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Home -> 5781 -> Tetzaveh

ולקחת את שתי אבני שהם ופתחת עליהם שמות בני ישראל

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5781

You should take the two Shoham stones and engrave on them the names of Bnei Yisrael. (28:9)

Chazal (Sotah 36b) teach that when Yosef HaTzaddik almost fell prey to the blandishments of Potifar’s wife, an image of Yaakov Avinu, his father, appeared before him and said, “Yosef, your brothers’ names will eventually be engraved upon the stones of the Ephod, and your name (as of now) is destined to be included among them. Do you want your name to be omitted (if you sin)?” When Yosef heard this, he immediately withdrew. Potifar’s wife was not going to cause him to be deprived of his spiritual destiny. So much for Yosef. What about Reuven and Yehudah? It is…

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Home -> 5781 -> Tetzaveh

והיה על מצח אהרן... והיה על מצחו תמיד לרצון להם לפני ד'

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5781

It shall be on Aharon’s forehead… and it shall be on his forehead always, to bring them favor before Hashem. (28:38)

The Tzitz, Head-Plate, was a unique addition to the Kohen Gadol’s vestments. When the Kohen Gadol wore it, the two words that were engraved on it: Kodesh l’Hashem, Holy to Hashem, served to gain Heavenly favor for blood or sacrificial body parts that were offered on the Mizbayach, Altar, while in a state of tumah, ritual contamination, allowing them to be accepted by Hashem. Tzitz meratzeh: the Tzitz caused ineligible offerings to become accepted. Whether this was only when Aharon/Kohen Gadol wore it on his forehead is the subject of a debate in the Talmud (Yoma 7b). One Tanna takes…

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Home -> 5781 -> Terumah

ועשו ארון עצי שטים אמתים וחצי ארכו ואמה וחצי רחבו ואמה וחצי קמתו

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5781

They shall make an Ark of atzei shittim, acacia wood, two and a half cubits its length; a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. (25:10)

Chazal (Talmud Yoma 21a) teach that one of the miracles which occurred in the Bais HaMikdash was Aron einah min ha’middah, the place of the Aron HaKodesh, Ark, was not included in the measurement of the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies. Based on the measurement, the Ark should not have fit inside the room. The Kodesh HaKodoshim measured twenty cubits by twenty cubits, and a Braissa states that a space of ten cubits was on either side of the Aron. Thus, only through a miracle did the Aron fit in the Kodesh HaKodoshim. Obviously, how this occurred is beyond the…

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Home -> 5781 -> Terumah

ועשית ארון עצי שיטים ... ונתת אל הארון את העדות אשר אתן לך

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5781

They shall make an Ark of atzei Shittim (Acacia wood)… You shall place in the Ark the Testimonial tablets that I shall give you. (25:10,16)

The Aron HaKodesh was the receptacle that contained within it the first Luchos HaBris –which Moshe Rabbeinu broke as a result of the cheit ha’eigel, sin of the Golden Calf – and the second Luchos. Chazal (Berachos 8b) compare a talmid chacham, Torah scholar, who, due to no fault of his own has forgotten his learning to the Shivrei Luchos, Broken Luchos. As we are instructed to place the Broken Luchos respectfully beside the Luchos Shniim, Second Luchos, so, too, are we commanded to respect the elderly Jew whose Torah erudition is sadly now a matter of history. One may…

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Home -> 5781 -> Terumah

ועשית שנים כרבים ... משני קצות הכפורת. והיו הכרבים פרשי כנפים למעלה ... ופניהם איש אל אחיו

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5781

You shall make two Cherubim… from both ends of the Kapores…The Cherubim shall be with wings spread upward… with their faces toward one another. (25:18,20)

The Baal HaTurim writes: Keruvim – Kravya, like young children. He cites the pasuk, Ki naar yoraei v’ohaveihu; “When Yisrael was a lad I loved him” (Hoshea 11:1). The purpose of the Mishkan is to draw and continue hashroas haShechinah, the Divine Presence, into the earthly sphere (thus, bringing sanctity and deeper spirituality into our midst). The primary place where the Shechinah reposed was between the Keruvim, whose facial features were that of young children. The Keruvim aroused Klal Yisrael’s attribute of naarus, an exciting, exuberant and passionate drive to serve Hashem and observe His mitzvos. This is the merit…

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Home -> 5781 -> Terumah

ויהי תאמים מלמטה ויחדו יהיו תמים על ראשו אל הטבעת האחת

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5781

They must be coupled together on the bottom, and they must also be coupled together evenly on the top with one (square) ring. (26:24)

The Mishkan had two abutting wall planks, which ran from east to west and from north to south, meeting at the corner of the Mishkan. They are described as to’amim milmatah, coupled together on the bottom. The words to’amim and teumim have the same root, which means twins. Thus, although being two distinct units, separated by the Adanim, silver sockets at the bottom (in which pegs of the planks were placed), they fitted and complemented one another. The tops of the planks had to be tamim, matched up – completely, united by the tabaas, ring, that passed over them. Horav…

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Home -> 5781 -> Mishpatim

ואלה המשפטים אשר תשים לפניהם

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5781

And these are the ordinances that you shall place before them. (21:1)

Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to present a clear picture of Jewish civil law, teaching the people not only the letter of the law, but also its spirit – underlying principles and reasoning. This way they would develop a deeper understanding of the law, thus allowing for greater application. It is a desecration of Hashem’s Name for a Jew to bring litigation before a secular court, because, by inference, it indicates that their system of justice is superior to ours. (In certain instances, the power of a secular court is necessary to deal with a recalcitrant litigant. With Rabbinical approval, one…

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Home -> 5781 -> Mishpatim

כל אלמנה ויתום לא תענון

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5781

You shall not cause pain to any widow or orphan. (22:21)

It is understandable that one should not afflict the widow and orphan. Why would anyone who has a modicum of human decency have to be commanded not to take advantage of the weak and defenseless? Apparently, when a profit can be made, or one can assuage his ego by dominating over others, human decency has little meaning – and even less influence. Horav Yechiel Meir, zl, m’Gustinin was asked why the Torah emphasizes that one many not afflict a widow and an orphan, as if one is permitted to do so to an ordinary Jew who is not a victim…

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Home -> 5781 -> Mishpatim

וגר לא תונה ולא תלחצנו כי גרים הייתם בארץ מצרים

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5781

You shall not taunt or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (22:20)

The Torah shows its concern for the proper treatment of the weak, helpless, abandoned and the stranger/convert, who feel alone, estranged, although they should be welcomed and embraced. It is sad that there exist among us the few who lord over others due to their own insecurities. These people consider themselves better, privileged, powerful when, in fact, they are the ones who are weak and pathetic. The prohibition against any mistreatment of a ger, convert, is prefaced with a serious reminder to look back to our own history, when we were strangers in the land of Egypt. A newcomer to…

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Home -> 5781 -> Mishpatim

ויקם משה ויהושע משרתו ויעל משה אל הר אלקים

Sruly Schnair
In Mishpatim, 5781

Moshe stood up with Yehoshua, his student, and Moshe ascended to the Mountain of G-d. (24:13)

Yehoshua was neither commanded to accompany Moshe Rabbeinu, nor did he have any function at the mountain. Nonetheless, as the loyal student and servant, he accompanied his Rebbe and waited for him at the foot of the mountain for forty days until he returned. The question is obvious: What did Yehoshua achieve by waiting at the bottom of the mountain? If he thought he would miss something, he could have set his “alarm clock” for forty days later (in the morning) and run up to the mountain and wait for Moshe. Why did he camp out at the mountain for…

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