Achievement – Page 19 – Peninim on the Torah

זאת תהיה תורת המצורע

This shall be the law of the metzora. (14:2)

The tongue has no mind. It expresses the feelings that the individual has in his heart. A positive person, whose outlook on life and people is positive, invariably speaks only good – because this is what he sees. This is what he feels in his heart. A negative person, whose view on life and people is jaundiced, speaks lashon hora, evil speech, because this is all that he knows. In other words, the best protection against lashon hora is a positive outlook. A primary component for maintaining a positive view on people is to respect others. This is increasingly difficult…

Home -> 5774 -> Emor

ולקחתם לכם ביום הראשון פרי עץ הדר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5774

You shall take for yourself on the first day the fruit of a citron tree. (23:40)

Pri eitz hadar, “the fruit of a beautiful tree,” is commonly accepted as referring to the esrog tree. In Sefer Likutim, the Arizal says that the letters of the word esrog: aleph, taf, reish, gimmel form an acronym for the pasuk in Tehillim 36:12, Al tevoeini regel gaavah, “Let not the foot of arrogance come to me.” Horav Yaakov Galinsky, zl, explains this pragmatically. The pasuk in which David Hamelech deplores arrogance and prays that it not affect him in any way, is truly a pasuk fitting for the esrog. This could be termed the “esrog’s prayer,” for the esrog…

Home -> 5774 -> Eikev

לאהבה את ד' אלקיכם ללכת בכל דרכיו ולדבקה בו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5774

To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in all His ways and to cleave to Him. (11:22)

To follow in Hashem’s ways, to walk in His path, means to display the same loving compassion for all Jews, regardless of background, personality and religious attitude. Hashem is our Father, and, as such, turns away no one. On the contrary, it is we who turn away from Him. Horav Shlomo Levinstein, Shlita, relates the following episode. Horav Mordechai Rabinowitz is the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Oheiv Yisrael in Petach Tikvah. It is a school that caters to a high caliber of highly motivated students. Like so many good schools, it is very difficult to gain entrance to this yeshivah….

Home -> 5774 -> Chayei Sarah

ואברהם זקן בא בימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5774

Now Avraham was old, well on in years. (24:1)

The word zakein, old, implies that the individual has lived an increased number of days. Likewise, ba ba’yamim, well on in years, indicates that we are not talking about a young person. Zakein and ba ba’yamim are redundant to one another. Why are they both used in the same pasuk? Chazal explain that some people have experienced physical longevity, ziknah, but their days are incomplete. Likewise, there are those who age prematurely, although their length of days are actually short. Avraham Avinu’s ziknah, old age, was the result of a full life, well-lived in the service of the Almighty. The…

Home -> 5774 -> Beha'alosecha

ויאמרו האנשים ההמה... למה נגרע לבלתי הקריב את קרבן ד' במועדו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5774

Those men said to him… Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering at the appointed time? (9:7)

A group of people, who due to their being in a state of tumah, ritual impurity, were ineligible to bring the Korban Pesach, presented themselves before Moshe Rabbeinu, asking for a dispensation of some sort. Their desire to offer the Korban Pesach was so intense that they appealed to Moshe to somehow, someway, help them experience this milestone event. As a result of their burning desire to perform the mitzvah, Hashem made them agents through whom He revealed the mitzvah of celebrating Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach. Essentially, it was to be viewed as a makeup Pesach. This is the…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5774

ויתילדו על משפחתם לבית אבותם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Bamidbar

And they established their genealogy according to their families, according to the household of their fathers. (1:18)

The count was carried out according to tribe. Thus, it was required for everyone to establish his tribal lineage, either by written documentation or by the testimony of witnesses. Lineage was important in order to determine exactly where each individual belonged. Pedigree, however, should not become the barometer for judging people, for promoting success, for determining an individual’s potential or position. Success is earned; it is an achievement for which one toils, for which one must be personally worthy. “Surprisingly,” there are people who do not have yichus, exceptional pedigree. They are simple, regular, common people, who do what is…

Home -> 5759 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5759

When a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be contaminated for a period of seven days. (12:2)

The laws regarding the human being are consistent with those dealing with all other creatures. Rashi quotes the Midrash that notes that the creation of man mirrored the creation of animals and birds. In connection with this, the Midrash cites the pasuk in Tehillim (139:5), “Achor vokedem tzartani,” “Behind and before You have fortified me.” This pasuk can be read, “You have formed me,” employing the root word “yatzar“, creation, rather than “tzar” which means to fortify. The latter term is a reference to human creation, which took place both before and after that of other creatures. Man’s neshamah predated…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Ki Sisa

And the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods…The entire people removed the gold rings… He (Aharon) took it from their hands and bound it up in a cloth, and fashioned it into a molten calf. (32:1, 3,4)

One of the most grievous sins and tragic episodes in the history of our People is the chet ha’eigel, sin of the Golden Calf. What makes things worse is Aharon HaKohen’s involvement in its construction. Indeed, when Moshe questioned Aharon about his role in its creation, he responded that he was overwhelmed by the people. Hoping to create some delay, he had them bring their gold and jewelry to him. Regrettably, their response to his request was incredible. It always seems to be like this when people have the passion of sin in their hearts: nothing stands in their way. …

Home -> 5759 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5759

And Eisav saw that the daughters of Canaan were evil in the eyes of Yitzchak, his father…He took Machlas, the daughter of Yishmael…in addition to his wives, as a wife for himself. (28:8,9)

Thus ends part one of the narrative about Yaakov and Eisav. Many commentators have devoted much to telling about their relationship. Their apparent discord climaxed when Yaakov received the berachos in Eisav’s place. This incident provoked Eisav’s anger, and hatred toward Yaakov, to the point that Eisav took it upon himself to kill Yaakov. While Yaakov fled Eisav’s fury, Eisav decided to take another wife for himself. Does the Torah present this in accurate chronological sequence or simply as an historical vignette about Eisav? The Shem Mishmuel opines that Eisav’s decision to marry another wife was a critical component in…

Home -> 5759 -> Bereishis

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5759

Hashem turned to Hevel and to his offering…But to Kayin and to his offering He did not turn…This annoyed Kayin exceedingly…And Hashem said to Kayin, “Why are you annoyed?” (4:4,5,6)

Hashem is questioning Kayin about the source of his depression. Does not the Torah, however, in the preceding pasuk clearly state the reason for Kayin’s annoyance: Hashem’s rejection of his offerings. Is that not enough reason for one to be despondent? Horav Chaim Brisker, zl, gives a practical explanation to the query. Hashem asked Kayin, “Why are you really upset? Is it because your korban,offering, was not accepted, or is there a deeper reason, the fact that your brother’s korban was accepted?” Quite possibly Kayin’s dejection was not due to his own rejection by the Almighty. Perhaps the real problem…

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זאת תהיה תורת המצורע

This shall be the law of the metzora. (14:2)

ולקחתם לכם ביום הראשון פרי עץ הדר

You shall take for yourself on the first day the fruit of a citron tree. (23:40)

לאהבה את ד' אלקיכם ללכת בכל דרכיו ולדבקה בו

To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in all His ways and to cleave to Him. (11:22)

ואברהם זקן בא בימים

Now Avraham was old, well on in years. (24:1)

ויאמרו האנשים ההמה... למה נגרע לבלתי הקריב את קרבן ד' במועדו

Those men said to him… Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering at the appointed time? (9:7)

ויתילדו על משפחתם לבית אבותם

And they established their genealogy according to their families, according to the household of their fathers. (1:18)

When a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be contaminated for a period of seven days. (12:2)

And the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods…The entire people removed the gold rings… He (Aharon) took it from their hands and bound it up in a cloth, and fashioned it into a molten calf. (32:1, 3,4)

And Eisav saw that the daughters of Canaan were evil in the eyes of Yitzchak, his father…He took Machlas, the daughter of Yishmael…in addition to his wives, as a wife for himself. (28:8,9)

Hashem turned to Hevel and to his offering…But to Kayin and to his offering He did not turn…This annoyed Kayin exceedingly…And Hashem said to Kayin, “Why are you annoyed?” (4:4,5,6)

YEARS

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