Achievement – Page 21 – Peninim on the Torah

ובני ישראל אכלו את המן ארבעים שנה...את המן אכלו עד באם אל קצה ארץ כנען

Bnei Yisrael ate the manna for forty years…They ate the manna until their arrival at the border of the land of Canaan. (16:35)

In the Mechilta, Chazal teach that, Lo nitnah Torah lidrosh ela l’ochlei man, “The Torah was given to be expounded only by mann-eaters.” This means that there were positive reasons for the Torah to have been given to Klal Yisrael while they were in the midst of their forty-year sojourn to the Promised Land. The wilderness was an integral part of this experience. The Torah had to be given in the desolate wilderness. It is not just because Egypt’s prevailing environment was filled with spiritual bankruptcy and defilement. It was because to live in the desert is to defy the…

Home -> 5773 -> Bereishis

לא טוב היות האדם לבדו אעשה לו עזר כנגדו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5773

It is not good that man be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him. (2:18)

The Torah clearly states that woman was created for the specific purpose of helping her husband. There are two ways to provide help for a person: the individual in need of assistance is aware of his need and understands that he cannot do it alone; the individual is unaware of his need– in fact, he thinks that he needs nothing and no one. In the latter circumstance, the helper must first make the individual aware of his own needs. Likewise, there are two forms of challengers and challenges. In one situation, the individual perceives the challenger as a threat and…

Home -> Behar -> 5773

והארץ לא תימכר לצמיתות כי לי הארץ כי גרים ותושבים אתם עמדי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Behar

The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; For you are sojourners and residents with Me. (25:23)

One who delves into the mitzvos of Shemittah and Yoveil will infer that their motif is to teach man that he lacks ownership of the land – and, for that matter, of anything. Man is temporary; life is as fleeting as the moment. We are here by the grace of G-d, and we had better live our lives like that. The Torah wants us to acknowledge that L’Hashem ha’aretz u’meloah, teival v’yoshvei vah, “To Hashem (belongs) the earth and its fullness, the inhabited land and those who dwell in it” (Tehillim 24:1). Man walks the earth thinking that it is…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

Humility is built upon a person’s assessment of himself. It has nothing to do with his being able to speak up or take a stand on behalf of what is right. A humble person is well aware of his personal ability and successes in life. He just feels that he could have done so much more. As far as his ability is concerned, he considers himself lacking in achievement. With his G-d-given talents, he should have been that much greater. As a result of this self-assessment, one carries himself in a manner incongruous with that of a person who is…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Ha'azinu

“And (then) Yeshurun waxed fat, (as often as you waxed fat, you became obese and overcome with fat) and (then) it forsook the G-d who made it.” (32:15)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., notes that this is the first time that the name irah, straight and morally upright, is mentioned. This word designates and defines Bnei Yisrael according to the ideal of its moral mandate. This implies that Bnei Yisrael should be “yashar,” straight, never deviating from the correct path of service to the Almighty. Hashem desires that we ascend to the summit of achievement in the dual heights of human aims; the highest of material good fortune and spiritual/moral perfection. We are to serve as an illuminating example to the secular world that a life devoted entirely to…

Home -> 5753 -> Ki Savo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5753

“These shall stand to bless the people . . . and these shall stand for the curse . . . and the Leviim shall speak and say . . . ” (27:12,13,14)

Rashi cites the Talmud in Sotah 32a that describes the procedure for giving the blessings and curses. Six tribes ascended to the summit of Har Gerizim, and six tribes ascended to the summit of Har Eival. The Kohanim and Leviim stood below in the middle. The Leviim turned toward Har Gerizim and recited the blessing, while both groups responded with Amen. Afterwards, this same procedure was followed reciting the curses, but this time they faced Har Eival. Horav M. Shternbuch, Shlita, suggests a profound lesson to be derived from this pasuk. The tribe of Levi received no portion in Eretz…

Home -> 5753 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5753

“Forty (stripes) he may give him, he shall not exceed.” (25:3)

Rashi explains that the number forty is not accurate, since he only receives thirty-nine lashes. Various explanations are offered by the commentators to explain why the Torah chose to write the number forty when — in reality — it should read only thirty-nine. The Divrei Yecheskel offers an explanation which carries within it a profound message. Man must realize that, regardless of one’s level of achievement, it is inconceivable to attain the degree of sublime purity necessary to stand before Hashem. Likewise, whatever our lot in life, it is still not sufficient compensation for that which we “owe” Hashem. Nonetheless,…

Home -> 5753 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5753

“After Hashem your G-d you shall walk, and Him you shall fear, and His mitzvos you shall keep, and unto His voice you shall listen, and Him you shall serve.” (13:5)

In Parashas Eikav (10:20) the Torah makes a similar statement, “You shall fear Hashem, worship Him, and cling to Him.” One idea distinguishes these two seemingly redundant pesukim. The first pasuk is written is the singular, whereas the pasuk in our parsha is written in the plural form. This implies two different audiences. Horav A.M. M’Gur, z.l., offers the following explanation for the apparent redundancy and change in focus. Under stable conditions, each individual can concentrate upon developing and enhancing his own spirituality, even in seclusion. During times of spiritual turbulence, however, the moral fiber of society deteriorates and blasphemers…

Home -> 5753 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5753

“And you shall set the blessing upon Mount Gerizim and the curse upon Mount Eival.” (11:29)

Why did Hashem designate two distinct mountains for curse and blessing? Would it not have been equally effective to have both blessing and curse upon the same mountain? Indeed, were not the Leviim the ones who stood between both mountains and recited both blessings and curses? The Kehilas Yitzchak explains that Hashem could have understandably issued blessing and curse from the same mountain. He wanted, however, to teach us a valuable lesson. The place from which goodness and blessing emanates must be separate from the place which breeds evil and curse. A Jew should seek to go to such a…

Home -> 5751 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5751

“Now I know that you are a G-d fearing man”. (22:12)

Avrohom was tested by Hashem with ten trials, each one more difficult that the other. The tenth and most difficult one was the Akeidas Yitzchok. It was only after Avrohom passed this test that Hashem said to him, “Now I know that you are a G-d fearing man.” One may ask, what of Yitzchok’s part in this test? Yitzchok’s achievement in this test was awesome! His performance prior and during the actual Akeida remains as an everlasting merit for the Jewish people. Why then is the trial aspect of the Akeida not ascribed to Yitzchok as well? Yitzchok was ready…

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ובני ישראל אכלו את המן ארבעים שנה...את המן אכלו עד באם אל קצה ארץ כנען

Bnei Yisrael ate the manna for forty years…They ate the manna until their arrival at the border of the land of Canaan. (16:35)

לא טוב היות האדם לבדו אעשה לו עזר כנגדו

It is not good that man be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him. (2:18)

והארץ לא תימכר לצמיתות כי לי הארץ כי גרים ותושבים אתם עמדי

The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine; For you are sojourners and residents with Me. (25:23)

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

“And (then) Yeshurun waxed fat, (as often as you waxed fat, you became obese and overcome with fat) and (then) it forsook the G-d who made it.” (32:15)

“These shall stand to bless the people . . . and these shall stand for the curse . . . and the Leviim shall speak and say . . . ” (27:12,13,14)

“Forty (stripes) he may give him, he shall not exceed.” (25:3)

“After Hashem your G-d you shall walk, and Him you shall fear, and His mitzvos you shall keep, and unto His voice you shall listen, and Him you shall serve.” (13:5)

“And you shall set the blessing upon Mount Gerizim and the curse upon Mount Eival.” (11:29)

“Now I know that you are a G-d fearing man”. (22:12)

YEARS

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