Attitude – Page 47 – Peninim on the Torah

All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

Chazal view the word, “all of you”, as the cause of the tragic outcome of their mission to spy out Eretz Yisrael. The people came forward in an unbecoming manner. They were demanding and disrespectful. The young pushed aside their elders, and the older people pushed ahead of their leaders. This was in sharp contrast to their behavior at Kabalas HaTorah when the entire nation came forth with a request, but in a respectable and orderly manner; the young encouraged their elders to go forward, while the elders displayed the proper respect to their leadership. Why is it necessary to…

Home -> 5757 -> Chukas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5757

And they wept for Aharon thirty days, all the House of Yisrael. (20:29)

Aharon’s special relationship with all people earned him the love of everyone. When he passed away, every Jewish man, woman, and child grieved. The quintessent Ohaiv Shalom, he extended himself to promote harmony among his fellow man and between husband and wife. The vacuum caused by his death was acutely felt by everyone. We see that Moshe Rabbeinu, the Rabbon shel kol Yisrael, the teacher who devoted his life to educating Klal Yisrael, was not as universally mourned. As the Yalkut explains, Moshe’s responsibility was to judge and admonish, a function that was not always accepted by everyone. Thus, the…

Home -> 5757 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5757

“And the maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin and no man was on familiar terms with her.” (24:16)

This pasuk is the basis of the Torah’s characterization of the modesty appropriate for a Jewish daughter. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, notes that Torah does not say aht vgsh tku “A man does not know her,” as it states in other places, but rather vgsh tk ahtu, a term which does not occur in any other place. This seems to imply that not only was she a virgin in the usual sense, that no man knew her, but she was also so uncommonly modest that no man had dared to become intimately familiar with her. Rivkah’s standard of tznius, modesty,…

Home -> 5757 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5757

On that day Hashem saved Yisrael from the hand of Egypt. And The Bnei Yisrael went on dry land in the midst of the sea…. (14:29, 30) And Bnei Yisrael ate the manna for forty years, until their arrival in an inhabited land. (16:35)

One miraculous occurrence followed another; is there a relationship between the two? Chazal seem to think so. They say in the Talmud Pesachim 118a: “A man’s sustenance is as difficult as the splitting of the Red Sea.” Simply, put, providing man with sustenance is as great a feat as Krias Yam Suf. The Zohar Ha’kadosh questions Chazal’s statement. Is there any act that is difficult for Hashem to perform? Was Krias Yam Suf difficult for Hashem? Is it difficult for Hashem to sustain a person? A number of explanations address this Chazal. The Chozeh M’Lublin, z”l, suggests a profound insight….

Home -> 5757 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5757

“So shall you eat it: Your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; you shall eat in haste.” (12:11)

The manner in which they ate the Korban Pesach reflected Bnei Yisrael’s readiness for immediate journey. In his commentary, the Sforno emphasizes their bitachon, trust in Hashem. He writes, “They demonstrated their implicit trust in Hashem by preparing themselves for the road while they were still in prison.” Horav Moshe Schwab, z”l, takes note of this remarkable trust in the Almighty. Bnei Yisrael had been subject to such inhuman servitude for hundreds of years, that they no longer knew the meaning of the word “freedom.” Even after Moshe had notified them of their imminent redemption, they still continued to function…

Home -> 5757 -> Bereishis

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

Rashi comments that Hashem had planned that the tree would have the same taste as the fruit. The earth disobeyed, generating trees that bore fruit, but which were not themselves fruit. Consequently, Hashem punished the earth together with man. The commentators explain that prior to the time that natural law was definitely established, Hashem had granted the earth an element of “creative” freedom. In addition, as the Rambam states in Hilchos Yesodei Ha’Torah, the various parts of creation have a living soul and consciousness of their own existence. Horav Eli Munk, zl, cites the Chizkuni, who offers the earth’s…

Home -> Behar -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

Do not take from him interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d. (25:36)

The Navi Yecheskel says (18:13) “(If he) Gives (loans) with usury and takes interest should he live? He shall not live!” Regarding this pasuk the Midrash comments, “The Almighty says, “He who has lived/sustained himself with usury in this world, will not live in the World to Come.” Simply, the individual who does not have the sensitivity and human decency to provide his fellow man with a loan without squeezing interest from him will not merit the Olam Habah reserved for every Jew. There is a famous incident that occurred with Rav Akiva Eiger, zl, which underscores this statement. In…

Home -> Behar -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year and it will yield a crop sufficient for the three-year period. (25:21)

This pasuk implies that the blessing will be apparent during the sixth year. Sforno comments that the blessing of prosperity prior to the Shmittah year will be to such an extent that it will ease even the mind of the skeptic. The Yalkut Shemoni cites the pasuk in Tehillim 103:20 which states, “Bless Hashem, O His Angels, the strong warriors who do His bidding, to obey the Voice of His Word.” Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha says that the words “angels and strong warriors” refer to those who observe Shmittah. The individual sees his fields and vineyards lie fallow, and he accepts…

Home -> 5757 -> Beha'alosecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

Speak with Aharon…when you kindle the Menorah toward the face of the Menorah.(8:2)

Rashi explains the juxtaposition of the command to Aharon to light the Menorah upon the previous parsha, which discussed the dedication offerings brought by the nesiim to dedicate the Mizbayach. Aharon was depressed and concerned that neither he nor any member of his tribe had a role in the dedication of the Mizbayach. He felt that this comprised retribution for his part in the sin of the Golden Calf. Hashem assuaged his feelings by telling him that his role, of lighting the Menorah, holds greater importance. The Mizbayach serves its purpose only as long as there is a Mikdash, while…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

Do not let the tribe of the Kehati family be cut off… this is what you shall do that they shall live…and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. (4:19,20)

In the Midrash there is a dispute regarding the attitude of Bnei Kehas about their dangerous work. Rabbi Elazar ben Pedas opines that they were so in awe of the sanctity of the Aron Ha’kodesh and the hazards that accompanied it, that they ran to carry the other holy vessels instead. Rabbi Shmuel ben Nachman contends that, on the contrary, despite the risk of death, Bnei Kehas were eager to care for the Aron Hakodesh. Horav Ze’ev Weinberger, Shlita, comments that people exhibit varied attitudes in relating to the Aron, even in contemporary times. Some Jews, although they are great…

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All of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the land. (1:22)

And they wept for Aharon thirty days, all the House of Yisrael. (20:29)

“And the maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin and no man was on familiar terms with her.” (24:16)

On that day Hashem saved Yisrael from the hand of Egypt. And The Bnei Yisrael went on dry land in the midst of the sea…. (14:29, 30) And Bnei Yisrael ate the manna for forty years, until their arrival in an inhabited land. (16:35)

“So shall you eat it: Your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; you shall eat in haste.” (12:11)

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

Do not take from him interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d. (25:36)

I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year and it will yield a crop sufficient for the three-year period. (25:21)

Speak with Aharon…when you kindle the Menorah toward the face of the Menorah.(8:2)

Do not let the tribe of the Kehati family be cut off… this is what you shall do that they shall live…and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. (4:19,20)

YEARS

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