Attitude – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

חמשה בקר ישלם תחת השור וארבע צאן תחת השה

He shall pay five cattle in place of the ox, and four sheep in place of the sheep. (21:37)

If one steals cattle or sheep and either sells or slaughters it, he pays not only the principle, but an added fine. If he steals, but neither sells nor slaughters the animal, he is fined keifel, double-principle plus one. The fines apply only to one who is a thief (an individual who conceals his act of theft). A gazlan, robber (an individual who steals brazenly without fear of people), pays no fine. Chazal (Bava Kamma 79B) record a dialogue that ensued between Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai and his students. They asked why such a variance exists in the reimbursement of…

Home -> 5785 -> Beshalach

וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם

Sruly Schnair In Beshalach, 5785

Bnei Yisrael raised their eyes and behold! Egypt was journeying after them. (14:10)

Two nations reared their ugly heads against us. Two nations demonstrated their unmitigated, venomous hatred against our ancestors: Egypt and Amalek. Yet, a great difference exists between the hatred manifest by Egypt and the animus that has characterized Amalek throughout the millennia. Horav Yaakov Shteinhouse, Shlita (Ram, Kol Torah), observes that, concerning Egypt’s incursion against us, the Torah writes, Hashem yilachem lachem v’atem tacharishun, “Hashem shall make war for you, and you shall remain silent” (Shemos 14:14). On the other hand, concerning the battle with Amalek, Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to lead the men in battle against Amalek. Wherein lies…

Home -> 5785 -> Bo

ויהי חשך אפלה בכל ארץ מצרים ... לא ראו איש את אחיו ולא קמו איש מתחתיו

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5785

And there was a darkness of gloom throughout the land of Egypt…No man could see his brother nor could anyone rise from his place. (10:22,23)

In his sefer, Yalkut Chinuch L’Doros, Rabbi Simcha Zissel Dessler, Shlita, quotes a story from Horav Yisrael Meir Lau, Shlita, which is well-worth repeating. Fifty years ago, a place in the center of Tel Aviv’s downtown was where the wagon drivers would line up and wait for passengers who either wanted to travel or to ship their packages. One of these drivers was an observant Jew, by the name of Yoska, who would first participate in the vasikin, sunrise, minyan, and then he was off to work. As time passed, Yoska’s aged horse left this world. Lacking the funds to…

Home -> 5785 -> Vaeira

הם המדברים אל פרעה ... הוא משה ואהרן

Sruly Schnair In Vaeira, 5785

These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh … this was Moshe and Aharon. (6:27)

Prior to relating Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen’s visit to Pharaoh for what was to be the beginning of the end of the Jewish enslavement, the Torah digresses and offers a brief genealogical backdrop. The Torah begins by introducing Levi ben Yaakov, the Patriarch of the Levite families. This is followed by a detailed list of his children and grandchildren, and it concludes with Moshe and Aharon who came before Pharaoh demanding that he release the Jews. Rashi is bothered by the superfluous ending to the family history. He explains that the Torah intimates that Hu Moshe v’Aharon mi’techilah v’ad…

Home -> Shemos -> 5785

ואלה שמות בני ישראל הבאים מצרימה ... ויקם מלך חדש... אשר לא ידע את יוסף

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Shemos

And these are the names of Bnei Yisrael who were coming to Egypt… A new king rose… who did not know Yosef. (1:1,8)

Pharaoh soon forgot all the wonderful things that Yosef had done for him and his people. Sadly, this is not uncommon. People remember you only when they need your help. Once they feel they can do it alone, they quickly forget that they were your beneficiaries. Unfortunately, this is human nature. It requires a special person, whose character traits are refined, to acknowledge what he owes and offer his gratitude. Forgetfulness is often a product of self- centeredness. When a person sees only himself and his immediate needs, he can easily dismiss the benefits and blessings that he has received…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5785

ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו.....וירא אליו

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Vayigash

And he (Yosef) went up to meet his father…..He appeared before him. (46:29)

Yaakov Avinu could not wait to see his long-lost son, Yosef. Yosef had left home a boy, and now he was viceroy over the people of Egypt. He went from challenge to travail and emerged as righteous as when he left home. The image of his father had kept him holy. Now, after all this time, after all the tzaros, troubles, that Yosef had endured, he was finally going to embrace his father. This would be the script as presented by a secular author, a playwright who seeks to capture the drama of this face-to-face interaction between father and son….

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5785

וימאן להתנחם

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Vayeishev

But he refused to be comforted. (37:35)

Refusing to be comforted is understandable. When a person sustains a tragedy (regardless of the circumstances, the age, or the well-being of the deceased, it is still a tragedy – to someone) it is personal; it is painful; the loss feels like an endless void which cannot be filled with words alone. This is especially true when the mourner had been especially close with the deceased. Accepting comfort may feel like a step towards moving on or letting go – something the mourner refuses to entertain. Others may feel guilt over the death of a loved one, wondering if they…

Home -> 5785 -> Vayishlach

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5785

I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

The numerical value of garti equals taryag, 613. Chazal teach that Yaakov Avinu implied to Eisav, “Although I was with Lavan for some time, I remained loyal to Hashem and observed all 613 mitzvos. I have not changed one iota. I am as committed today as I was when I left home.” Eisav should not have thought that he could prevail over Yaakov. The Patriarch’s merits will still protect him. Yaakov then added, Va’yehi li shor v’chamor; “I have an ox and a donkey.” Understandably, Yaakov was not informing Eisav of his material assets; rather, as the commentators explain, shor…

Home -> 5785 -> Bereishis

ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו

Sruly Schnair In Bereishis, 5785

But of the Tree of Knowledge, of Good and Bad, you must not eat thereof. (2:17)

Adam Ha’Rishon was the yetzir kapav shel HaKadosh Baruch Hu, formed and created by Hashem. Yet, he sinned. He had one single mitzvah – not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. He could not withstand the temptation, however, and he sinned. We have 613 mitzvos and are commanded to observe them all. Obviously, a disparity exists between us and Adam. Adam did not have a yetzer hora, evil inclination – nothing to provoke him to commit anything negative; yet, he sinned. In his Moreh Nevuchim, Rambam posits that by sinning, Adam gained his greatest glory: the faculty of bechirah…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5785

ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Sruly Schnair In 5785, V'zos HaBrachah

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

Apparently, Moshe Rabbeinu’s preferred style for conferring blessing differed from that of Yaakov Avinu. Our Patriarch showered his sons with long, flowery blessings. Moshe, on the other hand, sufficed with brevity. Yaakov’s blessing to Dan consisted of two pesukim, while Moshe’s a mere five words. Zevulun and Yissachar’s blessing from the Patriarch was a litany of three pesukim. Moshe’s blessing to Zevulun was not short, but the blessing he conferred upon Yissachar was a single word: B’ahalecha, “(You shall rejoice) in your tents.” On the surface we may suggest that Yaakov was addressing his sons. Thus, he did not rush…

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חמשה בקר ישלם תחת השור וארבע צאן תחת השה

He shall pay five cattle in place of the ox, and four sheep in place of the sheep. (21:37)

וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם

Bnei Yisrael raised their eyes and behold! Egypt was journeying after them. (14:10)

ויהי חשך אפלה בכל ארץ מצרים ... לא ראו איש את אחיו ולא קמו איש מתחתיו

And there was a darkness of gloom throughout the land of Egypt…No man could see his brother nor could anyone rise from his place. (10:22,23)

הם המדברים אל פרעה ... הוא משה ואהרן

These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh … this was Moshe and Aharon. (6:27)

ואלה שמות בני ישראל הבאים מצרימה ... ויקם מלך חדש... אשר לא ידע את יוסף

And these are the names of Bnei Yisrael who were coming to Egypt… A new king rose… who did not know Yosef. (1:1,8)

ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו.....וירא אליו

And he (Yosef) went up to meet his father…..He appeared before him. (46:29)

וימאן להתנחם

But he refused to be comforted. (37:35)

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו

But of the Tree of Knowledge, of Good and Bad, you must not eat thereof. (2:17)

ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

YEARS

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