Attitude – Page 62 – Peninim on the Torah

There are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe. (3:1)

The Torah is about to detail the offspring of both Aharon and Moshe – yet, it enumerates only those of Aharon. Rashi quotes Chazal in the Talmud Sanhedrin 19b who teach that “whoever teaches his friend’s son Torah, it is considered as if he gave birth to him.” The Shlah Ha’kadosh adds that one should not take the word k’ilu, “as if,” verbatim, for it is more than “as if.” One who teaches Torah to his friend’s son has actually given birth to him. Father and mother provide a child’s body; the rebbe, Torah teacher, sustains his neshamah, soul. Thus,…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Bechukosai

Then they will confess their sin and the sin of their forefathers for the treachery with which they betrayed Me. (26:40)

We can understand saying Viduy, confessing one’s own sins, but why must we repent for the sins of our parents? We have a hard enough time dealing with our own issues – let alone those of our forebears. Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, explains that this reasoning would be justified in the event that we were not to be responsible for the sins of our parents. However, when our actions, cause our parents to sin, it is an entirely different story. Children, young and old, make excessive demands on their parents which can lead to parents doing things which are inappropriate,…

Home -> Behar -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Behar

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

Shemittah is a mitzvah which infuses emunah and bitachon, faith and trust, in a Jew. Each Shemittah (Sabbatical year), a Jew turns his back on what seems to be the source of his sustenance, and he does not work his field for an entire year. Living through a Shemittah provides one with an incredible test of his faith in Hashem. One who emerges triumphant from this test has indeed strengthened his emunah in the Almighty. Imagine an individual walking off the job that has been his source of support for the past six years, saying, “I am not working this…

Home -> 5771 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5771

No one, no one of you shall approach any close relative to uncover nakedness… And you shall not give any of your progeny to pass through for Molech… I am Hashem. (18:6,21)

After enumerating a list of sexual aberrations, the Torah concludes with an exhortation not to give one’s child “to pass through for [the] Molech [god].” Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains the rationale for this juxtaposition. He suggests a practical reason for the prohibition of the laws concerning ervah, physical relations with close relatives. He explains that a relationship between husband and wife should be predicated upon bonds of mutual love, which is the result of marriage. Any relationship which has been linked prior to marriage by bonds of mutual attachment and affection, or of familial love, precludes the link founded in…

Home -> 5771 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5771

This is the law for every tzaraas affliction… to rule/teach about which day it is impure and on which day it is purified. (14:54,57)

Toras Kohanim quotes Chanina ben Chachinai who asks why the Torah uses the word, l’horos, which primarily means “to teach.” He explains that a Kohen may not view and determine the contamination of a plague unless he had first been taught by his rebbe. It is no different than a medical student who must be taught the various intricacies of medicine “hands on”. The above issue is reflected in recent rabbinic discussions concerning the halachic attitude towards the time-honored approach to medical education of bedside rounds. This involves performing activities of clinical care at a patient’s bedside. The Netziv, zl, focuses on…

Home -> 5771 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5771

Moshe said to Aharon: “Come near to the Altar…and provide atonement for yourself and for the people.” (9:7)

Aharon HaKohen was not prepared to perform the service in the Sanctuary, because he felt undeserving and ashamed as a result of his involvement in the sin of the Golden Calf. Moshe Rabbeinu convinced him to go forward and execute the mission for which he had been selected. Indeed, Moshe addressed his reluctance, challenging him: “Why are you ashamed? Indeed, l’kach nivcharta, this is (specifically) the reason you were chosen.” Why was Aharon reluctant? Why was he ashamed? He had a number of valid justifications for his involvement with the Golden Calf. He was attempting to delay the people from…

Home -> 5771 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5771

“This is the thing that Hashem has commanded you to do; then the glory of Hashem will appear to you.” (9:6)

The adage that the “main thing is to be a Jew in one’s heart” is popular among those who have acculturated themselves to the prevalent gentile culture and society. According to this approach, mitzvah performance and a Torah oriented lifestyle are unnecessary. G-d’s primary objective is that Jews maintain Jewish hearts. This means that one believes in Hashem. In his heart, he is an Orthodox Jew. In practice, however, he is far from the Orthodox perspective. They often quote the Rabbinic dictum, Rachmana liba ba’i, “Hashem desires that a Jew have a pure heart.” Also, machshavah tovah Hakadosh Baruch Hu…

Home -> 5771 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5771

If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering. (7:12)

The Midrash teaches that l’asid lavoh, after the advent of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, all the korbanos, offerings, which effect atonement will be eliminated except for the Korban Todah, Thanksgiving-offering, which will continue. In a perfect world, sin will no longer exist. Yet, gratitude and thanksgiving will never be cancelled. While this statement is a powerful commentary on the significance of expressing gratitude, what purpose will there be for this declaration once Moshiach arrives and the “good times” begin? Hodaah, gratitude, is expressed by the recipient of a personal miracle; one who has been saved from a near-death experience; an individual who has survived…

Home -> 5771 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5771

It is the olah [that stays] on the flame, on the Mizbayach… and the fire of the Mizbayach shall be kept aflame on it. (6:2)

In the Talmud Succah 28a, Chazal relate an incident to express the idea which is reflected in both parts of the above pasuk by two different commentators. Chazal relate that Hillel HaZakein had eighty students, thirty of whom were worthy that the Shechinah rest on them, as it did on Moshe Rabbeinu. Another thirty of them were worthy that the sun stand still for them, as it did for Yehoshua bin Nun. The remaining twenty ranked in-between. This means that they were on a greater spiritual plane than those disciples who were compared to Yehoshua, but were not quite as…

Home -> 5771 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5771

Command Aharon and his sons, saying: This is the law of the Olah/Elevation-offering. (6:2)

In previous exhortations concerning the korbanos, offerings, the mitzvah was introduced either with the word daber, speak, or amarta, say. Why does the Torah use the more emphatic term, tzav, command, regarding the Korban Olah, Elevation/Burnt offering? Chazal explain that the more emphatic term is used here to urge the Kohanim to be especially zealous in performing this service; and to ensure that this enjoinment be repeated and emphasized constantly throughout future generations. Rabbi Shimon adds that this exhortation is especially relevant to those commandments that involve a monetary loss, such as the Korban Olah from which the Kohanim received…

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There are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe. (3:1)

Then they will confess their sin and the sin of their forefathers for the treachery with which they betrayed Me. (26:40)

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

No one, no one of you shall approach any close relative to uncover nakedness… And you shall not give any of your progeny to pass through for Molech… I am Hashem. (18:6,21)

This is the law for every tzaraas affliction… to rule/teach about which day it is impure and on which day it is purified. (14:54,57)

Moshe said to Aharon: “Come near to the Altar…and provide atonement for yourself and for the people.” (9:7)

“This is the thing that Hashem has commanded you to do; then the glory of Hashem will appear to you.” (9:6)

If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering. (7:12)

It is the olah [that stays] on the flame, on the Mizbayach… and the fire of the Mizbayach shall be kept aflame on it. (6:2)

Command Aharon and his sons, saying: This is the law of the Olah/Elevation-offering. (6:2)

YEARS

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