Achievement – Page 22 – Peninim on the Torah

“Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace. And it shall be unto him and to his children after him.” (25:12-13)

Pinchas’ zealous act averted the destruction of Klal Yisroel and restored Hashem’s Honor and Glory. His achievement exemplifies the deep devotion one should have towards Hashem, and the powerful results which even one individual who acts for the sake of Heaven can effect. Zealousness, a very noble and lofty trait, can become ignominious and reprehensible when its motives and goals are not proper and dignified, Hashem Himself attests to Pinchas’ pure intentions and rewards him everlasting and eternal reward for his actions. Pinchas’ actions, despite the possibility of their being viewed by some as an act of violence and hostility,…

Home -> 5751 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5751

“For the crown of his G-d is upon his head.” (6:7)

This degree of holiness attained by the nazir requires explanation. Should one be so exalted for abstaining from wine for thirty days? There are many individuals who abstain from wine and let their hair grow, and yet virtually remain on the same level of immorality and depravity as before. Rabbi Leib Chasman Zt”l explains that the principle virtue of the nazir lies in the thought and reflection which preceded his decision to become a nazir. His resolution to become a nazir comes as a result of a profound understanding of life, leading to a conclusion which enlightens him and changes…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5775

לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

Before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

The Torah begins with the creation of the world, the creation of mankind, and concludes with death – with the passing of our quintessential leader, Moshe Rabbeinu. The life cycle, from cradle to grave, is exactly that – a cycle. A man is born, lives out his life, and returns sometime later to his source. One ends where the other one starts. A perfect circle is complete in the sense that it unites the beginning with the end. Indeed, there is neither a beginning to a circle, nor is there an end. If one selects a specific point and designates…

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וימת שם משה עבד ד' בארץ מואב על פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, V'zos HaBrachah

And Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moav, by the mouth of Hashem. (34:5)

The underlying profundity of this pasuk is compelling. The greatest accolade that Moshe Rabbeinu earned for himself is eved Hashem, servant of Hashem. As a servant’s will is supplanted by the will of his master to the point that a servant does not have his own will, so, too, was it with Moshe. Actually, this should be the paradigm for all Jews to emulate – lived for the ratzon Hashem, the will of G-d. Hashem’s will, which was Moshe’s will, should also be ours. Concerning Moshe’s passing from this world “by the mouth of Hashem,” the Talmud Moed Katan 28a…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5775

ויהי ד' את יוסף ויהי איש מצליח... וירא אדניו כי ד' אתו וכל אשר הוא עשה ד' מצליח בידו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man… His master saw that Hashem is with him, and all that he would do Hashem would make successful in his hand. (39:2,3)

People go through life searching for success. They are seeking that unique elixir that will provide them with favorable achievement in all of their endeavors. Some are fortunate to find it; while, to others, it remains elusive. What is the key to success? Wherein does one find the passport to achievement? Yosef was successful. How did he do it? Rashi explains the phrase, ki Hashem ito, “Hashem was with him,” as Shem Shomayim shagar b’fiv, “The Name of Heaven was fluent in his mouth,” to mean that he would regularly refer to Hashem in conversation. The Midrash Tanchuma elaborates on…

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ויעשו... כאשר צוה ד' את משה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pekudei

And they made… as Hashem had commanded Moshe. (39:1)

The Torah emphasizes the fact that all of the work for the Mishkan was done according to Hashem’s command to Moshe Rabbeinu. This means that they followed the word of G-d to a “T.” One wonders concerning the superfluity of this statement. Is there a question for one moment that Hashem’s instructions would not be followed to the most minute detail? What, then, is the meaning of underscoring the people’s adherence to Hashem’s command to Moshe? Horav Meir Rubman, zl, derives a powerful lesson from here. Being Jewish means being completely, totally and unequivocally Jewish. “Almost” – “just about” –…

Home -> 5775 -> Tzav

ופתח אהל מועד תשבו יומם ולילה שבעת ימים ושמרתם את משמרת ד' ולא תמותו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5775

At the entrance of the Ohel Moed shall you dwell day and night for a seven day period, and you shall protect Hashem’s charge so that you will not die. (8:35)

The Chasam Sofer, as cited by U’masuk Ha’or, interprets this pasuk homiletically to teach us a lesson concerning man’s true focus in life. If a person lives his life in such a manner that he “dwells” in front of the Ohel Moed it means that he never forgets the most important principle of existence in this world: life does not go on forever. One day, each and every one of us will return “home,” from whence we came. If this awareness accompanies our every life’s endeavor, then we will merit to “protect Hashem’s charge, so that you (we) will not…

Home -> 5775 -> Tzav

ואת כל העדה הקהל אל פתח אהל מועד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5775

Gather the entire assembly to the entrance of the Ohel Moed. (8:3)

Rabbeinu Bachya writes that the ability of the entire eidah, Jewish congregation, to assemble in front of the Ohel Moed was miraculous. Hichzik ha’muat es ha’merubah, this was a case of the few supporting the many. Indeed, the Midrash quotes a dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and Hashem concerning this anomaly. Moshe asked, “Ribono shel olam, how can I place 600,000 men and 600,000 youths in front of the Ohel Moed?” Hashem replied, “Concerning this you are wondering? The Heavens were (originally) the size of the pupil of an eye; yet I ‘stretched’ it out to cover the entire world.” In…

Home -> 5775 -> Terumah

ועשית שנים כרבים זהב מקשה תעשה אתם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5775

You shall make two Keruvim of gold – hammered out shall you make them. (25:18)

Rashi teaches that the Keruvim had the image of young children. The Mishkan/Bais Hamikdash was the holiest place on the Jewish spiritual landscape. The Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, was the holiest place in the Sanctuary. The penultimate seat of holiness within the Kodesh HaKedoshim was the Keruvim which rested atop the Ketores, Cover, of the Aron Hakodesh. It was from there that Hashem’s Voice would emanate out to speak with Moshe Rabbeinu. The Keruvim had the image of children. In Sefer Bereishis, when the Torah relates Adam HaRishon’s expulsion from Gan Eden, two Keruvim stood at the entrance to…

Home -> 5775 -> Shemini

ויאמר משה אל אהרן הוא אשר דבר ד' לאמר בקרבי אקדש ועל פני כל העם אכבד וידם אהרן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5775

And Moshe said to Aharon: Of this did Hashem speak, saying: “I will be sanctified through those who are nearest Me; thus, I will honored before the entire people”, and Aharon was silent. (10:3)

Horav Shlomo Levinstein, Shlita, relates that he heard from Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, son of Horav Eliyahu Baruch Finkel, zl, that the Rosh Yeshivah told him the following thought two weeks prior to his petirah, untimely passing. The thought is a powerful insight into Aharon HaKohen’s reaction – or better, non reaction, to the tragic death of two of his sons, Nadav and Avihu. Rashi observes that following the tragedy, Moshe Rabbeinu rendered a powerful eulogy for his nephews. Moshe said to Aharon, “My brother, I knew that Hashem would sanctify His Sanctuary with His beloved close ones. I figured…

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Back to Home -> Pinchas ->

“Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace. And it shall be unto him and to his children after him.” (25:12-13)

“For the crown of his G-d is upon his head.” (6:7)

לעיני כל ישראל

Before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

וימת שם משה עבד ד' בארץ מואב על פי ד'

And Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moav, by the mouth of Hashem. (34:5)

ויהי ד' את יוסף ויהי איש מצליח... וירא אדניו כי ד' אתו וכל אשר הוא עשה ד' מצליח בידו

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man… His master saw that Hashem is with him, and all that he would do Hashem would make successful in his hand. (39:2,3)

ויעשו... כאשר צוה ד' את משה

And they made… as Hashem had commanded Moshe. (39:1)

ופתח אהל מועד תשבו יומם ולילה שבעת ימים ושמרתם את משמרת ד' ולא תמותו

At the entrance of the Ohel Moed shall you dwell day and night for a seven day period, and you shall protect Hashem’s charge so that you will not die. (8:35)

ואת כל העדה הקהל אל פתח אהל מועד

Gather the entire assembly to the entrance of the Ohel Moed. (8:3)

ועשית שנים כרבים זהב מקשה תעשה אתם

You shall make two Keruvim of gold – hammered out shall you make them. (25:18)

ויאמר משה אל אהרן הוא אשר דבר ד' לאמר בקרבי אקדש ועל פני כל העם אכבד וידם אהרן

And Moshe said to Aharon: Of this did Hashem speak, saying: “I will be sanctified through those who are nearest Me; thus, I will honored before the entire people”, and Aharon was silent. (10:3)

YEARS

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