Attitude – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

זכר אל תשכח את אשר הקצפת את ד' אלקיך במדבר ... ממרים הייתם עם ד'

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Remember, do not forget that you provoked Hashem, your G-d, in the wilderness… You have been rebels against Hashem. (9:7)

Moshe Rabbeinu lists some of the indiscretions and unacceptable behavior of Klal Yisrael during their wilderness journey. They are enjoined to remember, to never lose sight of these infractions. Their past sinful behavior must be expunged from their characters, lest it return to haunt them later. The only way to prevent recurrent problems is to ingrain in one’s mind the past, their deficiencies, and how they acted. Remembering the sin of the Golden Calf is on top of the list of iniquitous behavior which led to open rebellion. Thus, it is included among the Sheish Zechiros, Six Remembrances, incumbent upon…

Home -> 5783 -> Eikev

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

Horav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, offers an outstanding insight into the enjoinment that one fear Hashem. Every moment of one’s life one must ask himself, “What does Hashem ask of me – now?” An hour later, he should ask himself again, “Now, what does Hashem ask of me?” This is the depth of the meaning of v’atah, now. Every moment of one’s life, throughout every circumstance, the question that he should ask is: “What does the Almighty want of me now? How should I act in this situation?” Fear of Hashem is a way of life. One does not simply punch…

Home -> 5783 -> Va'eschanan

כבד את אביך ואת אמך... למען יאריכון ימיך ולמען ייטב לך

Sruly Schnair In Va'eschanan, 5783

Honor your father and your mother… so that your days will be lengthened and so that it will be good for you. (5:16)

The commandment to honor one’s parents is included in the Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments, which in and of itself indicates its significance. Indeed, it carries such weight that, when Klal Yisrael were still in Marah prior to receiving the Torah, they had already been commanded to observe this mitzvah. Furthermore, rarely does a mitzvah publicize its accompanying reward, as the Torah does regarding the mitzvah of kibbud av v’eim. Arichas yamim, longevity, is nothing to disdain. We should all merit such reward. The Tolner Rebbe, Shlita, related that he had heard from an elderly Jew about an incident that had…

Home -> Devarim -> 5783

אלה הדברים אשר דבר משה

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Devarim

These are the words that Moshe spoke. (1:1)

Rashi explains that devarim, words, is a reference to the words of rebuke that Moshe Rabbeinu conveyed to the Jewish people. He did not mince words, nor did he conceal the people’s infractions. He did, however, refer to their sins by allusion in order not to embarrass or offend them. When admonishing someone, it is vital that the rebuker use chochmah, wisdom, and seichel, common sense, or he will only succeed in turning off the subject of his reprimand. Rebuke is, or should be, motivated by love. Hashem reproves us as a father rebukes his errant son. The father cares…

Home -> 5783 -> Pinchas

“Take to yourself Yehoshua bin Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.” (27:18)

Sruly Schnair In Pinchas, 5783

קח לך את יהושע בן נון איש אשר רוח בו וסמכת את ידך עליו

In his commentary, Rashi notes the difference between Hashem’s instructions to Moshe Rabbeinu as to the manner of semichah, leaning/placing his hand on Yehoshua, and the actual performance in which Moshe placed both hands upon Yehoshua. Rashi writes: “He leaned his hands” – generously, much more than he had been commanded. For Hashem said to him, “And lean your hand, and he leaned with both hands – like a vessel which is full and brimming over and filled him generously with his wisdom.” Rashi clearly writes that Moshe gave extra wisdom of his own to Yehoshua. The Talmud (Bava Kamma…

Home -> 5783 -> Balak

ויאמר אל עבדי בלק אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5783

He (Bilaam) said to the servants of Balak, “If, Balak, will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

Rashi notes that, by speaking of a houseful of gold and silver – implying that if he could transgress the word of Hashem he would accept no less – Bilaam showed his true colors. He was arrogant and greedy, obsessed with furthering his immoral lifestyle. One of the well-known Mishnayos in Pirkei Avos addresses the deficient character traits of Bilaam ha’rasha, as opposed to those of Avraham Avinu. The thought of comparing the two is ludicrous, since Bilaam was, and remains, a symbol of greed and moral profligacy, and the actions of Avraham, the Patriarch of our nations, concerning the…

Home -> 5783 -> Korach

לא חמור אחד מהם נשאתי ולא הרעתי את אחד מהם

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5783

I have not taken even a donkey of theirs, nor have I wronged one of them. (16:15)

This is the sordid path of controversy. It begins with a simple dispute concerning a communal or congregational issue and quickly expands and erupts into character assassination. Moshe Rabbeinu says, “I took nothing from them. Even when I transported my wife and sons from Midyan, I neither expected nor received reimbursement.” He was traveling for the nation. His expenses should have been paid. He wanted nothing, understanding that, when a community seeks to impugn its leadership, its first salvo will be concerning money. He uses their hard-earned funds for his own personal benefit, etc. Moshe declares emphatically, “I took nothing…

Home -> 5783 -> Shelach

ויהי בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש מקושש עצים ביום השבת ... ויניחו אתו במשמר כי לא פרש מה יעשה לו

Sruly Schnair In Shelach, 5783

Bnei Yisrael were in the wilderness and they found a man gathering wood on Shabbos day…They placed him in custody because what should be done with him had not been clarified. (15:32,34)

Rashi explains that, in fact, they knew that one who desecrates Shabbos is liable for the death penalty. They did not know, however, which one of the four punishments should be meted out for chillul Shabbos. While they waited for Moshe Rabbeinu to issue his ruling, the perpetrator was remanded into custody. Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, quotes Horav Aharon Katzenelbogen, zl, who presents an insightful exposition concerning the mekoshesh’s lockup. Earlier in the parshah, the Torah relates the nation’s reaction to Yehoshua and Calev’s support of Eretz Yisrael. They disputed the other ten meraglim, spies, and contended that Eretz Yisrael…

Home -> 5783 -> Shelach

ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם אשר אתם זנים אחריהם

Sruly Schnair In Shelach, 5783

And not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray. (15:39)

Rashi explains that the heart and eyes are like the body’s spies, catalyzing a gravitation toward satisfying his animal nature. Human cognition is selective. As a result, it is influenced by improper thoughts. When one wants something, it suddenly becomes permissible. Desire has a way of limiting one’s ability to think properly. The heart and the mind procure for the body. The eye sees, the heart desires, the body follows through when it commits the sin. Having said this, we wonder why the heart’s desires precede the eye’s perception. The pasuk should have instructed us not to explore/probe after the…

Home -> 5783 -> Naso

והביא האיש את אשתו אל הכהן והביא את קרבנה עליה עשירית האיפה קמח שעורים לא יצוק עליו שמן ולא יתן עליו לבונה

Sruly Schnair In Naso, 5783

The man shall bring his wife to the Kohen, and he shall bring her offering for her, a tenth-eiphah of barley flour; he shall not pour oil over it and shall not put frankincense upon it. (5:15)

Her husband brings the Minchas Sotah, meal-offering of the wayward wife. It is not a normal offering in the sense that its ingredients are a reminder of her moral transgression. This minchah should invoke within her a confrontation with her profligate past, the activities which brought her here in the first place. All she has to do is confess and correct her ways. In the face of the terrifying fate which will be hers if she refuses to acknowledge her guilt, her obstinacy will be her downfall. Rather than offering a meal-offering consisting of flour, hers is made of barley,…

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Back to Home -> Eikev ->

זכר אל תשכח את אשר הקצפת את ד' אלקיך במדבר ... ממרים הייתם עם ד'

Remember, do not forget that you provoked Hashem, your G-d, in the wilderness… You have been rebels against Hashem. (9:7)

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

כבד את אביך ואת אמך... למען יאריכון ימיך ולמען ייטב לך

Honor your father and your mother… so that your days will be lengthened and so that it will be good for you. (5:16)

אלה הדברים אשר דבר משה

These are the words that Moshe spoke. (1:1)

“Take to yourself Yehoshua bin Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.” (27:18)

קח לך את יהושע בן נון איש אשר רוח בו וסמכת את ידך עליו

ויאמר אל עבדי בלק אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

He (Bilaam) said to the servants of Balak, “If, Balak, will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

לא חמור אחד מהם נשאתי ולא הרעתי את אחד מהם

I have not taken even a donkey of theirs, nor have I wronged one of them. (16:15)

ויהי בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש מקושש עצים ביום השבת ... ויניחו אתו במשמר כי לא פרש מה יעשה לו

Bnei Yisrael were in the wilderness and they found a man gathering wood on Shabbos day…They placed him in custody because what should be done with him had not been clarified. (15:32,34)

ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם אשר אתם זנים אחריהם

And not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray. (15:39)

והביא האיש את אשתו אל הכהן והביא את קרבנה עליה עשירית האיפה קמח שעורים לא יצוק עליו שמן ולא יתן עליו לבונה

The man shall bring his wife to the Kohen, and he shall bring her offering for her, a tenth-eiphah of barley flour; he shall not pour oil over it and shall not put frankincense upon it. (5:15)

YEARS

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