Attitude – Page 80 – Peninim on the Torah

אם בחקתי תלכו ואת מצותי תשמרו ועשיתם אתם

If you will follow My decrees and observe My Commandments and perform them. (26:3)

At first glance, the pasuk appears repetitious: follow My decrees; observe My commandments; perform them. The Torah is not written in synonyms. Every word – indeed, every letter – has profound significance. How are we to understand what appear to be variegated nuances for heeding Hashem’s word? Rashi explains that the pasuk is teaching us the process by which we proceed from learning to action. The combined meaning of the pasuk is: If you will follow My decrees by engaging in ameilus ba’Torah, intensive Torah study, with the intention that this study will lead to; observe My commandments properly, and,…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5774

פקד את בני לוי לבית אבתם... כל זכר מבן חדש ומעלה תפקדם. ויפקד אתם משה על פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Bamidbar

Count the sons of Levi according to their father’s household… every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem. (3:15,16)

Perhaps the infants of Shevet Levi were precocious, but they certainly did not perform the service in the Sanctuary at the age of thirty-days old. Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, explains that the members of other tribes were occupied with guarding and working the land. Thus, they were unable to devote as much time to their children’s education as were the Leviim. Therefore, they were counted when they reached the age of twenty years. When they were still young, it was difficult to know if they would achieve the spiritual level required to represent the nation. At age twenty, the way…

Home -> 5774 -> Balak

אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5774

“If Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

Rashi notes that by speaking of silver and gold, Bilaam revealed his true character: a greed-filled desire for money and the power that accompanies it. The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos 6:9, relates that the Tanna Rabbi Yose ben Kisma once met a Jew from another community who offered the sage the opportunity to move to his city where he would set him up with whatever material needs he would require. Rabbi Yose replied, “If you were to give me all the silver, gold and precious stones in the world, I would only make my home in a city of Torah.”…

Home -> 5774 -> Balak

וישלח מלאכים אל בלעם בן בעור פתורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5774

He sent messengers to Bilaam ben Beor to Pesor. (22:5)

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (5:22) distinguishes between the talmidim, disciples, of Bilaam ha’rasha, and those of Avraham Avinu. The three character traits which are the hallmarks of Avraham’s students are: ayin tovah, a good eye, ruach nemuchah, lowly, humble spirit; and nefesh shefalah, a meek soul. Ayin tovah is listed first – and rightfully so – because it plays a leading role in defining one’s character. Rabbeinu Yonah explains ayin tovah as generosity of spirit, a middah of the kindhearted person who goes out of his way to perform good deeds, to shower his benevolence on others. He cites…

Home -> 5774 -> Balak

וישלח מלאכים אל בלעם בן בעור פתורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5774

He sent messengers to Bilaam ben Beor to Pesor. (22:5)

The parsha introduces us to Bilaam ha’rasha, the wicked, evil Bilaam, the prophet who was the designated pagan counterpart of Moshe Rabbeinu. While our quintessential leader certainly had no equal, Bilaam, as the Midrash explains, was the Heavenly response to the pagan world’s request for equal leadership. Although Bilaam could not have been less like Moshe, he did have within him the ability to rise very high in prophetic powers. As we mentioned, he was a degenerate; as such, he was precluded from rising to spiritual ascendency. In which specific aspects of his behavior did Bilaam manifest these shortcomings, which…

Home -> 5774 -> Acharei Mos

כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

No one was permitted to enter the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, except for Aharon HaKohen and future Kohanim Gedolim. This would take place once a year, on Yom Kippur. It was in the Kodesh HaKedoshim, from within a Cloud hovering above the Kapores, Ark Cover, that Hashem’s Glory was manifest. Hashem’s Glory is hidden beneath many veils. It is within the innermost area of sanctity and, even then, it is shrouded within a cloud. Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, derives a powerful, inspirational lesson from Hashem’s clandestine Presence. Ki be’anan eiraeh, “For in a Cloud will I appear.” Every time,…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayikra

When any man of you offers an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

Horav Ovadiah Yosef, Shlita, cites a powerful analogy to give a profound meaning to this pasuk. A man once entered a department store and requested that the salesperson show him their best mirror. The salesperson returned with a very impressive mirror. The customer took one look at it, frowned and returned it saying this is not what he wants. The salesperson queried, “What is wrong with this mirror that you rejected it so fast?” The would-be customer responded, “I see a strange image in this mirror.” Upon hearing this, the salesperson took one look at the man standing before him: …

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayikra

And He (Hashem) called to Moshe. (1:1)

The Midrash notes the fact that Moshe Rabbeinu had as many as ten names, each one characterizing a different one of his traits. Hashem told him that regardless of his many names, He would refer to him only by the name that Bisya bas Pharaoh had given him – Moshe. Referring to drawing him from the water, “ki min hamayim meshisihu,” she called him Moshe, which is related to “meshisihu,” “drew him” (from the water). While this name is important, it only reflects Bisya’s act of saving him, so it should not take precedence over the other names that address…

Home -> 5759 -> Metzora

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Metzora, 5759

This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification. He shall be brought to the Kohen. (14:2)

The Torah commands the people to bring a metzora to the Kohen. This implies that the metzora is brought even by force, if necessary. The Ibn Ezra explains that human nature’s control over a person is compelling. The moment that he is healed from his illness, he no longer senses the urgency to attain his purity. Thus, he must be brought to the Kohen. Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, feels that this applies to all areas of human endeavor. When the metzora is in pain, when he suffers various afflictions, he does anything to effect a release from his anguish. Yet,…

Home -> 5759 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5759

The son of an Israelite woman – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name and blasphemed… the name of his mother was Shlomis daughter of Divri. (24:10,11)

The Torah relates the story of a Jew who committed the heinous sin of blaspheming the Name of Hashem. The Torah records this person’s mother’s name as Shlomis bas Divri. Rashi attributes the name Shlomis to her tendency to greet everyone, striking up a conversation with everyone she meets. The name Divri also implies that she was a dabronis, talked very much with everyone. Apparently, her proclivity to talk excessively led to all forms of sinful speech and behavior. The Chasam Sofer questions Rashi’s statement. It would seem that Rashi was giving us a reason why this woman gave birth…

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אם בחקתי תלכו ואת מצותי תשמרו ועשיתם אתם

If you will follow My decrees and observe My Commandments and perform them. (26:3)

פקד את בני לוי לבית אבתם... כל זכר מבן חדש ומעלה תפקדם. ויפקד אתם משה על פי ד'

Count the sons of Levi according to their father’s household… every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem. (3:15,16)

אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

“If Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

וישלח מלאכים אל בלעם בן בעור פתורה

He sent messengers to Bilaam ben Beor to Pesor. (22:5)

וישלח מלאכים אל בלעם בן בעור פתורה

He sent messengers to Bilaam ben Beor to Pesor. (22:5)

כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

When any man of you offers an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

And He (Hashem) called to Moshe. (1:1)

This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification. He shall be brought to the Kohen. (14:2)

The son of an Israelite woman – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name and blasphemed… the name of his mother was Shlomis daughter of Divri. (24:10,11)

YEARS

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