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Home -> 5774 -> Va'eschanan

לא תוסיפו... ולא תגרעו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Va'eschanan, 5774

You shall not add… nor shall you subtract from it. (4:2)

The Torah is complete. It requires no addition and no subtraction. If Hashem has commanded us to perform a mitzvah in a specific manner, it is perfect in the manner it was given. To append or amend is to impugn the integrity of Hashem’s command. Thus, the mitzvah of Lulav is comprised of four species – not two or five; Tzitzis are fringes on the four corners of a garment – not five or three. While it is understandable that one may not diminish from Hashem’s word, but what is wrong with giving a little extra? Why place restrictions on…

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Home -> 5774 -> Tzav

קח את אהרן ואת בניו אתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5774

Take Aharon and his sons with him. (8:2)

Rashi teaches us how Aharon HaKohen was taken/convinced to perform the avodah, service. Mashcheihu bi’devarim, “draw him with words.” We are being taught an important principle. One should not be pulled to do something against his will. Compelling someone to perform a service which he either is not interested in executing or for which he feels completely incompetent will not produce fruits of success. Whatever inhibitions one has concerning a position must be assuaged via a positive manner if his work is to produce positive results. Aharon HaKohen had serious concerns regarding his own suitability to perform the sacrificial service….

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Home -> 5774 -> Tzav

זאת תורת העולה... על מוקדה על המזבח כל הלילה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5774

This is the law of the elevation-offering… (that stays) on the flame, on the Altar, all night. (6:2)’

There are individuals who serve Hashem, observe Torah and mitzvos, yet their actions are not oleh l’ratzon, received by Hashem in good will. Something is missing in their service to the Almighty. That something is “heart,” passion, enthusiasm. Such a person, even when he finally decides to go the route and serve Hashem with heartfelt passion, does so periodically. It is not one long constant avodas haBorei, service to the Creator. Dispassionate service goes nowhere; it certainly does not rise up to Hashem. The story is told that the Baal Shem Tov, zl, was once asked to speak to a…

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Home -> 5774 -> Toldos

ויהי עשו איש יודע ציד איש שדה. ויעקב איש תם יושב אהלים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Toldos, 5774

Eisav became one who knows hunting, a man of the field; but Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

Pathology is a word which often conjures up images of fear and the macabre. Actually, it means to search for the source, the origin, the root of something, so that one can define its nature and eventual course of growth. Thus, if it is a disease, the choice of treatment will depend on its origin. A speech pathologist is able to discern among various speech impediments.  Thus, she is able to determine the proper course of therapy. A “sin pathologist” studies the source of one’s aberrant behavior in search of a course of therapy to assist the subject in returning…

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Home -> 5774 -> Toldos

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו כי עקרה היא ויעתר לו ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Toldos, 5774

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by him. (25:21)

What is the significance of the fact that the Torah describes Hashem’s response to Yitzchak Avinu using the same word which it attributes to the Patriarch’s prayer? Atirah means to entreat. Yitzchak entreated Hashem. The Almighty did not entreat Yitzchak. Therefore, we translate the pasuk, “Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by him.” Could it not have used another word for “answered” or “listened”? It is almost as if Hashem responded to Yitzchak in the same manner in which Yitzchak prayed to Him. The Nesivos Shalom presents the scenario of Yitzchak and Rivkah Imeinu praying side by side, putting it…

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Home -> 5774 -> Tetzaveh

ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tetzaveh, 5774

You shall make sacred vestments for your brother, Aharon, for glory and splendor. (28:2)

Kavod and tiferes are terms which are associated with the dignity of man and the requirement of manifesting this sense of reserve and class. When we mention the gadlus ha’adam, greatness of man, one immediately thinks of Slabodka, the yeshivah whose Mashgiach/founder, the Alter zl, of Slabodka, Horav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, was its primary exponent. I take the liberty of expounding on the subject and its intended impact on the Jewish imperative. When Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel was about to launch his yeshivah, he asked Horav Yisrael Salanter, zl, founder of the Mussar, character refinement, movement, “On which foundations shall…

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Home -> 5774 -> Tazria

תביא כבש בן שנתו לעלה ובן יונה או תר לחטאת... וכפר עליה הכהן וטהרה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tazria, 5774

She shall bring a sheep within its first year for an Elevation-offering and a young dove or a turtle dove for a Sin-offering… and the Kohen shall provide atonement for her and she shall leave purified. (12:6,8)

The new mother is required to bring a korban, sacrifice, to atone – for what? This woman just brought a new neshamah, soul, into the world. She should be the recipient of accolades. Yet, she must bring a korban to atone for herself. Chazal teach that Moshiach will not arrive until all of the neshamos that are “waiting” in Heaven are born. She, in fact, was mekareiv, brought closer, the geulah, Final Redemption. Still, she must bring a korban for atonement. Chazal address this question and explain that, because during the extreme pangs of childbirth she had uttered an oath,…

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Home -> 5774 -> Shoftim

והאיש אשר יעשה בזדון... ומת האיש ההוא ובערת הרע מישראל. וכל העם ישמעו ויראו ולא יזידון עוד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shoftim, 5774

And the man that will act with willfulness… that man shall die, and if you shall destroy the evil from among Yisrael. The entire nation shall listen and fear, and they shall not act willfully anymore. (17:12,13)

How often – upon confronting a young Jewish boy or girl and inquiring why he or she has suddenly opted for living a life of spiritual risk, or of turning off completely to religious observance – will the response be, “I was turned off by the lack of truth, the dearth of intellectual honesty, the improper behavior such as chillul Hashem and hypocrisy”? Veritably, the response that we receive has a ring of truth to it. The system is perfect; the people, however, are human, and human beings err – some by not thinking, while others are simply dishonest. In…

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Home -> Shemos -> 5774

ויאמר משה אל ד'... לא איש דברים אנכי גם מתמול גם משלשם גם מאז דברך אל עבדך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Shemos

Moshe replied to Hashem… I am not a man of words, not since yesterday, not since the day before yesterday, nor since You first spoke to your servant. (4:10)

Rashi notes that this was the seventh day of Moshe Rabbeinu’s dialogue with Hashem. Moshe’s reluctance to assume the leadership of Klal Yisrael was because he did not want to arrogate himself over his older brother, Aharon, who was a Navi, Prophet, and the present leader of the people. The Yalkut Shimoni quotes Moshe, “Until I stood here, my brother, Aharon, had been prophesizing for the last eighty years. Now I should come into his perimeter? I should be his adversary and cause him pain?” Hashem replied, “You will neither be his adversary, nor will you cause him pain. Indeed,…

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Home -> 5774 -> Shelach

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5774

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

Probably the most common catalyst for sinful behavior is low self-esteem, which is often the precursor of depression. While depression alone is not a sin, it leads one to commit the most egregious transgressions. When one thinks ill of himself, he has little reason to act positively. After all, who cares? This, explains the Kotzker Rebbe, zl, was the motivation for the sin perpetrated by the meraglim, spies. They felt worthless; they had no chance of overcoming such a strong nation. Their negativity was infectious, causing the entire nation to feel bereft of their leadership. They all began to cry….

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