Attitude – Page 51 – Peninim on the Torah

And they stood at the bottom of the mountain. (19:17)

In the Talmud Shabbos 88 Chazal say that Bnei Yisrael did not merely stand at the foot of the mountain, but that Hashem lifted up the mountain over their heads, declaring, “If you will accept the Torah, it is good. If not, here will be your burying place.” This implies that Hashem imposed the Torah upon us against our will. He threatened us with extinction if we were not to accept the Torah. Is this true? The commentators offer a number of explanations to lend insight to Chazal’s words. Horav Eliyahu Meier Bloch, zl, views the mountain over Bnei Yisrael’s…

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Moshe Marcovich In Yisro, 5758

Yisro rejoiced over all the good that Hashem had done for Yisrael, that He had rescued it from the hands of Egypt. (18:9)

The word “oso,” which usually means, “him,” is translated as “it,” referring to Klal Yisrael. Yisro rejoiced over the nation’s good fortune in being rescued from the dread hand of Pharaoh. The Maharil Diskin, zl, takes a novel approach towards explaining the word “oso,” which implies a timely lesson for us. He suggests that Yisro was, in fact, referring to himself. He realized that Hashem had actually also saved him from the same fate suffered by the Egyptians. Yisro remembered quite well that he was one of Pharaoh’s advisors. When the issue of the Jewish problem arose, Yisro had the…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayikra

A soul that will offer a meal offering to Hashem. (2:1)

Rashi comments that the word “nefesh,” soul, is not mentioned in regard to any Korbanos Nedavah, free-willed offerings, except for a Korban Minchah, meal offering. This is because usually the one who brings a meal offering is a poor man. Hashem says that He considers the poor man’s offering as if he had offered his soul as a korban. Simply put, this is because the poor man, regardless of the minimal value of his offering, contributed relatively more than his wealthy counterpart. Consequently, his korban represents a more significant sacrifice. Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, zl, supplements this idea.. When the…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayikra

Speak unto the Bnei Yisrael and say to them, A man from you who will bring close an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

Rashi explains the Torah’s emphasis upon the word “adam”, man, as an allusion to Adam Ha’Rishon. His korban did not have a tinge of impropriety connected to it, since everything belonged to him. So, too, may we not offer any korbanos from that which is not rightfully ours. We may question the Torah’s choice of word–adam–as the point of reference for teaching us that we may not use that which is stolen. Throughout the Torah, we derive the prohibition from using that which is gezel, stolen, from the word “la’chem,” yours. That which we use for a mitzvah must belong…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayigash

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. (46:28)

Yaakov sent Yehudah ahead of the family to prepare for their arrival. The Midrash understands the word “l’horos” according to its Hebrew definition, “to teach.” Yaakov sent Yehudah to found a yeshivah, a place where their family could study Torah. We infer from Yaakov’s action that Torah study takes priority over any other endeavor. When a community is being developed, one must first establish a Torah institution, nurturing its inhabitants spiritually. The commentators address the fact that Yehudah, not Yosef, was chosen to establish the yeshivah, even though Yosef was a distinguished talmid chacham, who had already been in…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayechi

Shimon and Levi are brothers. (49:5)

In the context of the pasuk, the word “achim,” which is usually translated as “brothers,” is interpreted as “comrades.” Shimon and Levi are paired together as comrades in arms, who conspired together to commit a violent act against the people of Shechem. From the fact that Yaakov calls them “achim,” we may infer that he viewed them as equals, neither one having any distinction over the other. Interestingly, this equality did not last very long. In the end, they went different ways. Levi went to the extreme right, serving as the symbol of Torah. Moshe, Aharon and Miriam, the leaders…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

Sforno interprets the idea of “this evil,” to mean the performance of bad in return for good. Yosef’s prime concern was the gratitude he owed his master. He could not respond to the advances of his master’s wife because of his hakoras hatov, the appreciation he felt to Potiphar. We may infer from here a lesson regarding the significance of hakoras hatov, and how far one must go to fulfill his obligation to acknowledge gratitude. Yosef was subject to the blandishments of Potiphar’s wife on an almost constant basis. She tried to entice him in every way possible. She would…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And Yaakov settled in the land of his fathers’ sojourning. (37:1)

The words “vayeshev,” settled, and “megurei,” sojourning, contrast with one another. One implies permanence, while the latter alludes to a temporary state. Indeed, this formulation catalyzes Chazal to suggest that after a long exile and numerous struggles, Yaakov finally wished to settle down, to live peacefully. Hashem sent the anguish of Yosef to disturb his efforts. Hashem told him, “Are the righteous not satisfied with what awaits them in Olam Habah that they expect to live at ease in Olam Hazeh?” In other words, the righteous have no right to demand tranquillity in this world. We must attempt…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758, Vayeilech

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

Considering Moshe Rabbeinu’s advanced age, one would expect that his inability to execute the demands of his office physically would impede him from fulfilling his leadership role. But Moshe, however, asserted that “Hashem has said to me, You shall not cross this Yarden.” According to human nature, one undertakes to perform an endeavor, and “afterwards” he waits to see if Hashem is pleased with his plans. This approach is confirmed by the actions of tzaddikim who are mishtadel, endeavor, to do they can, rather than to wait passively for Divine intervention to solve every problem. Yaakov Avinu indicated to his…

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And they stood at the bottom of the mountain. (19:17)

Yisro rejoiced over all the good that Hashem had done for Yisrael, that He had rescued it from the hands of Egypt. (18:9)

A soul that will offer a meal offering to Hashem. (2:1)

Speak unto the Bnei Yisrael and say to them, A man from you who will bring close an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. (46:28)

Shimon and Levi are brothers. (49:5)

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

And Yaakov settled in the land of his fathers’ sojourning. (37:1)

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

YEARS

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