Attitude – Page 75 – Peninim on the Torah

ותצחק שרה בקרבה לאמר אחרי בלותי היתה לי עדנה ואדני זקן.

And Sarah laughed at herself, saying, “After I have withered shall I again have delicate skin? And my husband is old!” (18:12)

Is it possible that Sarah Imeinu questioned Hashem’s ability to produce a miracle? Certainly not! She simply did not believe that this was a Divine message. It was the courteous wish of a guest who was just being nice. Sarah had long passed her childbearing age. It would take nothing less than a miracle for her to give birth to a child. Had she known the true identity of these travelers, she would not have been so quick to laugh. Horav Mordechai Eliyahu, zl, has a different approach to the entire parsha, which I feel portrays Sarah in a positive…

Home -> 5755 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had born unto Avraham making sport.” (21:9)

Rashi explains that the term “making sport” denotes idol-worship. The question which confronts us upon reading the narrative is: Why was Sarah so inflexible regarding Yishmael’s iniquity? She noticed Yishmael “making sport,” i.e. worshipping idols and she immediately proceeded to request that Avraham drive him from their home. This attitude does not seem to be typical of Sarah Imeinu, who was noted for her proselytizing efforts on behalf of the One G-d. She worked side by side with her husband, Avraham, to inspire a world of non-believers to believe in the Almighty. Her compassion, understanding, and patience were exemplary in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“Let a little water now be taken and wash your feet.” (18:4)

The pasuk implies that Avraham sent an agent (Yishmael) to bring the water. Rashi states that Avraham should have personally attended to the guests. As a result of his personal non-involvement, when Hashem responded to Avraham’s descendants, He also sent an agent (Moshe) to give water to them. Why is this? The act of chesed, kindness, was performed, albeit through an agent. Why then should there be negative repercussions? The Chofetz Chaim offers two insights. First, it is always more propitious to personally attend to the mitzvah, rather than to delegate it to an intermediary. Second, it is a greater…

Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And (when) she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes… And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her (face).” (16:4,6)

There seems to be a distinct correlation between Hagar’s attitude towards her mistress and Sarah’s response. Horav Yisrael Yaakov Lubchenski z.l., suggests that actually Sarah’s attitude towards Hagar had never changed. It remained consistent throughout their relationship. After Hagar lost respect for her venerable mistress, however, she felt abused. He explains this statement in the following manner: Hagar was a princess who had left a lifestyle of wealth and fame to join Avraham in the quest for greater spirituality. She chose to be a maidservant in Avraham’s home, rather than a princess in an environment of godlessness and depravity. Undoubtedly,…

Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And Avram said… what will your give me, seeing that I go childless and he that will be the possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.” (15:2)

Avraham Avinu entreated Hashem for a son, lest his servant Eliezer be the one to inherit his wealth. Chazal interpret the word eans using the principle of notaricon, as a modified form denoting Eliezer’s deeds. He would be ohrjtk ucr ,ru,n veanu vkus . He [Eliezer], ks, “drew” up his master’s teachings and “gave of them to drink”. He, vean, imparted [his master’s teachings] to others.” Avraham’s request seems strange. He obviously had a student whose exemplary characteristic was his ability to impart all of his rebbe’s teachings to others. Why did he need a son to do what his…

Home -> 5755 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5755

“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood, with rooms; you shall make the ark. And you shall pitch it within and without… A light/window you shall make for the ark.” (6:14,16)

Horav Aharon Levine z.l. uses the ark as a metaphor for the Jewish home. Chazal explain that gopher wood is actually cedar wood. As the cedar tree stands tall, towering above the other trees, so, too, should the Jewish home exemplify lofty goals and ideas in establishing the spiritual foundation of the Jewish family. The roots of the cedar tree are firmly implanted in the ground and will not yield even to the strongest winds. The Jewish home must also have its perspective on life firmly rooted in Torah hashkafah, philosophy, rendering it immune to the heretical winds of change….

Home -> 5755 -> Bereishis

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5755

“The snake was the craftiest of all the wild animals.” (3:1)

The “first sin” stands as the paradigm of all sin. As Horav Eli Munk z.l., notes, sin begins with a dialogue between the animal instinct and the human conscience. The deciding factor of sin is, which one will prevail? How one responds to this question determines his own personal destiny and that of future generations. In the final analysis, the success or failure of mankind is dependent upon man’s attitude towards ethics and morality. The Torah’s narrative regarding man’s first breach in obedience is the story of all moral failings. Animals respond only to their instinct, while man is blessed…

Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

יהודה אתה יודוך אחיך... בן פורת יוסף

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayechi

Yehudah – you, your brothers shall acknowledge. (49:8) A charming son is Yosef. (49:22)

In Yaakov Avinu’s blessings to his sons, we see the Patriarch delineate the specific area of avodas Hashem, service to Hashem, of each individual tribe. Together, their service coalesces and the purpose of Creation is realized. Each tribe’s personality was different. This variation reflected a different approach to avodas Hashem. Yaakov’s blessing ensured that the shefa, spiritual flow from Above, would be endemic to the requirements of each individual shevet, tribe. The blessings of the Patriarch singled out two tribes for monarchy: Yehudah and Yosef. Each was uniquely suited for his role of leadership, based upon his individual character traits….

Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

ויחי יעקב בארץ מצרים... ויהי ימי יעקב שני חייו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayechi

Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt… and the days of Yaakov – the years of his life. (47:28)

The popular adage, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” rings true in the ears of the committed who are acutely aware of the meaning of every moment of G-d-given life. We have no guarantees. Life is short, and it is up to each and every one of us to make the most of every minute. This is unlike the attitude of some who believe that everything belongs to them. Parashas Vayechi deals primarily with the last mortal days of Yaakov Avinu: how he prepared for death, and the blessings he gave his children before he…

Home -> 5774 -> Va'eschanan

לא מרבכם מכל העמים חשק ד' בכם ויבחר בכם כי אתם המעט מכל העמים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5774

Not because you are numerous than all the peoples did Hashem desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples. (7:7)

Toward the end of the parsha, the Torah describes Hashem’s relationship with Klal Yisrael, claiming that it has nothing to do with our being numerous – because we are not. We are a minority among nations. Because we are the fewest of peoples, however, Hashem has decided to bestow His love on us. Rashi explains that size does not actually play a significant role in determining our relationship. Rather, “fewest” means we minimize ourselves, like Avraham Avinu who said, V’Anochi afar va’eifar, ‘I am but dust and ashes” (Bereishis 18:27) and like Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen, who said, Va’anachnu…

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ותצחק שרה בקרבה לאמר אחרי בלותי היתה לי עדנה ואדני זקן.

And Sarah laughed at herself, saying, “After I have withered shall I again have delicate skin? And my husband is old!” (18:12)

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had born unto Avraham making sport.” (21:9)

“Let a little water now be taken and wash your feet.” (18:4)

“And (when) she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes… And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her (face).” (16:4,6)

“And Avram said… what will your give me, seeing that I go childless and he that will be the possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.” (15:2)

“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood, with rooms; you shall make the ark. And you shall pitch it within and without… A light/window you shall make for the ark.” (6:14,16)

“The snake was the craftiest of all the wild animals.” (3:1)

יהודה אתה יודוך אחיך... בן פורת יוסף

Yehudah – you, your brothers shall acknowledge. (49:8) A charming son is Yosef. (49:22)

ויחי יעקב בארץ מצרים... ויהי ימי יעקב שני חייו

Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt… and the days of Yaakov – the years of his life. (47:28)

לא מרבכם מכל העמים חשק ד' בכם ויבחר בכם כי אתם המעט מכל העמים

Not because you are numerous than all the peoples did Hashem desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples. (7:7)

YEARS

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