Peninim on the Torah

בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and the earth. (1:1)

The Torah is the charter of man’s mission on this world. It is the “book of directions” which guides us how to live a life of commitment to Hashem. In the Talmud Chagigah 11b, Chazal teach that it is prohibited to expound upon maaseh Bereishis in a class of two students, which means the teacher and one other person. The Talmud presents many Aggadic teachings related to this topic. Literally, maaseh Bereishis means “account of Creation.” Ramban interprets maaseh Bereishis as the wisdom of the natural world. The most widely accepted opinion is that maaseh Bereishis pertains to the wisdom…

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האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה אם אנכי ילידתיהו כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך... לא אוכל אנכי לבדי לשאת את כל העם הזה כי כבד ממני

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

Did I conceive this entire people, or did I give birth to it, that You say to me, “Carry them in your bosom?”… I alone cannot carry this entire nation, for it is too heavy for me!” (11:12,14)

Parents have an enormous responsibility – regardless of the difficulty – whether it be economical, personal, or a child with an unusual problem with which the parent is unable to cope. By virtue of the fact that one carries the title parent, he becomes obligated to support his/her child under all circumstances. The problems of many adolescents often result from a family dynamic in which the parents are inept or dysfunctional. Parents often shirk their responsibility by laying it at the door of others, such as the school. A proper education, in a stable environment under the tutelage of loving,…

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והאספסף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה וישבו ויבכו גם בני ישראל ויאמרו מי יאכלנו בשר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

And the rabble in their midst longed desire, and the Bnei Yisrael wept as well, and said, “Who will feed us meat?” (11:4)

Shortly after Klal Yisrael commenced their journey from Har Sinai, where they received the Torah, to Eretz Yisrael, the people began to complain. One who is not knowledgeable might err and view Klal Yisrael’s foibles and shortcomings in the wrong light. Their failings have a negative connotation only in relationship with their incredibly high spiritual level. Having witnessed the greatest Revelation of all time, the slightest complaint becomes greatly magnified. Following the Giving of the Torah, Klal Yisrael earned the title of Dor Deah, the Generation of Knowledge, so acute was their conception of the Divine. Thus, a sin caused…

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ויסעו מהר ד' דרך שלשת ימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

They journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three-day distance. (10:33)

In his commentary to pasuk 35, Va’yehi binsoa haAron “When the Ark would journey,” Ramban cites a Midrash which takes a dim view of Klal Yisrael’s first journey away from Har Sinai. The Midrash states that the nation left the mountain, K’tinok ha’boreiach mi’bais ha’sefer, “Like a child running away from school,” happy to leave that holy place – in case Hashem had plans for giving them more mitzvos to perform. While they followed Hashem’s instructions concerning their journey, their attitude in leaving apparently left something to be desired. Horav Aizik Sher, zl, wonders what part of Chazal’s statement underscores…

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וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Rashi explains the meaning behind the word, V’zeh, and this, which seems to imply that Hashem in some way demonstrated to Moshe Rabbeinu how the Menorah should appear. Apparently, this is exactly what happened. Moshe had difficulty grasping the image of the Menorah. Hashem presented a visual rendition of the Menorah, pointing to it, as if to say V’zeh, “And this” (is how I want the Menorah to look). Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, compares this to two amateurs who were given the tools and materials to build a house. One neophyte had the common sense to realize that trial and…

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ויעש כן אהרן...

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

Aharon did so. (8:3)

Rashi quotes the Sifri that interprets Aharon HaKohen’s meticulous conformity to the letter of the law as referring particularly to the manner in which he lit the Menorah. L’hagid shevacho shel Aharon she’lo shinah, “To relate Aharon’s praise, that he did not change.” He did not want to deviate from the instructions that were conveyed to him. Aharon maintained a spiritual integrity that was unparalleled – a level to which we should all aspire. Seeking out loopholes and living on heteirim, halachic dispensations, leads one to ultimately disregard and blatantly abrogate Jewish law. A heter exists for a reason, to…

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אלה תותדות אהרן ומשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Bamidbar

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon. (3:1)

The pasuk opens by stating that the following are the offspring of both Moshe and Aharon, but fails to mention Moshe’s children. Indeed, the Talmud Sanhedrin 19b wonders why the sons of Aharon HaKohen are considered to be the sons of Moshe Rabbeinu as well. This teaches, explain Chazal, that one who teaches his friend’s children Torah is considered as if he had begotten them. Since Moshe taught Torah to Aharon’s sons, he is considered to have been their spiritual father. The text of the Talmud is: Kol ha’melamed es ben chaveiro Torah, maaleh alav ha’kasuv k’ilu yoldo – “As…

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איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner according to the insignias of his father’s household. (2:2)

Each of the three-tribe formations was distinguished by a distinctively-colored banner which included the tribal colors of each of its three tribes. Horav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, zl, explains this pasuk homiletically. While it is undoubtedly important that a person follow in the footsteps of his forebears (concerning: nusach ha’tefillah, version of one’s prayer service; specific customs and traditions, and perspective on Jewish life), one should never be satisfied with just “following”; rather, he should be “a man” in his own right: forging his own path, developing his own perspective; innovating his own customs. It is our function to augment the…

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אך את מטה לוי לא תפקוד ואת ראשם לא תשא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Bamidbar

But you shall not count the tribe of Levi, and you shall not take a census of them. (1:49)

Shevet Levi, the tribe of Levi, had proven their fidelity to Hashem during– and after– the sin of the Golden Calf. This earned them the appellation ligyono shel Melech, the legion of the King/Hashem, which was an elevated status. This new status warranted them being counted separately and differently from the rest of the nation. While the rest of the nation was counted from the age of twenty-years old, Shevet Levi was counted as infants, thirty days and older. In commenting on Rashi’s statement: “It is appropriate that the King’s legion be counted alone,” Sifsei Chachamim writes that this is…

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לבני יוסף לבני אפרים תולדתם למשפחתם לבית אבתם במספר שמת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Bamidbar

For the sons of Yosef: For the sons of Ephraim, their offspring according to their families, according to their fathers’ households, by number of the names. (1:32)

Interestingly, in the previous mention of Yosef’s sons/tribes, the Torah (ibid 1:10) writes, “To the sons of Yosef… to Ephraim… to Menashe.” In this pasuk, however, the Torah adds the word l’vnei, “To the sons of Ephraim.” It seems as if the Torah does not record Ephraim’s sons as part of Yosef’s genealogy. By adding, “to the sons of,” there appears to be a break, indicating that Ephraim has his own distinction. The Baal HaTurim explains that Yosef did not participate in carrying the coffin of his father, Yaakov Avinu, because he was a melech, king. Out of respect for…

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בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ

In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and the earth. (1:1)

האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה אם אנכי ילידתיהו כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך... לא אוכל אנכי לבדי לשאת את כל העם הזה כי כבד ממני

Did I conceive this entire people, or did I give birth to it, that You say to me, “Carry them in your bosom?”… I alone cannot carry this entire nation, for it is too heavy for me!” (11:12,14)

והאספסף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה וישבו ויבכו גם בני ישראל ויאמרו מי יאכלנו בשר

And the rabble in their midst longed desire, and the Bnei Yisrael wept as well, and said, “Who will feed us meat?” (11:4)

ויסעו מהר ד' דרך שלשת ימים

They journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three-day distance. (10:33)

וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

ויעש כן אהרן...

Aharon did so. (8:3)

אלה תותדות אהרן ומשה

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon. (3:1)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבתם

Each man by his banner according to the insignias of his father’s household. (2:2)

אך את מטה לוי לא תפקוד ואת ראשם לא תשא

But you shall not count the tribe of Levi, and you shall not take a census of them. (1:49)

לבני יוסף לבני אפרים תולדתם למשפחתם לבית אבתם במספר שמת

For the sons of Yosef: For the sons of Ephraim, their offspring according to their families, according to their fathers’ households, by number of the names. (1:32)

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