Attitude – Page 60 – Peninim on the Torah

So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the Bnei Yisrael, place it in their mouths. (31:19)

Chazal (Eiruvin 54b) derive from the words simah b’fi’hem, “Place it into their mouth,” that Torah must be taught in such a manner that the student fully comprehends the material, to the point that he becomes fluent in it. Indeed, Ramban opines that a rebbe, Torah teacher, must review the material as often as necessary until his students are proficient. If the going is slow, he may not become angry; rather he must keep on explaining. In a letter to educators, Horav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz, zl, underscored the need for a rebbe to present an amicable countenance, so that the…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeilech

Hashem spoke to Moshe, “Behold, your days are drawing near to die; summon Yehoshua, and both of you shall stand in the Ohel Moed, and I shall instruct him.” (31:14)

The changing of the guard, the transference of leadership, was about to occur. Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to summon Yehoshua. In the Midrash, V’zos HaBrachah, Chazal teach that ten “deaths” were written concerning Moshe. Ten times the Torah writes about the concept of death as it related to Moshe – but the decree had still not been sealed until…. Moshe did not take the entire idea of his death to heart and conjectured: “Klal Yisrael sinned many a time, sins that were certainly much more egregious than anything I have ever done. Even as a young child I did not sin….

Home -> 5771 -> Nitzavim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5771

The hidden things (sins) are for Hashem, our G-d, but the revealed things (sins) are for us. (29:28)

If ever there has been a pasuk that addresses the ills of contemporary society, it is this one. On all levels of exegesis, it speaks to us and the issues which plague many of us. Simply, the Torah is addressing those who contend that they cannot be held responsible for those Jews who sin covertly, who conceal their miscreancy, often under a façade of righteousness. Not only are they not sinners – they are righteous! How dare anyone impugn their spiritual integrity? Hashem’s response is quite forward: Do not worry about them. The hidden sin(s) are in My domain. I…

Home -> 5771 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5771

And so shall you do for any lost article of your brother that may become lost from him and you find it; you cannot hide yourself. (22:3)

Horav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg, zl, writes that he once received a brief from a law professor at the University of Buenos Aires lauding the halachic jurisprudence of the Torah. Indeed, the man wrote that he had studied the entire Torah and was able to understand and qualify the rationale for every law in the Torah – except for one. As impressed as he was by the Torah, he was extremely troubled with the one law that does not seem to make sense – at all. This is the law concerning yi’ush, whereby one who despairs of recovering his lost object…

Home -> 5771 -> Shoftim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5771

The Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O’ Yisrael, today you are coming near to the battle against your enemies; let your heart not be faint; do not be afraid; do not panic; and do not break down before them.” (20:2,3)

There is a well-known passage in the Talmud Berachos 5a which addresses the strategy one should employ upon being confronted by man’s greatest enemy from within: the yetzer hara, evil inclination. Chazal give us four options which, based upon a person’s spiritual level, should assist him in staving off the yetzer hara’s crippling influence. The first approach is yargiz yetzer tov al yetzer hara, agitate one’s good inclination against his evil inclination. Take the yetzer head on, using the good inclination within oneself to overwhelm the evil. If this does not prove effective, Chazal advise engaging in Torah study. If this…

Home -> 5771 -> Shoftim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5771

Justice, justice shall you pursue. (16:20)

Rashi explains the Torah’s enjoinment that we pursue justice as a demand that we seek out the most competent, knowledgeable court of law to adjudicate our dispute with another Jew. Sifsei Chachamim adds that, even though the case we have can really be listened to by any decent court of law, the claimant has an obligation to go out of his way to seek the most learned, qualified, impartial bais din available. A din Torah is often “cut and dry.” Reuven owes Shimon, so all that is necessary is a judge who is not “blind,” and who has the courage…

Home -> 5771 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5771

You shall surely tithe the entire crop of your planting… And you shall eat [it] before Hashem, your G-d. (14:22,23)

Rashi comments that the pasuk is referring to Maaser Sheini, the second tithe. He also tells us that it cannot be discussing Maaser Rishon, the first tithe, because that tithe was given to the Levi. Thus, when the Torah writes that the fruits of the present tithe may be eaten in any place, it obviously must be a different Maaser. Later, in pasuk 27, the Torah writes, “And the Levi who is in your cities, do not forsake him, for he does not have a portion or inheritance with you.” Rashi comments, “Do not forsake him by refraining from giving him…

Home -> 5771 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5771

See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

When one peruses Jewish history, it is apparent that the pendulum of Jewish fortune swings to extremes. We have been blessed with either incredible prosperity or drastic misfortune. Even concerning the individual, one is either highly successful, very observant, or sadly, the extreme opposite. While it may not be obvious to the casual observer, if one were to cogently look at life, he would see that for the Jew, life is either about ceaseless blessing or unbearable curse. Even with regard to sin, the Torah relates in the parsha of Krias Shema: He’shamru la’chem pen yifteh levavechem – v’sartem, va’avaditem…

Home -> 5771 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5771

See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

One of the basic tenets of Judaism is that man is equipped with the ability to discern between good and bad, right and wrong. He is also equipped with the capacity to choose right over wrong, good over evil. Contrary to popular opinion, man is not destined to do bad, to veer to the wrong side of the truth. If he does so, it is purely of his own volition, and not due to a predetermined GPS within his psyche that always steers him to do evil. The Torah says, “See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” Towards…

Home -> 5771 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5771

You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

The words V’achalta v’savata, “You will eat and you will be satisfied,” are mentioned twice in this Parsha: in the above pasuk, and later in (11:15). There is one difference, however, the above pasuk has an added word: u’beirachta, “and you will bless [Hashem].” In the second pasuk, the words V’achalta v’savata are followed in the next pasuk by, He’shamru la’chem pen yifteh l’vavchem v’sartem, “Beware for yourselves, lest your heart be seduced and you will turn astray.” Wherein lay the difference between the two phrases? Why is the second one followed with, “beware,” while the first concludes, “you will…

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So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the Bnei Yisrael, place it in their mouths. (31:19)

Hashem spoke to Moshe, “Behold, your days are drawing near to die; summon Yehoshua, and both of you shall stand in the Ohel Moed, and I shall instruct him.” (31:14)

The hidden things (sins) are for Hashem, our G-d, but the revealed things (sins) are for us. (29:28)

And so shall you do for any lost article of your brother that may become lost from him and you find it; you cannot hide yourself. (22:3)

The Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, “Hear, O’ Yisrael, today you are coming near to the battle against your enemies; let your heart not be faint; do not be afraid; do not panic; and do not break down before them.” (20:2,3)

Justice, justice shall you pursue. (16:20)

You shall surely tithe the entire crop of your planting… And you shall eat [it] before Hashem, your G-d. (14:22,23)

See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

See/Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

YEARS

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