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Home -> 5780 -> Re'eh

כי יסיתך אחיך ... לאמר נלכה ונעבדה אלהים אחרים אשר לא ידעת אתה ואבתיך

Sruly Schnair
In Re'eh, 5780

If your brothers… will incite you… saying, “Let us go and worship the gods of others,” that you did not know, you or your forefathers. (13:7)

Rashi explains the meaning of, “That you did not know, you or your forefathers”: “This matter is of great disgrace to you. For even the other nations (pagans) do not reject what their ancestors passed on to them, but this meisis, inciter, says to you, ‘Abandon what your ancestors passed on to you.’” Why does Rashi point the finger at the individual who is being incited to leave Judaism, intimating that it is humiliating to him to reject the traditions of his forebears, when, in fact, the individual who should be humiliated is the one who is acting disgracefully –…

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Home -> 5780 -> Re'eh

לא תאבה לו ולא תשמע אליו ולא תחוס עינך עליו ולא תחמל ולא תכסה עליו

Sruly Schnair
In Re'eh, 5780

You shall not accede to him and not hearken to him; your eye shall not take pity on him, you shall not be compassionate nor conceal him. (13:9)

“With prejudice” is legalese for dismissing a case/plaintiff permanently. The case is over and done with. No one is interested in rehashing it or listening to any appeals for clemency. Concerning the meisis/meidiach, one who entices others to go astray, the Torah goes to great lengths to underscore its disdain for anyone who would entice another Jew to worship idols. Regardless of the victim’s relationship with the enticer, he must turn him in and see that he is brought to justice. Although the Jewish court is to manifest utmost compassion and seek every avenue to look for extenuating circumstances that…

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Home -> 5780 -> Re'eh

וזה אשר לא תאכלו ... והחסידה

Sruly Schnair
In Re'eh, 5780

This is what you shall not eat…the chasidah. (14:12,18)

As the designated Banim atem la’Hashem Elokeichem, “Children to Hashem, your G-d” (ibid 14:1), we must act in accordance with our special status. It should serve as a source of pride and obligation. The Torah enjoins us with certain prohibitions which are entirely acceptable to the gentile world, but, to Hashem’s children, are an anathema. Among these prohibitions are the Jewish dietary laws which prohibit us from consuming certain animals, fowl and fish. Among the fowl, the Torah lists specific fowl which are considered unkosher due to their “character” which, of course, only the Creator Who created them knows. Among…

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Home -> 5780 -> Eikev

וידעת עם לבבך כי כאשר ייסר איש את בנו ד' אלקיך מיסרך

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5780

You should know in your heart that just as a father will chastise his son, so Hashem, your G-d, chastises you. (8:5)

We have undergone much hardship throughout our tumultuous history. These were not isolated occurrences during which we were subject to the whims and fancies, disdain and loathing, all products of a cruel, envious world who blamed every one of life’s incongruities on the Jews. Whatever happened to us did not “just happen.” It was all Heavenly-designated by a loving Father, Who, at times, was either meting out fatherly discipline or providing us with “opportunities” to secure our spiritual future. Everything was the result of the profound love that a father has for his son. The Kedushas Levi (m’Berditchev) explains why…

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Home -> 5780 -> Eikev

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5780

And now, Yisrael, what is Hashem, your G-d, asking of you, other than to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

In his commentary to Sefer Shemos (3:22) Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, distinguishes between various meanings for the word sho’ail, to borrow/to ask. His rule is: When the word sho’ail is followed by the word mei’eis, from, it means to request, as it says (Shemos 3:22), V’sho’alah ishah mishchentah, “Each woman shall request from her neighbor.” When the word sho’ail is followed by the word mei’im, with, it means to borrow, as in (Shemos 22:13), V’chi yishal ish mei’im reieihu, “If a man shall borrow from his fellow.” The reason for this is that, when one borrows an object, he does…

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Home -> 5780 -> Eikev

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5780

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

The Bnei Yissachar, Horav Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro, zl, cites (Takanos Tamchin D’Oraisa) Chazal (Bava Basra 21a) who credit Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Gamla with being the innovator of universal Torah education for all children. He was concerned for orphans who had no parent to teach them Torah. He set up Torah teachers in every province and district so that all children, regardless of parents or financial ability, would be availed Torah instruction. Chazal laud him for having ensured that the Jewish People would not forget the Torah. In the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 245:7, it is ruled that communal monies may…

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Home -> 5780 -> Eikev

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

Sruly Schnair
In Eikev, 5780

You shall teach them to your children to discuss them. (11:19)

The Torah provides a unique criterion for teaching Torah to one’s children. They should be able to discuss Torah; or, alternatively, when they speak, Torah should emerge from their mouths. Speech is the communication or expression of thoughts. An individual who speaks Torah thinks Torah. One’s cognitive dynamic should be shaped by Torah, so that when he expresses an opinion, a comment, it is Torah-based, the expression of a Torah mind. Thus, Rashi explains, as soon as a child is able to speak, his father should teach him Torah, so that it will be his “language” of communication. Therefore, everything…

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Home -> 5780 -> Va'eschanan

ואתחנן אל ד' ... אעברה נא ואראה ... ויתעבר ד' בי למענכם

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5780

I implored Hashem at that time… Let me now cross and see… But Hashem became angry with me because of you. (3:23,25,26)

Moshe Rabbeinu prayed and prayed. Chazal say that the word, va’eschanan, I implored, implies that Moshe prayed 515 times, which its numerical equivalent. The word, va’eschanan, is derived from chinam, free, alluding to the nature of this prayer. Being one of the ten terms of prayer, it is used when one seeks an undeserved favor from Hashem. Why did Moshe use this term? Surely he was deserving. The righteous never feel that they have a claim on Hashem’s favor. His mercy is reserved for those who feel “worthy” of it. The righteous and the humble feel that Hashem owes them…

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Home -> 5780 -> Va'eschanan

ויאמר ד' אלי רב לך אל תוסף דבר אלי בדבר הזה

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5780

Hashem said to me, “It is too much for you! Do not continue to speak to Me further about this matter.” (3:26)

The Midrash Tanchuma (Va’eschanan 4) relates that Moshe Rabbeinu said to Hashem, “Ribon HaOlamim, You referred to me as Moshe, My servant (Bamidbar 12:7). I truly am Your servant. You also wrote in Your Torah (Shemos 21:5) that the eved Ivri, Hebrew bondsman who refuses to leave servitude after the prescribed six years goes through a process and avado l’olam, he remains in servitude until Yovel. Thus, Hashem, I ask to be allowed to remain in my position as an eved and continue serving You.” Hashem replied, “Rav lach, it is too much for you. It has already been decreed…

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Home -> 5780 -> Va'eschanan

ראה למדתי אתכם חוקים ומשפטים כאשר צוני ד' אלקיך

Sruly Schnair
In Va'eschanan, 5780

See, I have taught you decrees and ordinances, as Hashem, my G-d, has commanded me. (4:5)

Chazal derive an interesting halachah from this pasuk. Moshe Rabbeinu enjoins the nation to observe his manner of teaching the law to the nation. Just as he performed his mission gratis, likewise, when a Jew teaches Torah to his fellow Jew, he should not do so for remuneration. Does that mean that the thousands of rebbeim, moros, roshei yeshivah, rabbanim, roshei kollel, menahalim, anybody who teaches and disseminates Torah, should relinquish payment? Does this indicate that their profession is a “non-profession”? You get what you pay for. The salary one commands indicates the significance and value of the position. If…

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