would die with European Jewry. This was not the case. Those who miraculously survived did…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Vayeilech

“And many evils and troubles shall come upon them, and they shall say on that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because G-d is not in our midst?’ And I will surely have concealed My face on that day.” (31:17-18)

These two pesukim begin by asserting Hashem’s anger, followed by the concealment of His countenance as a result of Klal Yisrael’s transgressions. Afterwards, when the nation recognizes that its suffering is due to Hashem’s concealment, the next pasuk continues with Hashem concealing Himself once again. This is enigmatic. One would think that recognition of sin is a step towards teshuvah, repentance. Surely, it should not be followed with more hester Panim, concealment of Hashem’s countenance. Indeed, this is a difficult and most tragic prophecy. What could be worse than Hashem removing Himself from our midst? It is softened only…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Vayeilech

“This song shall speak up before it as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring.” (31:21)

This is the only consolation for a prophecy foretelling Klal Yisrael’s slide into a life of sin and rebellion against the Almighty. The Torah might be ignored; it might even be snubbed, but it will never be completely forgotten. Throughout history, there has always been a revival of Torah study following a period when many thought that its end was near. During the Holocaust of World War II, when Europe was burning, there were those doomsayers that said the end of Torah was near. It would die with European Jewry. This was not the case. Those who miraculously survived did…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeilech

Gather together the people – the men, the women, and the small children. (31:12)

Rashi explains that the men came to study; the women came to hear words of Torah; the children came to give reward to those who brought them. Nachlas Tzvi cites Horav Shraga Moshe Kalmenovitz, zl, who derives a significant lesson from the fact that the parents received reward for bringing their infants to the Hakhel gathering. After all, if the parents were obligated to come, who would be taking care of their children? If the Torah demands that the parents attend, it should take into consideration that there is a family at home. For this reason, the Torah provided a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeilech

Hashem said to Moshe, “Behold, you will lie with your forefathers, but this people will rise up after the gods of the foreigners. (31:16)

It is incredible, even enigmatic, that the Torah speaks about Klal Yisrael in such a manner. Earlier the Torah said, “And you who cling to Hashem, your G-d, you are all alive today.” Now they are being admonished regarding the rebellion they will make after Moshe’s passing. It is like predicting that someone who is currently on a high spiritual plane will commit one of the greatest, heinous sins. Does this make sense? Are we to anticipate that the yeshivah student who is studying Torah, uninterrupted, unaffected by the outside world, will become an uncontrolled, unashamed sinner once he leaves…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758, Vayeilech

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

Considering Moshe Rabbeinu’s advanced age, one would expect that his inability to execute the demands of his office physically would impede him from fulfilling his leadership role. But Moshe, however, asserted that “Hashem has said to me, You shall not cross this Yarden.” According to human nature, one undertakes to perform an endeavor, and “afterwards” he waits to see if Hashem is pleased with his plans. This approach is confirmed by the actions of tzaddikim who are mishtadel, endeavor, to do they can, rather than to wait passively for Divine intervention to solve every problem. Yaakov Avinu indicated to his…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

The word “hin’cha” – “behold you will“, is a compound expression composed of the word “hein,” “behold”, and the suffix denoting “you.” The Midrash tells us that Moshe was unhappy when Hashem introduced his imminent death using the phrase “Hein karvu yamecha lamus, ” “Behold, your days are drawing near.” He asked Hashem how He could have decreed his death with the same word that he had used to glorify the Almighty, declaring, “Hein l’Hashem Elokecha Hashamayim u’Shmei ha’Shamayim,” “Behold to Hashem your G-d are the Heavens and the highest Heaven” (Devarim,10:14). Hashem responded with the word, “hin’cha” stating that…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

The Sfas Emes cites Horav Bunim M’Pechischa, who states that the actual idea that one says or even thinks that “Ein Elokai b’kirbi,” “My G-d is not in my midst,” constitutes a grave sin which may be the source of his troubles. How does one have “yiush,” how does one despair? Every Jew is enjoined to believe whole-heartedly that Hashem is with him at all times, through all circumstances, under all conditions. Hashem does not, and will not ever, forsake us. We need to be able to say the same regarding our relationship with Him. The Kotzker Rov was once…

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“And many evils and troubles shall come upon them, and they shall say on that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because G-d is not in our midst?’ And I will surely have concealed My face on that day.” (31:17-18)

“This song shall speak up before it as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring.” (31:21)

“And many evils and troubles shall come upon them, and they shall say on that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because G-d is not in our midst?’ And I will surely have concealed My face on that day.” (31:17-18)

“This song shall speak up before it as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring.” (31:21)

Gather together the people – the men, the women, and the small children. (31:12)

Hashem said to Moshe, “Behold, you will lie with your forefathers, but this people will rise up after the gods of the foreigners. (31:16)

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

YEARS

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