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Home -> Matos -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Matos

They approached him and said, “Pens for the flock shall we build here for our livestock and cities for our small children”… Moshe said to them… “Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your flock.” (32:16,20,24)

The halachah regarding reciting a brachah over two fruits that are not from the seven species of fruit with which Eretz Yisrael is blessed is clear: One first makes the brachah upon the fruit which one likes more. What if he likes one more, but the second fruit has more therapeutic value, more vitamins in it? Horav Avigdor HaLevi Nebentzhal, Shlita, contends that the fruit which is qualitatively better for the person is  the one that takes precedence in regard to the blessing. The source for this halachah can be derived from Moshe Rabbeinu’s dialogue with Bnei Gad  and Bnei Reuven….

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Home -> Matos -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Matos

“And he shall revoke the vow that is upon her.” (30:9)

Chazal differentiate between a court’s hatarah, annulment, of a vow and a husband or father’s hafarah, revocation, of a vow. Hatarah  is  made  with  reason, based  upon  the premise  that  the  vow was made either in error or in ignorance. For example, had the individual making the vow been aware of certain circumstances, he would never have made it. Therefore, the annulment is retroactive, indicating that it was all in error. Hafarah, on the other hand, is not retroactive. It is a power given to the husband or father to revoke the vow for the future – without reason, simply because…

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Home -> 5762 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5762

“Why should the name of our father be omitted from among his family because he had no son?” (27:4)

Parents need their children. Horav Avraham Berish Flohm, z.l., a distinguished disciple of the Maggid of Dubno, gives the following explanation  of  this  pasuk.  A  father  and  his  son  were   traveling together on a long journey. It was a difficult trip, and the father went to great lengths to provide for his son’s comfort. He provided for all of his needs and protected him from the challenges along the way. This added responsibility took its toll on the father, but what does a parent not do for their child? When they reached their destination, they discovered that the gates to the…

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Home -> 5762 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5762

“The daughters of Tzlafchad drew near…and they stood before Moshe.”

The Yalkut Shimoni gives a powerful insight into the episode with Bnos Tzlafchad. Every adam kasheir, pious individual, who stands up for what is right and true, especially during a time – or in an environment – that is antithetical to Torah, will earn the reward for all the members of his milieu. Noach took a stand during the generation of the Flood: he merited their reward. Lot stood up to the evil citizens of Sodom: he received their reward. Likewise, the righteous daughters of Tzlafchad stood up for their beliefs at a time when there were those in Klal Yisrael…

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Home -> 5762 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5762

“When he zealously avenged Me among them.” (25:11)

Kanaus, zealotry, is truly a noble trait – albeit a dangerous one. Quite often, the well-meaning zealot gets caught up in his enthusiasm, forgetting his original goals and objectives. He forgets that while his adversary is wrong, he is still a human being with feelings and emotions. To say one does not care about the person is to defeat the objective of his actions. The kanai, zealot, is guided by considerations of avodas Hashem, service to the Almighty, and not by any negative spiritual flaw that his adversary might possess. This is most often indicated by the manner in which he…

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Home -> 5762 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Balak, 5762

“And an angel of Hashem stood on the road to impede him.” (22:22)

Hashem warned Bilaam not to curse the Jewish nation. Bilaam had the gall to attempt to defy Him. Hashem sent a Heavenly angel to block Bilaam’s path. The angel stood there with a drawn sword. Yet, Rashi describes this angel as an angel of mercy, sent by a compassionate G-d to prevent Bilaam from committing a sin which would catalyze his self destruction. The donkey who saw the angel saw a menacing angel brandishing a sword. Yet, he is described as an angel of mercy. In The Pleasant Way, Horav Avraham Pam, z.l., derives a compelling lesson from here. Life is…

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Home -> 5762 -> Chukas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Chukas, 5762

“Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of Bnei Yisrael, therefore, you will not bring this congregation to the land.” (20:12)

The commentators struggle to understand Moshe Rabbeinu’s sin. Some say that he was told to speak to the stone, and he hit the stone instead. Others say he spoke with anger to the people. In his Sefer HaIkrim, Horav Yosef Albo, z.l., gives a meaningful explanation. One of our principles of emunah is that Hashem bends teva, nature, to the needs of His faithful. Anyone who does not believe that Hashem fulfills the will of a tzaddik, righteous individual, denies the very basis of the Torah. It is especially true that when the opportunity to sanctify Hashem’s Name exists, the tzaddik…

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Home -> Chukas -> Uncategorized

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Uncategorized, Chukas, 5762

“And speak to the rock.” (20:8)

Horav Leib Eiger, z.l., related that when he was a young boy studying with his grandfather, Horav Akiva Eiger, z.l., the  Nesivos, Horav Yaakov, z.l., m’Lissa, once came to visit. It so happened that the Chasam Sofer, z.l., Rav Akiva Eiger’s son-in-law, was also visiting at the time. Rav Akiva Eiger was overjoyed with his distinguished guests. Thus, he asked his rebbetzin to prepare a suitable meal for them. He asked a student from the yeshivah to serve the guests. During the meal, Rav Akiva Eiger asked the Nesivos to honor them with a discourse in Halachah. Rav Yaakov lectured impressively…

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Home -> 5762 -> Chukas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Chukas, 5762

“Miriam died there, and she was buried there. There was no water for the assembly.” (20:1-2)

The Kli Yakar explains that there is a distinct connection between Miriam’s death and Klal Yisrael’s lack of water. The Torah does not record that the assembly wept at Miriam’s death, as they did for Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon. She was not eulogized properly, because they did not appreciate what they had received due to her merit. They knew that Moshe was the intermediary through which they received the Torah from Hashem. Aharon engendered harmony and unity among the people. Miriam had “long ago” helped save Jewish infants in Egypt, but no one remembered, it was “ancient history.” Therefore, Hashem dried…

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Home -> 5762 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Korach, 5762

“And it (the earth) swallowed them and their households, and all the people who were with Korach.” (16:32)

Korach’s sons repented at the very last moment, so they did not die. They were originally involved in the dispute, but they later saw the  light. Korach, however, was  too  embroiled,  too  involved in himself, to be saved. He went down in infamy. Yet, I think there is something to be derived from this thought: Korach could not have been all that bad. Apparently, if his children repented, then there had to have been a value system at home that was spiritually correct. They had to have been raised correctly. Horav Avigdor HaLevi Nebentzhal, Shlita, cites the Arizal, who takes the…

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