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Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

אשר נשיא יחטא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayikra

“When a nasi/ ruler sins.” (4:22)

In the Talmud Horiyos 10b, Chazal make an intriguing statement. They say that the word asher alludes to ashrei, fortunate. This implies that the generation whose leader seeks atonement, even for his inadvertent sins, is truly a fortunate one, for he will repent his intentional sins. We must understand the good fortune in having a ruler that sins – because he becomes a model of someone who repents his sins. Horav Elimelech, z.l., m’Lishensk, gives the following explanation: Klal Yisrael is comprised of tzaddikim, righteous, pious Jews, and also peshutei ha’am, common, simple Jews. Due to the vast spiritual dichotomy between…

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Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד' מן הבהמה מן הבקר ומן הצאן תקריבו את קרבנכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayikra

“When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering.” (1:2)

If Reuven slaps Shimon across the face for no reason, Shimon’s  physical pain will not be as great as his emotional pain. Being slapped for no apparent reason is truly an emotional trauma. On the other hand, if Shimon had first struck Reuven with a powerful blow, and then Reuven reciprocated – Shimon would not be that upset. He would understand that he deserves what he has received. Horav Baruch, z.l., m’Kosov applies this analogy towards  explaining the concept of mesiras nefesh al Kiddush Hashem, dedication to the point of self-sacrifice for the purpose of sanctifying Hashem’s Name. If a person…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5762

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Pekudei

“These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of Testimony.” (38:21)

Lecha Hashem ha’gedulah…, “Yours, Hashem, is the greatness, the strength, the splendor, the triumph, and the glory, even everything  in  Heaven  and  earth”  (Divrei  HaYamim  I,  29:11).  In  Midrash Tanchuma, Chazal suggest that this pasuk – which we recite daily in the Va’yivarech David prayer – alludes to the fact that the building of the Mishkan had a profound relationship with the creation of Heaven and earth. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., renders a penetrating interpretation of this  Midrash, which we take the liberty of citing. On the First Day of Creation, Hashem created Shomayim va’aretz, “Heaven and earth.” This creation…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5762

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Pekudei

“These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of Testimony.” (38:21)

The word Mishkan is mentioned twice. Why? Rashi explains that the word Mishkan – which is spelled mem, shin, kof, nun – can also be read as mashkone, which  means collateral. This alludes to the Bais HaMikdash which was twice taken from us as collateral. The sins of Klal Yisrael should have brought about their destruction. Instead, Hashem took out His wrath on the wood and stones of the Bais HaMikdash. They were Klal Yisrael’s collateral. A young student once asked HoRav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, z.l., the following question, “If the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash parallels the taking of…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5762

אלה פקודי המשכן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Pekudei

“These are the reckonings of the Mishkan.” (38:21)

The parsha begins with a detailed listing of the amounts of the various metals used for the Mishkan. Even though Moshe Rabbeinu himself deposited the metals under the supervision of Betzalel, both individuals whose integrity was beyond dispute, Moshe, nonetheless, made a public reckoning of all of the proceeds and donations. Leaders must be above reproach, and Moshe refused to take a chance by relying on assumptions. The people must be absolutely certain. Only a great man cares about every little detail in regard to other people’s money. Leaders, as well as each individual, must keep an accounting of the funds…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5762

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אתם להביא לכל המלאכה... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayakhel

“Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem.” (35:29)

The pasuk begins by pointing out how every man and every woman brought his/her offerings to the Mishkan. Why, then, does it seemingly reiterate its previous statement by saying, “Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem”? Horav Mordechai Rogov, z.l., explains that those who give of themselves and their possessions possess a pure and benevolent spirit of generosity which was imbued in them by those who educated them. Chesed, kindness, is taught. It is infused in a person by his rebbeim, teachers, who, along with the scholarly knowledge which they impart, also inculcate their students with ethics and responsibility to…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5762

כל נדיב לבו יביאה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayakhel

“Everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it.” (35:5)

Sincerity is the key word when it comes to contributing to a Torah cause. The amount that one gives is not important. Rather, it is the manner   in   which   one   gives:   with   what   attitude,   with  what sensitivity, with what feeling. Hashem does not need our contributions. What is important to Him is the contributor’s inner desire to elevate and coalesce himself with the Almighty. There are people with small hearts who give big checks. The manner in which – and to whom – they give attests to this. There are also those whose checks are much less significant, but they manage…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5762

וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קדש שבת שבתון לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayakhel

“But the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for Hashem.” (35:2)

The various commands and admonishments concerning Shabbos Kodesh are reiterated in the Torah a number of times. This clearly indicates the overriding significance of Shabbos to Klal Yisrael. In the beginning of our parsha, as Moshe Rabbeinu assembles Klal Yisrael to instruct them about the building of the Mishkan, he prefaces his talk with a reminder about Kedushas Shabbos, the sanctity of the seventh day. Chazal derive from here that the building of the Mishkan does not supersede the mitzvah of Shabbos. Interestingly, the avodas ha’korban, sacrificial service, was performed on Shabbos. The holy day was “set aside” for the holy…

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Home -> Vayakhel -> 5762

ויקהל משה את כל עדת בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Vayakhel

“And Moshe assembled the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael.” (35:1)

Rashi tells us that the word Vayakhel, “and assembled,” is written in the hifil, causative, to teach us that Moshe Rabbeinu did not gather the people directly.  Rather, he caused them to gather themselves. What is Rashi teaching us? Certainly, he did not gather them by hand. The Satmar Rebbe, z.l,. explains that the objective of this assembly was unique in that Moshe sought to assemble only those who were Jews, not members of the eirev rav, mixed multitude, the creators of the eigel, Golden Calf. Moshe was not assembling people “by hand,” for no specific purpose other than to make…

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Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5762, Ki Sisa

“Hashem relented regarding the evil that He declared He would do to His people. Moshe turned and descended from the mountain, with the two Tablets of Testimony in his hand, Tablets inscribed on both their sides; they were inscribed on one side and the other.” (32:14-15)

Prior to the chet ha’egel, sin of the Golden Calf, when the Torah mentions that Hashem gave Moshe the Luchos, the Torah describes that they were made of stone written with the Etzba Elokim, finger of G-d. Now, after the sin, and after mentioning that Hashem relented from the punishment He was prepared to mete out, the Torah records an added detail about the Luchos – “inscribed on both their sides; inscribed on one side and the other.” Why not mention the complete description right away? Is there some reason that the Torah waited until after the tragic rebellion with the…

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