Attitude – Page 101 – Peninim on the Torah

“The Kohen shall inscribe these curses on a scroll and erase it into the bitter waters.” (5:23)

Although it is forbidden to erase Hashem’s Sacred Name, and one who does so is punished with malkos, lashes, Hashem commanded that His Name be erased in order to engender peace and harmony between man and his wife. Domestic tranquility is the anchor of the Jewish family unit, so that one must go to all lengths to enhance the unity of the marriage bond. Throughout history, we find that this was a priority of many of our gedolim, Torah leaders. Most recently, an individual of the calibre of Horav Moshe Aharon Stern, z.l., invested endless time and energy to assure that…

Home -> 5762 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5762

“Any man whose wife deviates from the right path.” (5:12)

The sotah, wayward wife, has deviated from the prescribed moral path of a Jew by acting inappropriately and cavorting with another man after being admonished by her husband to desist from this relationship. The word sotah may also be derived from shoteh, which denotes a fool/an individual who has deviated from the normal psychological profile. The shoteh has no emotional control. The sotah has acted in a manner that bespeaks a breakdown of her mental faculties. Indeed, Chazal say that one does not sin unless he has first had a mental lapse. To deviate morally is not simply a shortcoming in…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Bamidbar

“Each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household shall Bnei Yisrael encamp, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp.” (2:2)

After Klal Yisrael was counted, Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu concerning their order of encampment, each tribe in a specific place with its own individual banner. This order was not merely good advice; it was a Divine edict that no member of the tribe of Zevulun reside next to the tribe of Yissaschar, etc. Hashem determined who should be neighbors with whom. Afterwards, Hashem made known where the ligyono shel Melech, King’s legion, Shevet Levi, should camp. The three Levite families are listed according to the place of their encampment – one directly to the north of the Mishkan; one to the…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Bechukosai

“Then they will confess their sin… and also for having behaved toward Me with casualness. I, too, will behave toward them with casualness.” (26:40- 41)

If they confess their sins, why does Hashem say, “I, too, will behave toward them with casualness”? Why does He not accept their repentance? Horav Shimon Schwab, z.l., explains that when one peruses the parsha, he will note that the underlying sin for which Klal Yisrael is held in contempt is the sin of keri, casualness. Their lackadaisical attitude to everything is what led to their downfall. Yet, when they confess, they admit only to avonam, their actual sin. They also happen to confess to their casualness – disregarding the fact that it was specifically this apathetic observance that catalyzed their…

Home -> Behar -> 5762

וכי ימוך אחיך ומטה ידו עמך והחזקת בו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Behar

“If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him.” (25:35)

The responsibility to help a Jew in financial need is a serious one. We live in a time when financial struggling has, regrettably, become a way of life for many. Throughout Jewish history, there have always been those who give and those who take. Due to circumstances beyond our control, today’s times are creating more who are relegated to take and fewer who are able to give. Yet, the Jewish people have always risen to their appellation of being rachamanim bnei rachamanim, compassionate sons of compassionate ones. We help, many doing so beyond their means. Let us peruse some of the…

Home -> 5762 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5762

“You shall love your fellow as yourself.” (19:18)

Toras Kohanim cites Rabbi Akiva who says that this is the fundamental rule of the Torah. The Mizrachi cites the Talmud in Shabbos 31a in which Hillel says, “What is hateful to you, do not do unto others.” This is what Hillel told the gentile who wanted to convert to Judaism. If the Torah conveys this mitzvah in a positive light, encouraging us to love our fellow, why do Chazal seek an interpretation that emphasizes and focuses on the negative? Horav Simchah Scheps, z.l., cites Horav Yerucham Levovitz, z.l., who explains the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos 3:2 in the following manner:…

Home -> 5762 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5762

“This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification: he shall be brought to the Kohen.” (14:2)

The Kohen has the first and last word in regard to negaim, plagues. Toras Kohanim states that it is a gezeiras haKasuv, Biblical edict, that the rendering of tumah and taharah, impurity or purity, is solely in the hands of the Kohanim. Sforno adds that the Kohanim are the ones who teach and guide the people in the spiritual dimension. Interfacing with them all will encourage the metzora, afflicted sinner, to repent and mend his ways. While the Kohen is the decisor concerning negaim, Chazal say that “one can see/inspect all negaim, except his own.” Even a simple, clean-cut plague cannot…

Home -> 5762 -> Shemini

ואת אלה תשקצו מן העוף לא יאכלו... ואת החסידה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5762

“These shall you abominate from among the birds, they may not be eaten…the chasidah.” (11:13,19)

What a beautiful name – chasidah! Rashi says that the chasidah truly was a bird that performed chesed, kindness – with members of its own specie. This is not an admirable trait. We Jews do not believe in selective, discriminatory, chesed. Rashi’s use of the word chavrosehah, its “friends”, seems to lend itself to a deeper thought. The term chaver/chibur means connection. When two people are connected with each other, they are considered chaveirim. The connection is of an equal and positive nature. There is something in common between the two. A reyah is a stronger form of friendship. In any…

Home -> -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav

“If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering.” (7:12)

The imperative to pay gratitude to Hashem Yisborach and to everyone that benefits us is a compelling one. Fortunate is he who is able to show that appreciation. I have been writing about hakoras ha’tov – recognizing the benefit we receive and demonstrating that recognition – for many years, but I never thought I would publicly convey my personal hakoras ha’tov to HaKadosh Baruch Hu Shehechiyani v’Kimani, u’Gemalani Kol Tuv. Chazal teach us that the Korban Todah was accompanied by forty loaves of bread, so that the beneficiary would be “encouraged” to invite people in order to relate Hashem’s chassodim, kindnesses,…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

נפש כי תחטא ומעלה מעל בד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayikra

“If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem.” (5:21)

How does one relate to his non-observant brethren? While there are certainly various approaches and responses to this question, Horav Meir Shapiro, z.l., the famous Lubliner Rav and founder of the Daf HaYomi , study of one blatt, page, of Talmud daily, gave the following response. A businessman once lent a large sum of money to his friend, who later went bankrupt. There was no way he could pay back the loan. In such a situation, the lender is willing to take anything that he can, regardless of its value or significance. Whatever he is able to put his hands on…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Naso ->

“The Kohen shall inscribe these curses on a scroll and erase it into the bitter waters.” (5:23)

“Any man whose wife deviates from the right path.” (5:12)

“Each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household shall Bnei Yisrael encamp, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp.” (2:2)

“Then they will confess their sin… and also for having behaved toward Me with casualness. I, too, will behave toward them with casualness.” (26:40- 41)

וכי ימוך אחיך ומטה ידו עמך והחזקת בו

“If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him.” (25:35)

“You shall love your fellow as yourself.” (19:18)

“This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification: he shall be brought to the Kohen.” (14:2)

ואת אלה תשקצו מן העוף לא יאכלו... ואת החסידה

“These shall you abominate from among the birds, they may not be eaten…the chasidah.” (11:13,19)

“If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering.” (7:12)

נפש כי תחטא ומעלה מעל בד'

“If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem.” (5:21)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!