Peninim on the Torah

“Because I said, ‘(Only) there is no fear of G-d in this place and they will kill me on account of (to take) my wife.’” (20:11)

Horav Elchanan Wasserman, z.l., had occasion to be in Germany a number of years prior to the Nazi implementation of their Master Plan. At the time, Germany was considered among the most progressive and intellectual nations. Its culture and nobility presented a paradigm for others to emulate. As we know, however, it was all superficial. Something was missing from this cold, dispassionate culture. The Jews were an “accepted” part of society. This, of course, led to assimilation. Little did they know the tragic events, the cataclysmic horrors, that were lurking right around the corner. Rav Elchanan delivered a lecture to the…

Home -> 5762 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5762

“For I give him special attention because he commands his children and his household after him.” (18:19)

Hashem expresses His affection for Avraham Avinu because of his adherence to imparting the derech Hashem, way of Hashem, to the next generation. It is Avraham’s ability and dedication to educating his progeny which distinguishes him from everyone else. Chinuch ha’banim, educating one’s children, is what differentiates a parent from a caretaker. A parent cares about his child and, consequently, oversees his educational development. A caretaker cares primarily about himself, placing his child’s education in a far second-place behind everything else. What is the most effective method for educating one’s children? Since Avraham is the “father” of education, it would be…

Home -> 5762 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised.” (17:12)

The mitzvah of Bris Milah is a critical mitzvah which inducts the young boy into the Jewish People. Throughout the millennia our people have been willing to sacrifice their lives, so that this mitzvah may be fulfilled properly. Many stories have been recorded detailing the selfless devotion our People have demonstrated to this mitzvah. I recently read a story that poignantly portrays the lengths to which one Jewish mother actualized her perception of the mitzvah of Bris Milah. This occurred in Soviet Russia at a time when the Communists were in power. Their disdain for any religion was overshadowed by their…

Home -> 5762 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“Her mistress was lowered in her esteem.” (16:4)

Aagar’s lack of emunah, belief, in Divine Providence, coupled with her insensitivity to others, resulted in her brazenness. She arrogantly called attention to the fact that she was able to conceive and bear Avraham’s child, while Sarah, her mistress, despite having been with Avraham for so many years, still had no success in bearing a child. Obviously, from her perspective, she was more righteous than Sarah. Her first reaction was to claim superiority. Never did she allow herself to entertain the notion that there was a reason for Sarah’s barrenness. It certainly could not have been Sarah’s lack of virtue. A…

Home -> 5762 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“And when Avram heard that his kinsman (his nephew, Lot) was taken captive, he armed his disciples who had been born in his house.” (14:14)

Empathy for another person is a character trait we should learn from Avraham Avinu. As soon as he heard that his nephew, Lot, was taken captive, he immediately assembled a small army and risked his life to save him. From a cursory perspective, it seems like the right thing to do. My nephew is in trouble – I go out to save him. Is that what we do? How often do we find a way to rationalize away our responsibility to our fellow man? Avraham had every reason to turn his back on Lot. It is not as if Lot did…

Home -> 5762 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5762

“The woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.” (12:15)

Pharaoh’s palace has been recorded in Jewish history as a place of infamy. Sarah Imeinu was taken there. Years later, her great- grandson, Yosef Ha’tzaddik, was taken there. Moshe Rabbeinu was raised there. This home was a source of much weeping by Jewish leaders. For a kadosh v’tahor, holy and pure individual to be brought into the home of a heathen, a home which was a center of idol worship and immorality, was a tragedy. How do Chazal perceive this experience? Do they view it as negatively as we do? To respond to this question, let us go back in time…

Home -> 5762 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5762

“The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose.” (11:1)

We talk about achdus, unity, as the ideal ingredient for success among people. Yet, the Torah suggests that the sin of the people who built the tower of Bavel was precisely their unity –one language – one common purpose. Obviously, their unity was not an asset. When is harmony among people a detriment and when is it to their benefit? Moreover, in the Yerushalmi Megillah 1:9, Chazal clearly state that the people spoke seventy different languages, when in fact the Torah states that the punishment was to disperse them and divide them into different languages. Last, in giving a name…

Home -> 5762 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5762

“Shem and Yefes took the cloak and placed it on both their shoulders.” (9:23)

Rashi notes that the Torah uses the word vayikach, and he took, in the singular, as opposed to vayikchu, and they took. This teaches us that Shem actually exerted himself more than Yefes for this noble deed. Consequently, Shem’s descendants were privileged to receive the mitzvah of Tzitzis, while Yefes merited to receive respectful burial for his descendants. Rashi clearly teaches us that the difference between the rewards received by Shem and Yefes are directly linked with their relative actions on behalf of Noach. Shem received a “covering” of Tzitzis for the manner in which he covered his father. Yefes received…

Home -> 5762 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5762

“But the dove could not find a resting place…and it returned to him to the Ark…So he put forth his hand, and took it and brought it to him to the Ark.” (8:9)

Noach sent the dove out of the Ark in search of dry land to ascertain if the time had come when the Flood was finally over. The first time, the dove returned and Noach stretched out his hand, taking the dove back into the Ark. The Torah seems to be using this incident to tell us something. Why is it of any significance to us if the dove flew back into the Ark or was brought back in through Noach? Horav Yechezkel Munk, Shlita, Ram b’Yeshivas Telz, shared an insight with me which elucidates the matter. The generation of the…

Home -> 5762 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5762

“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

Rashi cites a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of b’dorosav, in his generation. Some are of the opinion that Noach was a tzaddik in a generation that was evil, immoral and hedonistic. If he could ascend to spiritual leadership in such an environment, then he could certainly succeed in a generation such as Avraham’s. Others contend that Noach seemed to be a tzaddik only because he was alive during a period of evil unparalleled in our history. Had he lived, however, in Avraham’s generation, his righteousness would not really have appeared as great. Some interpret Noach in a positive…

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“Because I said, ‘(Only) there is no fear of G-d in this place and they will kill me on account of (to take) my wife.’” (20:11)

“For I give him special attention because he commands his children and his household after him.” (18:19)

“At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised.” (17:12)

“Her mistress was lowered in her esteem.” (16:4)

“And when Avram heard that his kinsman (his nephew, Lot) was taken captive, he armed his disciples who had been born in his house.” (14:14)

“The woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.” (12:15)

“The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose.” (11:1)

“Shem and Yefes took the cloak and placed it on both their shoulders.” (9:23)

“But the dove could not find a resting place…and it returned to him to the Ark…So he put forth his hand, and took it and brought it to him to the Ark.” (8:9)

“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

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