Attitude – Page 56 – Peninim on the Torah

Moshe Marcovich In Bo, 5758

And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for a three-day period. (10:22)

Rashi cites the Midrash that suggests one of the reasons for the three-day darkness. He posits that it occurred so that the Jews who were too assimilated into the Egyptian culture would die. As a result of the darkness the Egyptians did not see their deaths. Therefore, they could not assert that the plagues affected the Jews as well as the Egyptians. We may question the need for a complete change in nature just to purge Klal Yisrael of an element so alienated that it had no hope of ever returning to the Covenant. If the purpose was that…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bechukosai

But if you will not listen to Me……and if you despise My laws (26:14,15)

Rashi explains the phrase, “and if you despise My laws,” as meaning, “if you despise the performance by others of My laws.” In his commentary on Rashi, the Mizrachi gives further meaning to this statement when he says this refers to one who, although performing mitzvos himself, resents others who do the same. This explanation is striking. It is also a condemnation of so many of us who do not tolerate the spiritual achievements of others, especially if we think they are plagurizing our own efforts. For instance, one organization has succeeded in building up a following. Suddenly,…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bechukosai

And five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand. (25:8)

Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics understands that the ratio presented above is inconsistent. If five Jews can pursue a hundred enemies, then the ratio of one to twenty should translate into a hundred Jews pursuing two thousand. The pasuk, however, does not say that. It writes that one hundred Jews will pursue one thousand of the enemy! Rashi cites the Sifri that infers that when people work as a group, when more people are united in serving the Almighty, the consequences of their actions are much more significant. A mitzvah, when performed by a large group, has…

Home -> Behar -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Behar

If you will say, “what will we eat in the seventh year…….” I will ordain My blessing. (25:20,21)

We note that Hashem promises His blessing only after Bnei Yisrael will ask the question, “What will we eat?” This is an unrealistic approach. Why would Hashem not ordain His blessing regardless of whether or not the people were anxious about their sustenance? Do those who observe his mitzvos without question deserve to go hungry? Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, offers a practical answer. If Bnei Yisrael had not asked this question, Hashem would have granted an even greater miracle. Indeed, He would have ordained that the initial output of the sixth year would suffice for three years. Since…

Home -> 5758 -> Bereishis

Moshe Marcovich In Bereishis, 5758

And Hashem Elokim called to the man, and said unto him, ‘Where are you?’” (3:8)

It seems strange that Hashem, Who knows everything, asked Adam, “Where are you?” Obviously, Hashem knew where Adam was. The Midrash tells us that Hashem certainly knew where Adam was; He just wanted to talk to him, to engage him in conversation. Hashem wanted to interact with Adam, to get him to open up and talk about the act that he had committed. Horav Moshe Swift, zl, offers a thoughtful insight. Whenever one senses a rift in a relationship, he should maintain contact in order to sustain hope of reconciliation. The tragedy is when there is no contact. When a…

Home -> 5758 -> Beha'alosecha

Moshe Marcovich In Beha'alosecha, 5758

This is the workmanship of the Menorah…according to the vision that Hashem showed Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Chazal tell us that Moshe had difficulty in forging the Menorah. They say that Hashem “showed” Moshe by pointing a “finger” and describing the exact image of the Menorah. In the end, according to one statement of Chazal, Moshe threw the talent of gold into the fire and a finished Menorah emerged. A number of explanations address Moshe’s difficulty in perceiving the image of the Menorah. Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, views this from an homiletic point of view. He suggests an analogy between the fabrication of the Menorah and two people who were given the necessary materials for building a…

Home -> 5758 -> Beha'alosecha

Moshe Marcovich In Beha'alosecha, 5758

Speak to Aharon…When you kindle the lamps, towards the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps light. (8:2)

Rashi addresses the relationship between Aharon’s lighting the Menorah and the previous parsha, which recounts the offerings of nesiim, princes, for the dedication of the Mizbayach. He says that Aharon was upset that neither he, nor any member of shevet Levi, was included in the dedication. Hashem comforted Aharon saying that his service, preparing and kindling the Menorah, was more significant than theirs. We wonder at Aharon’s chagrin. Obviously, his reaction must have had some validity, as Hashem responded by comforting him. We must also endeavor to understand the meaning of the phrase, “Yours is greater/more significant than theirs.“ This…

Home -> 5758 -> Balak

Moshe Marcovich In Balak, 5758

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” (22:28)

Chazal note that the Torah does not use the word “pe’omim,” which means “times.” Rather, the Torah uses the word “regalim” which is an allusion to the Shalosh Regalim, Three Festivals — when Klal Yisrael went on Pilgrimage to Yerushalayim — and to the Bais Hamikdash. Bilaam wished to harm a nation whose devotion to Hashem was so strong, whose commitment so intense, that they left their fields and homes three times each year to serve Hashem in Yerushalayim. How could Bilaam think that the Almighty would permit him to harm such a dedicated nation? It is interesting to note…

Home -> 5758 -> Kedoshim

Moshe Marcovich In Kedoshim, 5758

You shall be holy for Me;……and I have separated you from the peoples to be Mine. (20:26)

Rashi cites Chazal who explain this pasuk in the following manner: If you keep yourselves separate from the nations and their life styles, you will be Mine; otherwise, you will belong to Nebuchanetzar and his ilk. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya adds, one should not say, “I do not eat pig because I do not like pig meat.” Rather, one should say, I would like to eat pig meat, but Hashem has prohibited me from eating it and has commanded me to separate from the other nations to be His, and only His” Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, zl, remarks that essentially…

Home -> 5758 -> Acharei Mos

Moshe Marcovich In Acharei Mos, 5758

He shall don a sacred linen tunic; linen breeches shall be upon his flesh. (16:4)

The Kohen Gadol performed all of the daily rituals, as well as part of the Yom Kippur service, while wearing his golden vestments. When the Kohen Gadol entered the Kodesh Hakodoshim, the Holy of Holies, to seek penance for Klal Yisrael, he changed into the simple linen vestments. Since the Jewish People had sinned by worshipping the Golden Calf, it would have been inappropriate to seek penance wearing gold. The material of gold acts as a prosecuting agent against the Jewish People. Hence, gold vestments are not the appropriate attire for effecting a positive response for forgiveness. We infer from…

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And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for a three-day period. (10:22)

But if you will not listen to Me……and if you despise My laws (26:14,15)

And five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand. (25:8)

If you will say, “what will we eat in the seventh year…….” I will ordain My blessing. (25:20,21)

And Hashem Elokim called to the man, and said unto him, ‘Where are you?’” (3:8)

This is the workmanship of the Menorah…according to the vision that Hashem showed Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Speak to Aharon…When you kindle the lamps, towards the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps light. (8:2)

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” (22:28)

You shall be holy for Me;……and I have separated you from the peoples to be Mine. (20:26)

He shall don a sacred linen tunic; linen breeches shall be upon his flesh. (16:4)

YEARS

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