Attitude – Page 88 – Peninim on the Torah

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

The Kli Yakar sees a redundancy in this pasuk: “One man from each tribe; a leader of his father’s household.” Being the appointed one of each tribe is quite a distinctive position. Why is it necessary to add that he be a leader of his father’s household? In his Toras Chaim, Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, explains this in his inimitable manner – with two stories. It is related that when the venerable Kotzker Rebbe, Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, was a young boy, a fire broke out in his hometown. In those days, houses were made of wood; thus, they were…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

The words mineged, which is usually defined as “opposite,” and saviv, which means “surrounding,” contrast one another. Were the Jews opposite the Ohel Moed, or were they camped surrounding it? Veritably, these terms complement one another, as explained by Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, with the following story. An observant physician from Germany decided that he wanted to visit the blossoming Torah world of Lithuanian Jewry. After all, he was a frum, observant, doctor who meticulously adhered to all the mitzvos. He wanted to see what about Lithuanian yeshivah life differed from his lifestyle. One can imagine the culture shock when…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

The Kli Yakar sees a redundancy in this pasuk: “One man from each tribe; a leader of his father’s household.” Being the appointed one of each tribe is quite a distinctive position. Why is it necessary to add that he be a leader of his father’s household? In his Toras Chaim, Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, explains this in his inimitable manner – with two stories. It is related that when the venerable Kotzker Rebbe, Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, was a young boy, a fire broke out in his hometown. In those days, houses were made of wood; thus, they were…

Home -> 5753 -> Nitzavim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5753

“You are standing this day, all of you before Hashem your G-d . . . that you should enter into the covenant of Hashem your G-d and into His oath.” (29:9,11) – “Lest there be among you a man or woman whose heart turns away this day from Hashem our G-d, to go to serve the gods of those nations.” (29:17)

The Chofetz Chaim, z.l., explains that the moment when Moshe stood before Bnei Yisrael, prepared to bring them into Hashem’s covenant, was filled with trepidation and uncertainty. On the one hand, Moshe had shared with Bnei Yisrael Hashem’s recognition of their lofty accomplishments. His statement of unconditional love for them reassured them of their future. Immediately thereafter, however, Moshe admonished them regarding the individual Jew who might have been leaning towards idol worship. This individual’s deviation from Hashem could fester, bringing ruin to a whole nation! This seems unreal! How could an entire community fall victim to the folly of…

Home -> 5753 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5753

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son that will not listen to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother . . . and they shall say . . . ‘this our son is stubborn and rebellious he will not listen to our voice.'” (21:18,20)

The halachos that abound regarding the ben sorer u’moreh, rebellious son, preclude its practical application. Indeed, in Sanhedrin 71A the Talmud states that there has never been an incident of ben sorer u’moreh which culminated in the boy’s execution. According to the Talmud, the parsha of ben sorer u’moreh was included in the Torah for the sole purpose of study and reward. This indicates the importance of the parsha’s message regarding the proper method for the education of children. Nonetheless, the approach to teaching the specific message presented seems questionable. Why did the Torah not simply state the positive factors…

Home -> 5753 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5753

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son . . and all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die. (21:18,21)

Rashi offers the reason for this extreme punishment. The ben sorer u’moreh, rebellious son, is punished because of what he may become in the end. The Torah delves into his final intentions. In order to satisfy his insatiable desires, after first consuming his father’s wealth, he will stand at the crossroads and rob people. In order to satisfy his “needs,” he may even murder. Consequently, the Torah said, let him die innocent rather than guilty. This approach to retribution is, however, not consistent with Rashi’s thesis in Bereishis 21:17. When Yishmael was condemned to die as a child, the pasuk…

Home -> 5753 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5753

“And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless Hashem your G-d for the good land which He has given you.” (8:10)

This pasuk implies that Bircas Ha’mazon is not merely a formal offering of gratitude for the meal which we have eaten. Rather, it proclaims our acknowledgment that Hashem is the source of all things. Indeed, we even submit our thanks to Hashem for providing us with our land. This seems enigmatic. Imagine being invited to someone’s home for dinner and, after the meal, thanking the host for the use of his furniture and home during the course of the meal. This expression of gratitude is undoubtedly excessive. Why, then, is it necessary to specifically mention the land during Bircas Ha’Mazon?…

Home -> 5753 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5753

“Love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your might.” (6:5)

The Talmud in Berachos explains “with all your heart,” “levovcha,” is the plural form of “lev,” which implies two hearts or two distinct natural drives, the good nature and evil nature of a person. This statement seems enigmatic. How does one serve Hashem with his evil inclination? Should not evil be uprooted? Horav Moshe Rosenstein, z.l., posits that serving Hashem with one’s evil impulse is actually easier and less complex than serving Hashem with one’s good nature. Horav Rosenstein explains that to love someone means to relinquish one’s possession to the other person. The ability to surrender an object, to…

Home -> Devarim -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Devarim

“May He make you so many more like you a thousand times, and may He bless you as He has promised you.” (1:11)

Just as Moshe Rabbeinu was on the verge of leaving Am Yisrael, he offered up a tefillah, prayer, that the nation be blessed with amazing future growth. He adds one word, however, which sheds light on the Torah‘s perspective upon Jewish survival. Moshe says, “May He make you so many more like you.” The true blessing is that the future generations are “like you,” following in the traditional path paved by their ancestors with blood, sweat, and tears. In order to insure that the Jewish children of today and tomorrow serve as links in the chain of tradition, it is…

Home -> 5753 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5753

“And Hashem said to Moshe, take Yehoshua ben Nun, a man of spirit.” (27:18)

The relationship between Yehoshua, the disciple, and Moshe, the rebbe, serves as the paradigm of a rebbe-talmid relationship. Yehoshua’s constant attachment to his Rebbe, symbolized by the fact that he never allowed even one word of Torah to escape unheard, was a basic reason for his advancement to Am Yisrael’s leadership. His faithfulness and devotion were exemplary; his commitment and diligence were unprecedented. The Talmud in Bava Basra 75a relates that when Yehoshua succeeded Moshe, the elders of the generation remarked, “The face of Moshe was like the sun, while the face of Yehoshua was like the moon.” Most commentators…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5773 ->

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son that will not listen to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother . . . and they shall say . . . ‘this our son is stubborn and rebellious he will not listen to our voice.'” (21:18,20)

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son . . and all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die. (21:18,21)

“And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless Hashem your G-d for the good land which He has given you.” (8:10)

“Love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your might.” (6:5)

“May He make you so many more like you a thousand times, and may He bless you as He has promised you.” (1:11)

“And Hashem said to Moshe, take Yehoshua ben Nun, a man of spirit.” (27:18)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!