Attitude – Page 65 – Peninim on the Torah

Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (37:21)

Reuven slowed the process, ultimately convincing his brothers not to be guilty of cold-blooded murder. Chazal teach that Reuven acted nonchalantly concerning his act of saving Yosef, not giving it the importance that it deserved. They say that had Reuven been aware that Hashem would write in His Torah that Reuven was to be credited with saving Yosef, he would have taken Yosef right then and there and carried him on his shoulders back home to Yaakov Avinu. Reuven acted properly, but did not give his actions much thought. A similar statement is made concerning Boaz, who gave Rus some…

Home -> 5771 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5771

And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but rather Yisrael, for you have striven, im Elokim and with people, and you have prevailed. (32:29)

In defining the phrase, im Elokim, which should be translated, “with G-d,” we find a difference of opinion among the commentators. Targum Yonasan ben Uziel defines the word Elokim as referring to angels of G-d. Thus, Yaakov Avinu fought with an angel. Targum Onkelos explains that the term Elokim refers to Hashem Himself, while the word preceding it, im, has the meaning of “before,” rather than “with.” Thus, the pasuk is translated such that the word im has two meanings: “You have striven before G-d and with people, “and” you have prevailed.” Horav Aharon Soloveitchik, zl, applies both of the…

Home -> 5771 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5771

Reuven went out in the days of the wheat harvest, and he found dudaim in the field…Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s dudaim.” But, she said to her, “Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband? And to take my son’s dudaim as well?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he shall be with you tonight in exchange for your son’s dudaim.” (30:14, 15)

There is a reason that one must learn Torah from a rebbe and that without the interpretation of the commentators, the Torah remains a closed book. We often come across instances, attitudes and actions that seem strange, atypical and questionable. We are struck by glaring reactions, which are obvious to one who is seeking a way to question the Torah. There is no shortage of bona fide commentators who elucidate and not only make sense of the circumstances, but also illuminate for us a perspective which indicates that this was specifically the only approach to ameliorate a potentially volatile situation….

Home -> 5771 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5771

And Yaakov went out from Beer Sheva. (28:10)

When Yaakov Avinu fled his father’s home, he was sixty-three years old. He was a wholesome, G-d-fearing Torah scholar whose entire life was devoted to studying Torah. Yet, prior to arriving in Lavan’s home, he had chopped arein, grabbed, another fourteen years of Torah study in the yeshivah of Shem and Eiver. Rashi writes that during those fourteen years our Patriarch was glued to the sefer. He did not lie down in bed to go to sleep the entire time he was there. Why? He was preparing himself for his entrance into the outside world. Imagine, if this was Yaakov Avinu’s…

Home -> 5771 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5771

Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

Yaakov Avinu was morally and ethically wholesome, attributes attested to by the Torah. He is characterized as “abiding in tents.” Rashi explains that this is a reference to Yaakov’s total devotion to spending his time in the tents of Torah, under the direction of Shem and Eiver. Yaakov did not simply “learn.” He studied with a passion, totally devoted to the Torah. During the fourteen years that Yaakov spent in yeshivah engrossed in Torah study, he did not willingly go to sleep in a bed. This does not mean that he was superhuman. Yaakov slept only when sleep overtook him….

Home -> 5771 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

“…That you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites.” (24:3)

Avraham Avinu was adamant: Yitzchak was not to marry a girl from his Canaanite neighbors. Eliezer, Avraham’s student, must go to Aram Naharaim to find Yitzchak’s bashert, Heavenly-designated spouse. These two places had one thing in common: The people worshipped pagans. Avodah zarah, idol worship, was a way of life in both places. Therefore, what did Avraham gain by going elsewhere? At least, if Yitzchak’s wife were to come from Canaan, Avraham would be acquainted with the family. Kli Yakar focuses on this question and presents us with an important explanation. He explains that there is another fear that concerned Avraham….

Home -> 5771 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead. (23:3)

Horav Yechezkel Rabinowitz, zl, author of the Knesses Yechezkel and Admor of Radomsk, explains this pasuk homiletically: He cites the Talmudic dictum in Meseches Shabbos 153a, and Pirkei Avos 2:15, “Repent one day before you die.” The Talmud poses the question of whether one knows when he will die – “Therefore, one should repent daily, since he never knows if he will be around the next day. This will generate an entire life filled with teshuvah.” The Radomsker remarked that this is how a Jew should live: Today is the last day of my life. I was allowed to live today,…

Home -> 5771 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5771

“Because the outcry of Sodom and Amorah has become great, and because their sin has been very grave.” (18:20)

The outcry of the victims of Sodom’s physical and mental abuse was too much. The tears of the oppressed seeking liberation from their misery had reached the Heavenly sphere. The Talmud Sanhedrin 109b cites a number of cases depicting the perverted sense of justice which characterized Sodom. One of the more infamous decrees was their approach to hospitality. In fact, the “Sodom bed” has become a catchword for describing a situation where something is made to fit – regardless of its size. The custom was that when a visitor came to Sodom, they would lay him down on a bed…

Home -> 5771 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5771

And He said, “Gaze, now, toward the Heavens, and count the stars if you able to count them!” And He said to him, “So shall your offspring be!” (15:5)

The Divrei Chaim explains the analogy to stars. Seen from the distance of the earth, stars appear miniscule. However, when seen in close proximity from above, their actual size is remarkable. Likewise, Klal Yisrael might be viewed as being diminutive and inconsequential in comparison to the nations of the world. But, upon Heavenly examination, their image changes immensely. Their true size increases as they are viewed through a Heavenly perspective. Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, offers a practical explanation for our being compared to stars. Hashem instructed Avraham Avinu to gaze upon the Heavens and count the stars – something which is…

Home -> 5771 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5771

For the earth is filled with robbery through them. (6:13)

The generation of the Flood did it all. Their behavior deteriorated to the point that immorality and idolatry had become a way of life. Their immoral conduct extended even to animals, whereby they completely disregarded the parameters of human decency and the separation between species. Yet, Chazal note that it was neither idolatry nor sexual perversion that catalyzed the final decree for their total extinction. It was chamas, gezel, robbery and thievery that brought them down. The commentators present a number of explanations why robbery was the ultimate factor that sealed their punishment. Ramban comments that robbery is a common-sense…

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Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (37:21)

And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but rather Yisrael, for you have striven, im Elokim and with people, and you have prevailed. (32:29)

And Yaakov went out from Beer Sheva. (28:10)

Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

“…That you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites.” (24:3)

Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead. (23:3)

“Because the outcry of Sodom and Amorah has become great, and because their sin has been very grave.” (18:20)

And He said, “Gaze, now, toward the Heavens, and count the stars if you able to count them!” And He said to him, “So shall your offspring be!” (15:5)

For the earth is filled with robbery through them. (6:13)

YEARS

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