5785 – Peninim on the Torah

“At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised.” (17:12)

The mitzvah of Bris Milah is a critical mitzvah which inducts the young boy into the Jewish People. Throughout the millennia our people have been willing to sacrifice their lives, so that this mitzvah may be fulfilled properly. Many stories have been recorded detailing the selfless devotion our People have demonstrated to this mitzvah. I recently read a story that poignantly portrays the lengths to which one Jewish mother actualized her perception of the mitzvah of Bris Milah. This occurred in Soviet Russia at a time when the Communists were in power. Their disdain for any religion was overshadowed by their…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“Her mistress was lowered in her esteem.” (16:4)

Aagar’s lack of emunah, belief, in Divine Providence, coupled with her insensitivity to others, resulted in her brazenness. She arrogantly called attention to the fact that she was able to conceive and bear Avraham’s child, while Sarah, her mistress, despite having been with Avraham for so many years, still had no success in bearing a child. Obviously, from her perspective, she was more righteous than Sarah. Her first reaction was to claim superiority. Never did she allow herself to entertain the notion that there was a reason for Sarah’s barrenness. It certainly could not have been Sarah’s lack of virtue. A…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“And when Avram heard that his kinsman (his nephew, Lot) was taken captive, he armed his disciples who had been born in his house.” (14:14)

Empathy for another person is a character trait we should learn from Avraham Avinu. As soon as he heard that his nephew, Lot, was taken captive, he immediately assembled a small army and risked his life to save him. From a cursory perspective, it seems like the right thing to do. My nephew is in trouble – I go out to save him. Is that what we do? How often do we find a way to rationalize away our responsibility to our fellow man? Avraham had every reason to turn his back on Lot. It is not as if Lot did…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“The woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.” (12:15)

Pharaoh’s palace has been recorded in Jewish history as a place of infamy. Sarah Imeinu was taken there. Years later, her great- grandson, Yosef Ha’tzaddik, was taken there. Moshe Rabbeinu was raised there. This home was a source of much weeping by Jewish leaders. For a kadosh v’tahor, holy and pure individual to be brought into the home of a heathen, a home which was a center of idol worship and immorality, was a tragedy. How do Chazal perceive this experience? Do they view it as negatively as we do? To respond to this question, let us go back in time…

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“At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised.” (17:12)

“Her mistress was lowered in her esteem.” (16:4)

“And when Avram heard that his kinsman (his nephew, Lot) was taken captive, he armed his disciples who had been born in his house.” (14:14)

“The woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.” (12:15)

YEARS

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