Attitude – Page 53 – Peninim on the Torah

Judges and officers shall you appoint … you shall not plant for yourselves an idolatrous tree…and you shall not erect for yourselves a pillar; which Hashem your G-d hates. (16:18,21,22)

The Torah enjoins us not to plant an asheirah, which was a tree that was worshipped as an idol. Likewise, it is also forbidden to erect a pillar or single stone for the purpose of idol-worship. Although at one time this was a manner of worship to Hashem, it was adopted by the idol-worshippers. Hashem despises anything associated with idols. Consequently, it was forbidden for a Jew to worship by any means other than the Mizbayach, altar of many stones. The Torah’s juxtaposition of these laws to the pasuk regarding judges leads Chazal in the Talmud Avodah Zarah 52A, to…

Home -> Shemos -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Shemos

Take this staff in your hand, that you may perform the miraculous signs with it. (4:17)

Moshe carried the mateh Elokim, staff of Hashem. It was the instrument that initiated the various plagues which assailed Egypt. One might think that this staff was “dedicated” to effecting punishment and exacting retribution. We see in the Torah that when the Jews arrived in Marah and were confronted with the challenge of having nothing to drink, this staff served a different function. The Torah tells us in Shemos 17:5, “And your staff, with which you struck the river, take in your hand.” Rashi cites the Mechilta which takes note of the Torah’s emphasis on the staff “with which you…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Shemos

And it was in those days, when Moshe grew up and went out amongst his brethren and saw their burdensome labor. (2:11)

Empathizing with another person’s plight is clearly a laudable trait. It shows sensitivity for others. What really constitutes empathy? Does empathy mean visiting someone in the hospital and feeling bad for them–then going home and forgetting about their anguish? Is empathy showing concern for someone who is starving while we eat our own meal? Feeling for the downtrodden, even helping them–while life goes on as usual–is that empathy? Most people would consider the aforementioned to be genuine manifestations of empathy. Horav Yerucham Levovitz, zl, asserts that the Torah does not accept the current standard of care and empathy. He…

Home -> 5758 -> Shemini

Moshe Marcovich In Shemini, 5758

And Aharon fell silent. (10:3)

The Ramban notes that Aharon maintained his silence only after first breaking into sobs. The Abarbanel disagrees, asserting that Aharon did not react to the tragic death of his sons. In an attempt to defend the Ramban’s position, the Chasam Sofer explains that while Aharon did weep, he cried in response to his sins which he felt precipitated the tragedy that befell his sons. Aharon’s silence was a sign of acceptance, of inner peace, of profound faith in the Almighty. Aharon’s silence reflected his serenity at accepting the Divine decree issued against his sons. How did he gather the fortitude…

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Moshe Marcovich In Shelach, 5758

They ascended toward the mountain-top saying,”We are ready, and we shall ascend to the place which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned. (14:40)

The people were embarrassed. They sought to compensate for their sin. They finally realized that their reaction to the spies’ slander of Eretz Yisrael was terribly wrong. They were, however, too late. Their teshuvah was long overdue. How many times can a people rebel against Hashem, apologize and proceed with life as planned? They would not accept a negative response, insisting upon going on to Eretz Yisrael. They failed; their fate was sealed. They were attacked and thrown back. Why did Hashem reject their teshuvah? They acknowledged, “We have sinned.” What more should they have done? The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh…

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Moshe Marcovich In Shelach, 5758

They said to the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael…the land which we traversed …the land is good, very, very much so…(14:7)

The sin of the meraglim is, indeed, difficult to understand. After all, the meraglim did not really tell any lies about Eretz Yisrael. The testimony that it is a land that “eats up its inhabitants” certainly appeared to be true, considering the many funerals that they had witnessed. Veritably, they even recounted that it was a “land flowing with milk and honey.” So, why were they punished to such an extent? The Yismach Yisrael cites his father, who posits that the meraglim were aware of the superiority of Eretz Yisrael. They felt the kedushah, holiness, everywhere they travelled. The…

Home -> 5758 -> Re'eh

Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5758

You shall not do this to Hashem your G-d. Rather, only at the place that Hashem, your G-d chose…to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there. And there shall you bring your elevation offerings. (12:4,5,6)

The commentators, each in his own initimable style, explain what it is that we “shall not do” to Hashem. Horav Itzile M’Volozhin, zl, offers a practical interpretation of this pasuk. We find that in order to facilitate the unintentional murderer’s “escape” to the Arei Miklat, Cities of Refuge, the people erected signs at various crossroads to indicate the most efficient way to reach his destination. They did this in order to ensure that the rotzeach b’shogeg, unintentional murderer, would not have to ask people for directions as he sought his destination. We may wonder why this helpful idea was…

Home -> 5758 -> Pinchas

Moshe Marcovich In Pinchas, 5758

And let the assembly of Hashem not be like sheep that have no shepherd. (27:17)

Moshe pleads with Hashem to name his successor who would lead Bnei Yisrael. In closing, he entreats Hashem not to permit Bnei Yisrael to be left without leadership. One would think that in the desert the Jewish People were bereft of competent leadership. True, Moshe would be gone, but he left behind him those who learned leadership skills directly from him: Yehoshua, his student par excellence; Pinchas, the zealot who had the courage to stand up to a nasi who had publicly desecrated Hashem’s Name; Elazar, the son of Aharon HaKohen, the Kohen Gadol who was the paradigm of sanctity; …

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Moshe Marcovich In Noach, 5758

These are the generations of Noach, Noach was a righteous man. (6:9)

The Torah begins by stating that it will list the “generations” of Noach. Instead, it proceeds to relate that Noach was a righteous man. Are we discussing his offspring or his good deeds? Rashi cites the Midrash that infers from this pasuk that the primary generation, the principle legacy of a righteous person, is his good deeds. This is what he bequeaths to the next generation. Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, remarks that offspring and good deeds should be analogous. No good deed should be viewed as inconsequential. The same love that one manifests toward his offspring should, likewise, be demonstrated…

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Moshe Marcovich In Naso, 5758

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

The various commentators render their interpretations of the Birkas Kohanim, priestly blessing. Rashi cites the Sifri that views the blessing as a reference to material bounty. “May Hashem grant that you be triumphant over your enemies and that your crops and business ventures succeed. May your possessions increase, and may Hashem guard these possessions from thieves.” In short, the blessing of “Yevarechecha,” May (Hashem) bless you, refers to receiving abundance, while the blessing of “Veyishmerecha” is a prayer that we be able to retain our blessing. The Midrash Tanchuma supplements the blessing with an invocation that our increase in material…

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Judges and officers shall you appoint … you shall not plant for yourselves an idolatrous tree…and you shall not erect for yourselves a pillar; which Hashem your G-d hates. (16:18,21,22)

Take this staff in your hand, that you may perform the miraculous signs with it. (4:17)

And it was in those days, when Moshe grew up and went out amongst his brethren and saw their burdensome labor. (2:11)

And Aharon fell silent. (10:3)

They ascended toward the mountain-top saying,”We are ready, and we shall ascend to the place which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned. (14:40)

They said to the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael…the land which we traversed …the land is good, very, very much so…(14:7)

You shall not do this to Hashem your G-d. Rather, only at the place that Hashem, your G-d chose…to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there. And there shall you bring your elevation offerings. (12:4,5,6)

And let the assembly of Hashem not be like sheep that have no shepherd. (27:17)

These are the generations of Noach, Noach was a righteous man. (6:9)

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

YEARS

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