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Home -> 5762 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Chayei Sarah, 5762

“Sarah’s lifetime was…” (23:1)

Sarah Imeinu is not the first person to have died. The Torah does, however, devote considerable “space” to her passing –  the  passing of  the  first  Matriarch,  the  first  Jewish  mother.  Thus,  I  feel  it appropriate to address the subjects of death, Olam Haba, and Techiyas HaMeisim, resurrection of the dead. Horav Shlomo Wolbe, Shlita, writes that one of the most difficult tasks facing people in contemporary times is developing a firm belief in the World to Come (Olam Haba). We talk about it, yearn for it, work for it, but do we really believe in it? Techiyas HaMeisim is a…

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Home -> 5762 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Chayei Sarah, 5762

“Sarah’s lifetime was…” (23:1)

Life is a gift, a precious gift from Hashem. In the Talmud Gittin 64a, Chazal teach us the signs for determining a young child’s maturity level. If one gives a child a stone and he proceeds to throw it away,but he keeps a nut which he has been given, it indicates that his mind is beginning to develop. If one gives him an object which he is prepared to return to its owner after a while, it is a clear sign that he is mature. In other words, the ability to distinguish between what is a gift and what is…

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Home -> 5762 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5762

“And they stood up and went together.” (22:19)

The Torah uses the phrase vayeilchu yachdav, they went together, three times in regard to the Akeidah. The first time, when Avraham left his home together with Yitzchak on the way to the Akeidah, the Torah writes that “they walked together” (22:6). Rashi explains that “together” means that Avraham, who was acutely aware of his mission to slaughter his only son, went with the same good will and joy as Yitzchak, who knew nothing of Hashem’s command. The second time the Torah writes this phrase it is after Avraham had hinted to Yitzchak that he would be the sacrifice. Yet, Yitzchak…

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Home -> 5762 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5762

“Avraham prayed to G-d, and G-d healed Avimelech, and his wife, and his maids and they were relieved (literally, gave birth).” (20:17)

Hashem punished Avimelech and his families for taking Sarah from Avraham. It is interesting to note Avraham’s reaction when Avimelech  realized  that  he  had  erred.  Avraham  prayed  that Avimelech be cured from his punishment. Avraham Avinu, the amud ha’chesed, pillar of kindness, conveys to us the appropriate response to hearing   about  someone   else’s   misfortune   –   pray   for  him! Avraham’s sympathy set the standard for his descendants. How often do we hear about another Jew who has fallen ill or succumbed to another misfortune. While it  is true that we feel for him, how many of us feel the pain as if…

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Home -> 5762 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5762

“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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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