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Home -> 5777 -> Acharei Mos

אשר יעשה אתם האדם וחי בהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5777

Which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

V’chai bahem – “By which he shall live (by them)” is an enjoinment to us that mitzvos, commandments, are not to come in contradistinction to life. Thus, if performing a mitzvah endangers one’s well-being, his life supersedes the mitzvah, except for the three cardinal sins of idolatry, murder and forbidden relationships. Furthermore, if violating a mitzvah is under such circumstances which would bring about a chillul, desecration, of Hashem’s Name, his life takes second place to the mitzvah. The Chiddushei HaRim views the words, v’chai bahem, as setting the standard for mitzvah performance. We are exhorted to perform mitzvos in…

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Home -> 5777 -> Acharei Mos

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימותו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5777

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash (quoted by the Chida in Nachal Kedumim) relates that when Iyov heard of the incident concerning the tragic passing of Nadav and Avihu, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi, “Even for this my heart trembles.” The Midrash Rabba (Vayikra 20) elaborates concerning Iyov’s trembling: (Iyov said to himself) “Titus the wicked had the audacity to enter the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies (a place where only the Kohen Gadol entered on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur), brandishing a sword. He pierced the Paroches, Curtain, and his sword emerged blood-soaked. Yet, he went in peacefully (unharmed)…

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Home -> 5775 -> Yisro

לא תגנב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Yisro, 5775

Do not steal. (20:13)

The Talmud Sanhedrin 86a, teaches that the Lo signov, “do not steal,” associated with the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments, is a reference to kidnapping. This is not about stealing money from someone; rather, it is a case of capital punishment for stealing a human life. Horav Yaakov Galinsky, zl, points out that stealing is often viewed relatively. In other words, if someone appropriates an object illegally, his warped mind will likely convince him that this object is now his, and whoever takes it from him is the thief. This idea applies across the board to every case of monies finding…

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Home -> 5775 -> Yisro

כבד את אביך ואת אמך למען יאריכון ימיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Yisro, 5775

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be lengthened. (20:12)

The fifth commandment, to honor one’s parents, is a cornerstone of faith in the entire Torah. Our mesorah, tradition, is based upon a chain that has been transmitted throughout the generations from Har Sinai, where the Torah was given. This mesorah continues through this very day, through the vehicle of the parents of every generation. Each parent serves as a link to his child, maintaining this mesorah when he, in turn, becomes a parent. Without the respect demanded in the fifth commandment, we have no assurance that the other commandments will be observed. Hashem, father and mother are partners in…

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Home -> 5775 -> Yisro

אם את הדבר הזה תעשה... ויכלת עמד, וגם כל העם הזה על מקמו יבא בשלום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Yisro, 5775

If you this thing… then you will be able to endure, and this entire people, as well, shall arrive at its destination in peace. (18:23)

Yisro intimated to Moshe Rabbeinu that, by following his advice, the people would be confident that they would be judged justly. They would, thus, be at peace, content with the rulings that had been administered. The words, yavo b’shalom, “shall arrive at its destination in peace,” is a phrase which is used in connection with the deceased. We say: lech b’shalom, “go in peace;” tanuach b’shalom, “rest in peace,” and v’saamod l’goralcha l’ketz ha’yamim, “and arise for your reward at the End of Days.” When speaking to the living, wishing them well, we say, lech l’shalom, “go to peace.” Why…

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Home -> 5775 -> Yisro

ויאמר יתרו ברוך ד' אשר הציל אתכם מיד מצרים ומיד פרעה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Yisro, 5775

Yisro said, “Blessed is Hashem, Who has rescued you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of Pharaoh.” (18:10)

Yisro maintains that the Jewish nation owes a special sense of gratitude to Hashem for His “personal” involvement in their liberation from Egyptian bondage. Rather than have Pharaoh release them of his own accord, Hashem forced his hand to make him send them out of the country. Indeed, if Pharaoh would have willingly participated in the redemption, we might have reason to believe that he too should be recognized and appreciated. Now we acknowledge that it is only to Hashem to whom we have an obligation of gratitude. The Chasam Sofer interprets this idea in his explanation of the Avadim…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5775

לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

Before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

The Torah begins with the creation of the world, the creation of mankind, and concludes with death – with the passing of our quintessential leader, Moshe Rabbeinu. The life cycle, from cradle to grave, is exactly that – a cycle. A man is born, lives out his life, and returns sometime later to his source. One ends where the other one starts. A perfect circle is complete in the sense that it unites the beginning with the end. Indeed, there is neither a beginning to a circle, nor is there an end. If one selects a specific point and designates…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5775

וימת שם משה עבד ד' בארץ מואב על פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

And Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moav, by the mouth of Hashem. (34:5)

The underlying profundity of this pasuk is compelling. The greatest accolade that Moshe Rabbeinu earned for himself is eved Hashem, servant of Hashem. As a servant’s will is supplanted by the will of his master to the point that a servant does not have his own will, so, too, was it with Moshe. Actually, this should be the paradigm for all Jews to emulate – lived for the ratzon Hashem, the will of G-d. Hashem’s will, which was Moshe’s will, should also be ours. Concerning Moshe’s passing from this world “by the mouth of Hashem,” the Talmud Moed Katan 28a…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5775

ולנפתלי אמר נפתלי שבע רצון ומלא ברכת ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

Of Naftali he said, “Naftali, satiated with favor, and filled with Hashem’s blessing.” (33:23)

Interestingly, prior to emphasizing that Naftali is filled with Hashem’s blessing, the Torah notes that he is a seva ratzon, satiated with favor, or, as we would probably translate it in Yiddish, A tzufridener mench, a happy person. Why does svias ratzon precede blessing? One who is not a “favorable” person does not appreciate the blessing in his life. Conversely, one who is satiated with favor does not require an abundance of blessing. To him, everything is a blessing from Hashem. We say in benching and in Sefer Tehillim 145:16, Poseach es Yadecha, u’masbia l’chol chai ratzon, “You open Your…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5775

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him.” (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu prepares to take leave of his flock, he blesses the members of each tribe. He points out their inherent positive qualities and he underscores those areas of their character which require improvement. To pat a person on the back and not inform him of his shortcomings can be self-defeating. In addressing Shevet Levi, Moshe notes the members’ incredible devotion to Hashem, their commitment which was revealed during the chet ha’eigel, sin of the Golden Calf.  When everyone else sinned, they refrained from getting involved in the sacrilege. Moshe had then called out, Mi l’Hashem eilai, “Who is…

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