Bein adam la’Makom – Peninim on the Torah

ורדף אתם קול עלה נדף ונסו מנסת חרב ונפלו ואין רדף

The sound of a rustling leaf will pursue them, they will flee as one flees the sword, and they will fall – but without a pursuer. (26:36)

Being that this curse is toward the conclusion of the curses, it is apparent that it is more frightening than its predecessors, such as: hunger, privation, and death. Veritably, this curse may refer to one who is in no danger. There is no enemy – yet his heart is racing, the anxiety is gripping him. There is no threat; yet, he is filled with panic. The curse is not the enemy outside, but the fear from within. Such a person is not afraid of anything, other than fear itself. Once fear becomes the reigning force in one’s mind, he no…

Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

כי אל ארצי ואל מולדתי תלך ולקחת אשה לבני ליצחק

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Rather, to my land and to my kindred shall you go and take a wife for my son, for Yitzhak. (24:4)

Harov Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zl, relates a debate that took place between a modern, progressive thinking Jew and a traditional member of the community. Clearly, a deep contrast existed between the divergent outlooks on Jewish life and living that guided these two men. The forward thinking (as he regarded himself) wondered why, when Eliezer sought a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, a woman who would one day be the next Matriarch, he did not look for yichus, pedigree, nor was he concerned whether she used electricity on Shabbos, (There is a serious debate among the poskim whether one is prohibited from…

Home -> 5784 -> Mishpatim

ונקרב בעל הבית אל האלקים אם לא שלח ידו במלאכת רעהו

Sruly Schnair In Mishpatim, 5784

(If the thief is not found) then the householder shall approach the court that he had not laid his hand on his fellow’s property. (22:7)

The householder here is not the baal habayis, owner, of the lost/stolen articles, but rather, the shomer, unpaid watchman/custodian who claims that he is not responsible for the item that is missing. It is not his fault. He must come to bais din, court (which is here termed elokim) and swear that he has not laid his hand on his fellow’s property. In a homiletic rendering of the pasuk, Horav Meir, zl, m’Premishlan, explains: One who seeks to come close to Elokim, Hashem, must first be completely innocent of any sins concerning his fellowman. The Torah places a strong emphasis…

Home -> 5778 -> Va'eschanan

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Moshe Marcovich In Va'eschanan, 5778

Honor your father and your mother. (5:16)

The Luchos, Ten Commandments, are divided into two parts: bein adam la’Makom, between man and G-d; bein adam la’chaveiro, between man and fellowman. The fifth commandment, the mitzvah to honor one’s parents, almost appears misplaced, since it is included among the dibros bein adam la’Makom, when, in fact, one may argue that respect for parents, according them pleasure and satisfaction, belongs among the dibros bein adam la’chaveiro. Upon perusing the commentary of the Rishonim, we note that this is actually the case. The Sefer HaChinuch writes that among the shoroshei hamitzvah, root/origin of the mitzvah, is to teach a person…

Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך

Roberto Szerer In Vayeitzei, 5778

For you are aware of my service that I labored for you. 30:26)

Imagine in today’s day and age, a man working for fourteen years – day and night – exposed to the elements – not for money to provide his family – but for the right to have a family! Yaakov Avinu slaved for fourteen years – not to provide for his family – but just so that he could marry Lavan’s two daughters, who came to the table without any dowry. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, observes that those fourteen years serve as the bedrock, the foundation, upon which the national existence and family life of the House of Yaakov are rooted….

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ורדף אתם קול עלה נדף ונסו מנסת חרב ונפלו ואין רדף

The sound of a rustling leaf will pursue them, they will flee as one flees the sword, and they will fall – but without a pursuer. (26:36)

כי אל ארצי ואל מולדתי תלך ולקחת אשה לבני ליצחק

Rather, to my land and to my kindred shall you go and take a wife for my son, for Yitzhak. (24:4)

ונקרב בעל הבית אל האלקים אם לא שלח ידו במלאכת רעהו

(If the thief is not found) then the householder shall approach the court that he had not laid his hand on his fellow’s property. (22:7)

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Honor your father and your mother. (5:16)

כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך

For you are aware of my service that I labored for you. 30:26)

YEARS

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