Achievement – Page 23 – Peninim on the Torah

והיתה לי ולזרעו אחריו ברית כהונת עולם

And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal Priesthood. (25:13)

Up until that time, only Aharon HaKohen and his sons had been inducted into the Priesthood. Any additional offspring who would be born into the family would be “born Kohanim.” Pinchas was already born; thus, he was not to be included in the Priesthood. As a result of his decisive act of zealousness, he was granted a place in the Priesthood, a place for himself and his offspring. The Zohar HaKadosh questions Pinchas’ induction into the Priesthood, since he had just killed a Jew. We have a rule that a Kohen who takes a life is not permitted to serve….

Home -> 5775 -> Naso

ואיש את קדשיו לו יהיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5775

A man’s holies shall be his. (5:10)

The Chafetz Chaim, zl, was wont to say that the above pasuk teaches us that an object or endeavor which a person dedicates/consecrates for sacred use is what actually belongs to him, and this is what ultimately accompanies him to the eternal world of Olam Habba, the World to Come. This means that the only objects/endeavors that we may call “ours” are those which are linked to a spiritual goal. Otherwise, we cannot consider it to belong to us. Moreover, we should not rely on others to carry out our responsibilities. True, many wonderful and generous people are around who…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5775

האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמרי פי. וערףכמטר לקחי תיזל כטל אמרתי כשעירים עלי דשא וכרבבים עלי עשב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Ha'azinu

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And may the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew; like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass. (32:1,2)

Horav Yaakov Moshe Charlop, zl, observes the reality of two students of the same ability and similar qualities entering a yeshivah program; they remain in the yeshivah the same length of time, both studying diligently. Yet, one emerges as a gadol b’Yisrael, Torah giant, while the other one leaves as a learned Jew, fully proficient in Torah erudition, but does not achieve gadlus, greatness, in Torah. What is the difference between them? The rav explains that it is all dependent upon one’s ability to attend. The more attention one pays to a subject, the more he throws himself into a…

Home -> Devarim -> 5775

ודי זהב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Devarim

And Di Zahav. (1:1)

Sefer Devarim is the last will and testament of Moshe Rabbeinu to his beloved nation. Concerned lest they succumb to the blandishments of the pagan nations which inhabited Canaan, Moshe spoke words of rebuke to them, pointing out areas of deficiency in their natural/national character which must be rectified. Rather than mention these sins explicitly – due to his concern about a negative reaction – he alluded to them by employing names of places which did not actually exist. These names allude to a variety of indiscretions, and areas in which they mutinied against Hashem. Di Zahav refers to the…

Home -> 5775 -> Chukas

ויקחו אליך פרה אדומה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5775

And they shall take to you a Red Cow. (19:2)

The Parah Adumah, Red Cow (heifer), is considered the quintessential chok, mitzvah whose reason defies human rationale. There is an aspect to this mitzvah, which although paradoxical in nature, is symbolically perceivable. Indeed, at first glance, the Parah Adumah incorporates two opposites. On the one hand, it must be totally red: even two black hairs render it invalid. This is puzzling, since the color red is usually identified with sin. Red is the symbol of blood. The Navi Yeshayahu (1:18) says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as red as…

Home -> 5775 -> Chayei Sarah

ואברהם זקן בא בימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5775

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

Did Avraham Avinu suddenly become old? The Midrash Tanchuma teaches that when Sarah Imeinu died, Avraham began to age. Horav Mordechai Eliyahu, zl, explains that as long as Sarah stood by the Patriarch’s side, he did not sense that he had aged. She encouraged and spurred him to continue his holy work. When his life’s companion, his major source of inspiration, was taken from him, Avraham no longer had by his side that spiritual force that motivated him to maintain his youthful endeavors. The Rishon L’Tzion adds that this unique ability to galvanize the individual to aspire for greater success…

Home -> 5775 -> Beshalach

ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם ולא נחם אלקים דרך ארץ פלשתים...

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5775

And it came to be when Pharaoh sent out the people that G-d did not lead them by the land of the Plishtim. (13:17)

Developing a relationship/bond with Hashem is a process. It does not just happen. There are ups and downs and challenges to our faith which we must overcome. Some do so successfully; others do not. In an inspirational and informative thesis, Horav Tzadok HaKohen, zl, (Pri Tzaddik) elucidates an insightful comment made by the Zohar HaKadosh concerning the opening pesukim of this parsha. Parashas Beshalach begins with the word Vayehi, “And it came to be.” Chazal teach that this word imparts a fundamental lesson in Biblical exegesis. Whenever the word vayehi appears in the Torah it conveys a message of sorrow….

Home -> 5775 -> Beha'alosecha

וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Rashi explains the meaning behind the word, V’zeh, and this, which seems to imply that Hashem in some way demonstrated to Moshe Rabbeinu how the Menorah should appear. Apparently, this is exactly what happened. Moshe had difficulty grasping the image of the Menorah. Hashem presented a visual rendition of the Menorah, pointing to it, as if to say V’zeh, “And this” (is how I want the Menorah to look). Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, compares this to two amateurs who were given the tools and materials to build a house. One neophyte had the common sense to realize that trial and…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5776

ולא קם נביא עוד בישראל כמשה אשר ידעו ד' פנים אל פנים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, V'zos HaBrachah

Never again has there been in Yisrael a prophet like Moshe, whom Hashem had known face to face. (34:10)

Moshe Rabbeinu merited an outstanding epitaph: the greatest prophet; an individual who spoke panim el panim, face to face, with Hashem. Yet, despite these accolades, Moshe was considered the most humble person to walk the face of the earth. To maintain one’s humility in the face of such incredible, singular praise is in and of itself an uncommon virtue. Surely, Moshe was acutely aware of his eminence. How did he maintain such humility? Veritably, the question applies to so many of our gedolim, Torah giants. These were men of unusual brilliance, who achieved unprecedented heights in Torah achievement. Yet, they…

Home -> 5776 -> Vaeira

והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים והצלתי אתכם... וגאלתי אתכם... ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם, והייתי לכם לאלקים וידעתם כי אני ד' אלקיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5776

“I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt. I shall rescue you… I shall redeem you… I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a G-d to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt.” (6:6,7)

Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, observes that it is only after V’lakachti eschem li l’am, “I shall take you to Me for a people,” which is a reference to Kabbolas HaTorah, Accepting the Torah, that the Torah follows up with V’yidaatem ki Ani Hashem, “And you will know that I am your G-d Hashem, Who takes you out.” Until we received the Torah, we viewed life’s occurrences, even the spectacular miracles that overwhelmed Egypt, as supernatural events – but, we did not equate them with Hashem, nor did they bring us any closer to Him. It was after we donned the…

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והיתה לי ולזרעו אחריו ברית כהונת עולם

And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal Priesthood. (25:13)

ואיש את קדשיו לו יהיו

A man’s holies shall be his. (5:10)

האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמרי פי. וערףכמטר לקחי תיזל כטל אמרתי כשעירים עלי דשא וכרבבים עלי עשב

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And may the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew; like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass. (32:1,2)

ודי זהב

And Di Zahav. (1:1)

ויקחו אליך פרה אדומה

And they shall take to you a Red Cow. (19:2)

ואברהם זקן בא בימים

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

ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם ולא נחם אלקים דרך ארץ פלשתים...

And it came to be when Pharaoh sent out the people that G-d did not lead them by the land of the Plishtim. (13:17)

וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

ולא קם נביא עוד בישראל כמשה אשר ידעו ד' פנים אל פנים

Never again has there been in Yisrael a prophet like Moshe, whom Hashem had known face to face. (34:10)

והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים והצלתי אתכם... וגאלתי אתכם... ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם, והייתי לכם לאלקים וידעתם כי אני ד' אלקיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים

“I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt. I shall rescue you… I shall redeem you… I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a G-d to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt.” (6:6,7)

YEARS

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