Attitude – Page 55 – Peninim on the Torah

Ascent to this mount of Abarim… and die on this mountain… and be gathered to your people… because you trespassed against Me among the Bnei Yisrael… because you did not sanctify Me among the Bnei Yisrael. (32:49,50,51)

Perhaps Moshe Rabbeinu could have sanctified Hashem more emphatically. Why, however, is this considered to be a transgression against the Almighty? Did Moshe’s error constitute such an incursion against Hashem that hundreds of entreaties and prayers were not sufficient to effect his passage into Eretz Yisrael? Hashem refused to allow Moshe to enter the land, neither as a living being or as a corpse, as an animal or even an inanimate stone! He could not pardon Moshe’s error! Moshe’s behavior demanded serious consequences. Why? Horav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, employs a practical approach to explaining this anomaly. Heads of state…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Ha'azinu

Hashem will see and be provoked by the anger of His sons and daughters. (32:19)

Simply, the Torah is telling us that Hashem will be angry as a result of our iniquity. Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, makes a novel homiletic exposition to the pasuk, implying a valuable lesson. Hashem sees the iniquity, but that alone does not cause Him to become angry. After He sees how His children, Klal Yisrael, act when they do not get their own way, when they do not get their hearts desires, He is provoked to anger. It is one thing to make demands, to entreat Hashem for favors and hope that they are fulfilled. How do we have the…

Home -> 5752 -> Bereishis

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5752

And Kayin went out from the presence of Hashem (4:16)

The Midrash relates that after this incident Kayin met his father, Adam, who inquired about his form of punishment. Kayin responded, “I performed repentance and came to an understanding (compromise) with my Maker.” This Midrash goes on to imply that Kayin was the first one to have performed the mitzvah of Teshuva. This is inconsistent, however, with a later Midrash in Parashas Vayeshev in which chazal relate that Hashem stated that Reuven is considered to have been the first one to have repented properly. In order to respond to this question, we must first analyze Kayin’s repentance. The words that…

Home -> 5758 -> Eikev

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

The Torah repeats the mitzvah of Ahavas Ha’Ger, loving the convert, no less than thirty-six times! One would assume that the Torah would reiterate mitzvos such as Shabbos, the prohibitions against idol worship and murder, emphasizing their obvious importance. Indeed, the Torah does not repeat these critical mitzvos. The Torah is very careful with its words; every word has its own specific message. Yet, the Torah has no qualms about reminding us numerous times of our obligation to the ger. Why? We can derive a profound lesson from this pasuk regarding human nature. Man’s natural instinct is to denigrate those…

Home -> Devarim -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Devarim

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

Chazal claim that the key to their error lies in the word “kulchem” – all of you. All of Klal Yisrael came together in total disarray, with disrespect for their elders, each one pushing ahead of the other. This approach contrasted the situation at Kabbolas HaTorah, when everyone maintained proper decorum as they prepared to accept the Torah. The Netziv, zl, contends that “all of you” is not factual. Certainly, not everyone came forward. Only the leaders of the tribes, the noblemen who represented the masses came forward, requesting that spies go to search out the land. Horav Elyakim Schlessinger,…

Home -> Devarim -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Devarim

Enough of your dwelling on this mountain. (1:6)

A year had passed in which Klal Yisrael was situated at Har Sinai. It became time to move on to Eretz Yisrael. The Midrash defines the word “rav” as “abundance”; Klal Yisrael’s encampment at Har Sinai brought much benefit to them: the Torah, the Mishkan, the Zekeinim and other leaders. The Kli Yakar views the summons to leave Har Sinai as a practical lesson in attitude toward Torah. Moshe observed Klal Yisrael lingering at Har Sinai. They had become content with the Torah as a book of thought, a wonderful collection of laws brilliantly formulated by their Divine Author. They…

Home -> 5758 -> Chukas

Moshe Marcovich In Chukas, 5758

Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon…by the border of Edom saying…Aharon shall be gathered to his people…(20:23,24)

Rashi explains that the Torah juxtaposes Aharon’s death upon Klal Yisrael’s unfruitful dialogue with Edom because of a distinct relationship between the two. When Klal Yisrael attempted to join Eisav’s descendants, they created a breach in their activities which resulted in the loss of Aharon. Why? How is Aharon’s death associated with their attempt to establish diplomatic relations with Eisav? Horav Nissan Alpert,zl, cites the pasuk in Devarim 32:4, “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.” Hashem’s rectitude in justice is manifest in that He will not punish a person if it will cause undue…

Home -> 5758 -> Chukas

Moshe Marcovich In Chukas, 5758

And the people settled in Kadosh, and Miriam died there…there was no water for the congregation…the people quarreled with Moshe. (20:1,2,3.)

The people followed a pattern that has regrettably become typical: When events did not proceed in their favor, they either complained or protested. The Alshich Hakadosh notes that the Torah does not mention that they expressed grief over Miriam’s loss, as it does regarding the deaths of Moshe and Aharon. Thus, he infers that they did not shed tears when Miriam died. Because they did not acknowledge her merit as the source of their water supply, they lost it. Being surrounded by kedushah, holiness, has little effect if one does not recognize and appreciate it. We must address Klal Yisrael’s…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

And Avraham expired and died in a good old age, mature and content. (25:8)

The Ramban remarks on Avraham Avinu’s lofty character. He was sameiach b’chelko, satisfied with his lot in life. He was not one to yearn for luxuries. Those who desire luxuries will never be happy with what they attain. If they have a hundred, they desire two hundred; if they have two hundred, they desire four hundred. We are puzzled by the Ramban’s statement. Avraham really did not have a reason to complain. Hashem blessed him with extraordinary wealth and prestige. He miraculously saved his life when he was thrown into the fiery furnace. He was blessed with a son…

Home -> 5758 -> Bo

Moshe Marcovich In Bo, 5758

They shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted over the fire, and matzos; with herbs they shall eat it. (12:8)

It seems almost paradoxical that one should eat the matzoh, which symbolizes our freedom, together with the marror, bitter herbs, which represent our affliction. That is not the only anomaly of the Seder night. The night of the first Seder occurs on the same day of the week as Tisha B’Av of that same year. On the night that we celebrate the fortune of our redemption from Egypt, we are to remember Tisha B’Av, the day of the year set aside for the commemoration of the churban, the destruction of our Batei Mikdash. Why is it necessary to integrate misery…

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Ascent to this mount of Abarim… and die on this mountain… and be gathered to your people… because you trespassed against Me among the Bnei Yisrael… because you did not sanctify Me among the Bnei Yisrael. (32:49,50,51)

Hashem will see and be provoked by the anger of His sons and daughters. (32:19)

And Kayin went out from the presence of Hashem (4:16)

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

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

Enough of your dwelling on this mountain. (1:6)

Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon…by the border of Edom saying…Aharon shall be gathered to his people…(20:23,24)

And the people settled in Kadosh, and Miriam died there…there was no water for the congregation…the people quarreled with Moshe. (20:1,2,3.)

And Avraham expired and died in a good old age, mature and content. (25:8)

They shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted over the fire, and matzos; with herbs they shall eat it. (12:8)

YEARS

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