Achievement – Page 14 – Peninim on the Torah

“It is not by bread alone that man can make a life for himself, but that man can live by everything that comes from the mouth of Hashem.” (8:3)

This pasuk underscores the significance of acknowledging the source of man’s sustenance. The word ojk actually has a dual meaning. It can mean “bread” or to “wage war”. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, declares that “bread” is the nourishment that man wrests from nature, competing with his fellow man for the “piece of bread.” “Bread” represents the joint product of nature and man’s intelligence, indicating man’s mastery over the mundane world. Consequently, “bread” is the physical manifestation of the intelligence with which man creates his own sustenance as he interacts with his fellow man to “harness” nature. The tragedy of man…

Home -> 5756 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 75a Chazal remark, “Of your honor – but not all of your honor.” The elders of that generation said, “The face of Moshe is like that of the sun, while the face of Yehoshua is similar to that of the moon. Woe to such embarrassment; woe to such humiliation.” We are taught that Yehoshua’s spiritual brilliance paled in comparison to that of Moshe. Indeed, the elders who observed this apparent disparity viewed Yehoshua as an embarrassment in light of Moshe. We must endeavor to understand Chazal’s statement. Is it common to find someone whose spiritual…

Home -> 5756 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5756

“And Korach took/separated himself… They gathered together against Moshe and Aharon.” (16:1,3)

Korach is one of the most tragic figures in the Torah. He had such amazing potential for achievement. In fact, he was one of those who participated in carrying the Aron Ha’Kodesh. This distinction, together with the massive wealth he had accumulated, was still not sufficient to quell his feelings of envy, his lust for power. Chazal refer to Korach’s incursion as “shtus,” foolishness. We would assume that a man who carried the Aron would know better. Did he not know that the Aron was not carried by its carriers, but that actually the Aron supported itself, as well as…

Home -> 5756 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5756

“Speak to the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael and say unto them, you shall be holy, for holy am I.” (19:2)

Chazal teach us that this Torah transmission was unlike the usual procedure for Torah transmission. The standard procedure was that Moshe would teach the mitzvos first to Aharon, then Nadav and Avihu, followed by the zekeinim, elders, and finally, the entire nation. In this instance, Moshe taught the mitzvos to the entire Klal Yisrael simultaneously. The reason for this change is that these mitzvos include the essential laws of the Torah. The extreme nature of these mitzvos required that everyone be present together. The various commentators focus upon the need for the entire assembly of Klal Yisrael to convene in…

Home -> 5756 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5756

“The Kohen shall command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living birds, and cedarwood, and crimson thread and hyssop.” (14:4)

Rashi explains the symbolism of the cedarwood, crimson thread and hyssop as an allusion to the need for humility, the metzora’s need to focus on and to neutralize his arrogant nature. This is consistent with Chazal‘s teaching that the various nega’im, plagues, are the result of gasus ha’ruach, vulgarity and haughtiness. Horav Shimon Schwab, zl, suggests that these three objects signify three types of humility. First is the fellow who sees his own insignificance. He realizes that the insignificant amount of Torah he may have studied is nothing in relation to the vast storehouse of Torah knowledge that exists. He…

Home -> 5758 -> Vayeira

Moshe Marcovich In Vayeira, 5758

Avraham came forward and said, “Will You also stamp out the righteous along with the wicked?” (18:23)

Avraham’s love for all people is exemplified in its noblest form as he intercedes on behalf of the people of Sodom. Even the wicked inhabitants of Sodom were worthy of his sympathy. He prayed to Hashem to spare them from impending doom. Avraham Avinu’s most significant strength was his total devotion to Hashem. Representing the greatest aspect of his personality, this trait caused Hashem to say that during the ten generations from Noach until Avraham, He spoke to no one other than Avraham. Avraham’s commitment, to the point of self-sacrifice, was definitely the zenith of his life’s achievement. Chazal,…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich In Terumah, 5758

You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without you shall cover it.

The Aron’s connection with the Torah is obvious. Indeed, the arrangment of pure gold both within and without symbolizes Chazal’s dictum that a Torah scholar’s public behavior must be consistent with his inner character. He cannot profess one set of beliefs in his relationship with Hashem while acting in a manner unbecoming a person of his spiritual stature in his interaction with people. A talmid chacham is–and should be–the embodiment of Torah. This should be reflected in his total demeanor. The Talmud, Berachos 28a, relates that when Rabban Gamliel was the Nasi, prince, he decreed that any student who was…

Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich In Naso, 5758

He shall bring his offering to Hashem one unblemished sheep in its first year as an elevation offering, one unblemished ewe……..for a sin offering (6:14)

The Ramban explains why a nazir, who has taken it upon himself to live a limited period of time in sanctity and devotion, brings a sin-offering. One who has the ability to live appropriately should continue his abstinence from worldly pursuits and pleasure by lengthening his vow of nezirus. His decision to return to the world of the mundane, to physical pleasures and transitory aspirations, earns him the epithet of sinner. Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, questions Ramban’s statement. If one is considered a sinner for not extending his vow of nezirus, how much more so should one – who had…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bechukosai

And five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand. (25:8)

Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics understands that the ratio presented above is inconsistent. If five Jews can pursue a hundred enemies, then the ratio of one to twenty should translate into a hundred Jews pursuing two thousand. The pasuk, however, does not say that. It writes that one hundred Jews will pursue one thousand of the enemy! Rashi cites the Sifri that infers that when people work as a group, when more people are united in serving the Almighty, the consequences of their actions are much more significant. A mitzvah, when performed by a large group, has…

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“It is not by bread alone that man can make a life for himself, but that man can live by everything that comes from the mouth of Hashem.” (8:3)

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

“And Korach took/separated himself… They gathered together against Moshe and Aharon.” (16:1,3)

“Speak to the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael and say unto them, you shall be holy, for holy am I.” (19:2)

“The Kohen shall command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living birds, and cedarwood, and crimson thread and hyssop.” (14:4)

Avraham came forward and said, “Will You also stamp out the righteous along with the wicked?” (18:23)

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without you shall cover it.

He shall bring his offering to Hashem one unblemished sheep in its first year as an elevation offering, one unblemished ewe……..for a sin offering (6:14)

And five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand. (25:8)

YEARS

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