Achievement – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

The Torah is about to enumerate Moshe and Aharons’ offspring. The pasuk, however, mentions only the sons of Aharon. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 96, Chazal infer that one who teaches Torah to someone else’s children is regarded as if he has begotten them. Moshe was their rebbe; he taught them the Torah, which would sustain them. He was like their father. This idea applies to anyone who imparts his Torah knowledge to others. Our influence is far-reaching; our ability to inspire is unlimited. Moshe was mentor and spiritual father to Aharon’s sons. What about the rest of Klal Yisrael? …

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5777

ועזבני והפר את בריתי אשר כרתי אתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Vayeilech

And it will forsake Me and annul My covenant that I have sealed with it (31:16).

From their nascency as the “spiritual” heirs to the European and Russian Haskalah, Enlightenment movement, the secular Zionists who undermined the Orthodox Yishuv haYashan, Old Yishuv (settlement in Yerushalayim), continue to lay the blame for every one of our People’s troubles at the doorstep of the Orthodox, Torah-observant Jew. Founded upon misguided principles, and nurtured in hypocrisy and avarice, this movement is Jewish only in name. Insidiously, it has attempted to subvert every achievement of the Orthodox – accomplishments that were gained with blood, sweat and tears. They too sacrificed, but for personal ideals, not Torah values. Nonetheless, the blame…

Home -> 5777 -> Korach

ויקח קרח

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5777

Korach took, (separated himself). (16:1)

Korach had it all, but, it was not enough for him. He wanted more, or he simply did not want Moshe Rabbeinu to have it. Korach was a clever dissident who was able to attract a powerful following of supporters. First, he told the people that he was acting on their behalf. Since he already had it all, he had no need for personal leadership. He was taking a stand for “others.” He felt that the people were being exploited, and he was coming to their rescue. Kol ha’eidah kulam kedoshim, “The entire congregation is holy”; “Hashem is in their…

Home -> 5777 -> Eikev

את ד' אלקיך תירא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5777

Hashem, your G-d, shall you fear. (10:20)

Fear is a powerful word which connotes various emotions, from respect to anxiety, love to awe. Since Hashem is beyond anything we can imagine, the definition of fear with regard to the Almighty must also be unique. The notion of comparing the fear one should have for a talmid chacham, Torah scholar, to that which one should have for Hashem begs elucidation. The Midrash Tanchuma (Beha’alosecha) teaches us that the es, conjunctive word, which precedes (es) Hashem Elokecha (tira) instructs us to fear one who has mastered the Torah. (Clearly, such mastery involves much more than erudition. It applies to…

Home -> 5777 -> Eikev

ואתפלל אל ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5777

I prayed to Hashem. (9:26)

The effect of prayer can never be overstated. We have no idea of its power: to alter a decree; to incur favor; to demonstrate our love for the Almighty in recognizing that it is all in His hands and that, without His constant will, we are nothing. We think of prayer as requesting something positive. After all, why would anyone ask for something bad to occur? The following story is a wake-up call, but it is the punch line that really delivers an inspirational message. A distinguished rav/motivational speaker was dispatched to speak to a group of irreligious Jews in…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5777

אם בחקתי תלכו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Bechukosai

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

Rashi interprets “following” in Hashem’s decree as, Shetiheyu ameilim baTorah, “You will toil in Torah; engage in intensive Torah study.” If one studies Torah in a lackadaisical manner, it undermines the importance of Torah. One does not take chances; his mind will not wander when he is holding dynamite. He will be very careful. Likewise, one who lacks the respect for the Torah as manifest by his lack of intensity, will ultimately reject the Torah and everything for which it stands. Horav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz, zl, was a gadol, Torah giant, whose ameilus, toil, was evident when he gave shiur,…

Home -> 5777 -> Balak

מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנותיך ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5777

How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Yisrael. (24:5)

Chazal teach that the word ohalecha, your tents, alludes to the study halls, and mishkenosecha, your dwelling places, alludes to the shuls. The similes of tents and dwelling places have found fertile interpretation among the Torah’s commentators. We will cite a few before suggesting our own. The Shearis Menachem (Parashas Vayishlach) wonders why we commence our daily prayers with a statement made by the wicked pagan prophet, Bilaam. He explains that Bilaam made this remark after observing the tznius, moral modesty, of the Jewish people, manifested by each tribe living distinct from one another; the doorways of each home not…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ha'azinu

Remember the days of old, understand the years of each generation. (32:7)

Remembrance is a major part of Jewish service to Hashem. Much of our tradition is based upon remembering what once was – our highs and lows, joys and travails. Most important, however, is the ability to see the Yad Hashem, guiding Hand of G-d, throughout all that occurs. The Bostoner Rebbe, zl, put remembrance into perspective when he said, “Remembrance is important, but we must know what to remember. Even concerning those tragedies closest to our own time, such as the Holocaust, are we to remember the pain – or the self-sacrifice – what its victims died for – or…

Home -> 5771 -> Shoftim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5771

The Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O’ Yisrael, today you are coming near to the battle against your enemies; let your heart not be faint; do not be afraid; do not panic; and do not break down before them.” (20:2,3)

There is a well-known passage in the Talmud Berachos 5a which addresses the strategy one should employ upon being confronted by man’s greatest enemy from within: the yetzer hara, evil inclination. Chazal give us four options which, based upon a person’s spiritual level, should assist him in staving off the yetzer hara’s crippling influence. The first approach is yargiz yetzer tov al yetzer hara, agitate one’s good inclination against his evil inclination. Take the yetzer head on, using the good inclination within oneself to overwhelm the evil. If this does not prove effective, Chazal advise engaging in Torah study. If this…

Home -> 5771 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5771

You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

The words V’achalta v’savata, “You will eat and you will be satisfied,” are mentioned twice in this Parsha: in the above pasuk, and later in (11:15). There is one difference, however, the above pasuk has an added word: u’beirachta, “and you will bless [Hashem].” In the second pasuk, the words V’achalta v’savata are followed in the next pasuk by, He’shamru la’chem pen yifteh l’vavchem v’sartem, “Beware for yourselves, lest your heart be seduced and you will turn astray.” Wherein lay the difference between the two phrases? Why is the second one followed with, “beware,” while the first concludes, “you will…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5758 ->

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

ועזבני והפר את בריתי אשר כרתי אתו

And it will forsake Me and annul My covenant that I have sealed with it (31:16).

ויקח קרח

Korach took, (separated himself). (16:1)

את ד' אלקיך תירא

Hashem, your G-d, shall you fear. (10:20)

ואתפלל אל ד'

I prayed to Hashem. (9:26)

אם בחקתי תלכו

If you will follow My decrees. (26:3)

מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנותיך ישראל

How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Yisrael. (24:5)

Remember the days of old, understand the years of each generation. (32:7)

The Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O’ Yisrael, today you are coming near to the battle against your enemies; let your heart not be faint; do not be afraid; do not panic; and do not break down before them.” (20:2,3)

You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!