Attitude – Page 31 – Peninim on the Torah

כי דור תהפכת המה בנים לא אמן בם

For they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them. (32:20)

When we note that a generation has reversed Hashem’s “mood” from benevolence to anger, we observe that Hashem has raised them to be good, but they have spurned His upbringing – something which is quite apparent in the manner in which they act. Moshe Rabbeinu rebukes the nation for rejecting the Torah, whose purpose it is to teach/educate them. From their actions, it is obvious that they are far from achieving this goal. This is difficult to understand, considering that the Torah is chinuch, educative, from beginning to end. How is it that the Torah did not achieve its mission?…

Home -> 5778 -> Ki Savo

בבוקר תאמר מי יתן ערב ובערב תאמר מי יתן בוקר מפחד לבבך

Sruly Schnair In Ki Savo, 5778

In the morning you will say, “Who can give back last night?” And in the evening you will say, “Who can give back this morning?” for the fright of your heart. (28:67)

Rashi explains this practically, with conditions deteriorating on a daily basis to the point that the anguish of today will be so painful it will make one yearn for the suffering of yesterday. This can also refer to those who wake up too late to realize that the life which they led yesterday (in the past) was the precursor to the tzaros, troubles, which they experience today. Whether it be satisfaction with one’s personal spiritual growth or the lack of nachas, satisfaction and pleasure, derived from one’s children – nothing happens in a vacuum. The decisions that we make today…

Home -> 5778 -> Ki Savo

והיית ממשש בצהרים כאשר ימשש העור באפלה

Sruly Schnair In Ki Savo, 5778

You shall grope at noon, as the blind man gropes in the darkness. (28:29)

The Yalkut (also Talmud Megillah 24b) questions the implication of this curse. Does it matter to the blind person whether it is dark or not? He does not see anyway. Rabbi Yosi explains that he once had an experience which provided an answer for him. It was late one night when he saw a blind man walking down the dark street with a torch in his hand. “I questioned him, ‘What is the torch to you?’ He replied, ‘When the torch is in my hand people see me and prevent me from falling into pits.’” What a powerful lesson for…

Home -> 5778 -> Ki Seitzei

זכור את אשר עשה לך עמלך

Sruly Schnair In Ki Seitzei, 5778

Remember what Amalek did to you. (25:17)

What did Amalek really do to us? They came after us three times: in Refidim; the Maapilim, after the spies; following the death of Aharon HaKohen. There were casualties, and every Jewish soul whose life is cut short is worth all of our enemy – and more. Nonetheless, we have been persecuted and hounded, murdered like animals led to the slaughter; from the Egyptians who persecuted us for 210 years, who slaughtered our babies, to Titus, Nevuchadnetzer, Crusades, Inquisition, hundreds of pogroms, Chemelniki, and finally the cataclysmic Holocaust, which destroyed one third of our nation – yet we are not…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Pekudei

“And they made the holy vestments … as Hashem had commanded Moshe.” (39:1)

The phrase “As Hashem had commanded Moshe,” is written eighteen times in the parsha. Chazal note the Torah’s emphasis on the people’s strict compliance with Hashem’s command. We may wonder at the significance of this phrase. Can one do other than “as Hashem commanded”? If one is told to perform a duty in a specific manner, then he should execute said activity in the prescribed manner — as he was told. Is that unreasonable to expect? When we explore the tendencies of human nature, we note that even when people are instructed to do something in a specific manner, when all…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayakhel

“He filled him with G-dly spirit, with wisdom, insight and knowledge… He gave him the ability to teach.” (35:31,34)

In his commentary on this pasuk, the Ibn Ezra places great emphasis upon Betzalel’s unique ability to teach and train others in the skills required for creating the Mishkan, its holy vessels, and the priestly vestments. Many great scholars are replete with wisdom and understanding, but they lack the ability to properly convey their remarkable scholarship to others. Rather than viewing the teaching profession as a vocation which borders on mediocrity, Ibn Ezra extolls the virtue of those who are able to teach and do so. Horav A.H. Leibovitz, Shlita, notes that Betzalel is lauded for conveying mundane knowledge to…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Ki Sisa

“I have seen this people and behold they are a stiff-necked people.” (32:9)

One of the most difficult incidents which took place in the history of Bnei Yisrael is the chet ha’eigal, sin of the Golden Calf. Moshe Rabbeinu responded to the nation’s sudden iniquity by breaking the Luchos. It is difficult to grasp Hashem Yisborach’s eternal retribution reflected in his statement, h,sepu hsep ouhc, “In the day when I remember (when they will continue to sin) I will remember this sin (also).” Why did Moshe respond in such a fashion? It seems as if he was “giving up,” as if he felt that the people had gone beyond the limits of no…

Home -> 5756 -> Tetzaveh

Sruly Schnair In Tetzaveh, 5756

“And they shall take unto you pure beaten olive oil for the light.” (27:20)

Klal Yisrael is compared to the olive. This is the reason that the oil used for the Menorah was to be extracted from an olive. What is the basis of the parallel between the olive and the nature of Klal Yisrael? After all, Klal Yisrael has been compared to the fruits of many trees. What unique characteristic of the olive is reflected in Klal Yisrael’s personality? The Midrash explains that Klal Yisrael’s destiny is very much like that of the olive. In order to obtain oil from the olive, it must first be “knocked” off the tree. Afterwards, it is…

Home -> 5756 -> Mishpatim

Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5756

“From a false matter you shall keep far away.” (23:7)

The Torah administers its admonishment against falsehood in an idiosyncratic manner. Rather than discoursing about the evils of falsehood and its devastating effect on people, the Torah simply states, “Distance yourself from falsehood.” Lies are so reprehensible and destructive that no room for dialogue can co-exist. One must detach himself from falsehood in any form. We suggest that in light of the text, the Torah‘s admonition may be viewed as pragmatic advice. This approach is especially crucial in view of the fact that well-intended individuals may become involved in endeavors that reek of deception and hypocrisy. Why are people of…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayigash

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

In citing the Midrash which interprets the word, ruvk as “to teach,” Rashi uses a word which lends ambiguity to his statement. He says “to prepare for him a House of Study.” Why does Rashi add the word “for him?” He should have simply said to make a House of Study. Why is it necessary to emphasize that it was “for him”? When Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, z.l., came to these shores together with Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, z.l., to rebuild Yeshivas Telz, he used this Rashi as the source for maintaining the yeshivah in the same character and form…

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כי דור תהפכת המה בנים לא אמן בם

For they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them. (32:20)

בבוקר תאמר מי יתן ערב ובערב תאמר מי יתן בוקר מפחד לבבך

In the morning you will say, “Who can give back last night?” And in the evening you will say, “Who can give back this morning?” for the fright of your heart. (28:67)

והיית ממשש בצהרים כאשר ימשש העור באפלה

You shall grope at noon, as the blind man gropes in the darkness. (28:29)

זכור את אשר עשה לך עמלך

Remember what Amalek did to you. (25:17)

“And they made the holy vestments … as Hashem had commanded Moshe.” (39:1)

“He filled him with G-dly spirit, with wisdom, insight and knowledge… He gave him the ability to teach.” (35:31,34)

“I have seen this people and behold they are a stiff-necked people.” (32:9)

“And they shall take unto you pure beaten olive oil for the light.” (27:20)

“From a false matter you shall keep far away.” (23:7)

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

YEARS

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