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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5776

והנשאם הביאו את אבני השהם ואת אבני המלאים לאפוד ולחשן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayakhel

The Nesiim/Princes brought the Shoham stones and the stones from the settings for the Eiphod and the Breastplate. (35:27)

Rashi quotes the Midrash in which Rabbi Nosson notes that the word Nesiim, Princes, is spelled without the two yuds that would normally be there. The defective spelling is sort of a subtle rebuke of the Princes for not bringing their gifts immediately when the call for contributions was made; rather, they waited until everything else had been donated. They had calculated that they would complete whatever would end up lacking. How surprised they were to discover that the nation had given overwhelmingly, leaving almost nothing for the Princes to give. Our sages indicate that their lack of an immediate…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5776

וכל הנשים אשר נשא לבן אותנה בחכמה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayakhel

All the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom. (35:26)

The Baal HaTurim notes the Mesorah, Masoretic tradition, of the phrase, V’chol ha’nashim, “And all the women,” is used again in Megillas Esther, V’chol hanashim yitnu yikar l’baaleihen, “And all wives should show respect to their husbands” (Megillas Esther 1:20). This refers to Haman’s advice in which he instructs Achashveirosh to issue a decree, emphasizing the significance of women appreciating and valuing their husbands. This is undoubtedly one of the primary tenets that provide the framework for a successful marriage relationship. A woman who does not value her husband (and reminds him of his second-class status) will ultimately cause the…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5776

וכל אשה חכמת לב בידיה טוו...וכל הנשים אשר נשא לבן אותנה בחכמה טוו את העיזים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayakhel

Every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands…all the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom spun the goats. (35:25,26)

This was extraordinary craftsmanship, for they would spin the fibers from the fleece on the backs of the goats before it was shorn from them.  Sforno explains that, after it is shorn from the animal, goat’s hair loses more and more of its luster each time that it is handled. Thus, by combing and spinning the fleece while it was still growing, they were able to preserve much of the luster that would otherwise have been lost. How much luster is diminished after a few hours of spinning? Probably a minimal amount, which is unnoticeable. Yet, the women made the…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5776

ויבואו האנשים על הנשים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5776, Vayakhel

The men came with the women. (35:22)

Rashi translates the phrase, al ha’nashim, on the women, as with the women. Targum Onkelos, however, translates it as al neshaya, on the women. This implies that the men brought the donations on the women, suggesting that the men accompanied their wives to the collection center, after which the women removed their jewelry and contributed it to the Mishkan. Why did they follow this procedure? Could the men not just have brought the jewelry on their own? Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, derives an important insight from here. The women wanted to show that they were wearing the jewelry, that it…

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Home -> 5776 -> Va'eschanan

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Va'eschanan, 5776

Honor your father and mother. (5:16)

To render honor to one’s parents is an awesome task. Honor means much more than respect. It means: to value; to cherish; to appreciate; to understand that one’s presence in this world is attributed to his parents. The Sefer HaChinuch writes: Heim sibas heyoso b’olam, “They are the cause of his being in this world.”  When one realizes that his basic “being” is due to them, he should be filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Honor should be the result of this emotion. Sadly, this emotion, or lack thereof, can backfire, when one has determined for himself that he…

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Home -> 5776 -> Va'eschanan

שמור את יום השבת לקדשו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Va'eschanan, 5776

Safeguard the day of Shabbos to sanctify it. (5:12)

The vernacular of this pasuk is ambiguous. If Shabbos is holy, why do we have to sanctify it? It is already holy. If it is a mitzvah like all mitzvos, one that imbues us with its kedushah, holiness, what role does remembering play in the scheme of shemiras Shabbos, Shabbos observance? Perhaps we may suggest the following: secular society recognizes that Shabbos is designated for the Jewish People as a day of rest. This does not necessarily mean that they view it as a day replete with unusual holiness. The kedushah is something that we infuse into the Shabbos. Otherwise,…

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Home -> 5776 -> Va'eschanan

אנכי עמד בין ד' וביניכם בעת ההיא להגיד לכם את דבר ד' כי יראתם מפני האש ולא עליתם בהר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Va'eschanan, 5776

I was standing between Hashem and you at that time, to relate the word of Hashem to you – for you were afraid of the fire and you did not ascend the mountain. (5:5)

Moshe Rabbeinu served as an intermediary between Hashem and the people in the days leading up to the Revelation. During the Giving of the Torah, Moshe’s services were even more necessary, since the people drew back in fear of the awesomeness of the experience. According to the commentators, the pasuk is informing us that Klal Yisrael did not ascend the mountain because they were afraid of the fire. In Shemos 19:12, the Torah teaches that the people were commanded to set boundaries around the mountain. They were enjoined, “Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge.” The question is…

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Home -> 5776 -> Va'eschanan

אז יבדיל משה שלש ערים בעבר הירדן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Va'eschanan, 5776

Then Moshe set aside three cities on the bank of the Jordan. (4:41)

The parshah of the arei miklat, cities of refuge, which Moshe Rabbeinu designated, seems to be misplaced. Up until now, Moshe has been rebuking Klal Yisrael, reminding them of their special relationship with Hashem, and informing them of the consequences of straying from this relationship. Later, in Perek 5, he exhorts them to listen to the Torah and to observe its precepts. He then underscores this admonition with a presentation of the Revelation at Har Sinai and repeating the Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments. Nestled in between the earlier rebuke, and later presentation and encouragement to follow the mitzvos, is the…

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Home -> 5776 -> Vaeira

ויחזק לב פרעה ולא שמע אליהם כאשר דבר ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5776

But Pharaoh’s heart was strong and he did not heed them, as Hashem had spoken. (8:15)

The Torah informs us that Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart and then continues to relate concerning the next plague, arov, mixture of animals. What happened to the kinnim, lice? Did they leave? Nothing is mentioned of their disappearance. Horav Sholom Schwadron, zl, suggests that quite possibly the lice became permanent residents of Egypt. Why? Because Pharaoh did not beg for them to be removed – as he did earlier with the frogs. Indeed, as support for this, Rav Sholom cites the pasuk in Tehillim 105:31: Amar va’yavo arov, kinnim b’chol gevulam, “He spoke and hordes of beasts arrived, and lice throughout…

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Home -> 5776 -> Vaeira

הוא אהרן ומשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5776

This was the [same] Aharon and Moshe. (6:26)

Rashi explains that there are places in the Torah where Moshe Rabbeinu’s name precedes that of Aharon HaKohen. Likewise, there are instances where Aharon’s name precedes that of Moshe. The Chasam Sofer wonders why specifically it is in the above pasuk that we find Aharon’s name written first. (Obviously, Moshe Rabbeinu, being the Rabban Shel Kol Yisrael, quintessential leader of our People, should have his name written first. When Aharon’s name precedes Moshe’s there must be a reason, a lesson to be derived therein.) Indeed, as Hashem’s primary agent for leading Klal Yisrael out of Egypt, Moshe’s name should be…

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