Bracha – Page 30 – Peninim on the Torah

ויברך אלקים את יום השביעי ויקדש אתו

“G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” (2:3)

he average person understands the negative aspect of Shabbos, the various acts of labor that are forbidden. What about the positive side of Shabbos? How does one “celebrate” Shabbos? How does one act “Shabbosdik”? We all know that one is required to have an oneg Shabbos. What does “oneg,” enjoyment, mean? Horav Sholom Schwadron, z.l., contends that the idea of oneg Shabbos can have many definitions, based upon the individual and his religious/spiritual perspective. Some will enjoy Shabbos on a spiritual plane, with Torah and tefillah, heightened Torah study and prayer. Others will enjoy its physical/material aspect either through relaxation, sleep and peace of mind. Alternatively, is the individual who…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“Therefore the Bnei Yisrael are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip socket… because he (the angel) struck Yaakov’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew.” (32:33)

Rashi attributes the name given by the Torah to the sciatic nerve, Gid Hanashe, to the fact that the nerve was “nash’e,” “jumped” out of its place. When the angel struck Yaakov, he dislocated the sciatic nerve. Accordingly, the word nashe is defined as being removed from its original or usual place. Another meaning can be applied to the word “nash’e,” which sheds light upon the actual damage that resulted when the angel struck Yaakov. Horav Avigdor Tzvi Nebentzhal, Shlita, cites the pasuk in Parashas Mikeitz (Bereishis 41:51) in which Yosef, upon naming his son Menashe, says, ki nashani elokim…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

The Zohar Ha’Kadosh interprets the “kaf yerech” as “tamchin do’oraisa,” referring to those who support Torah. The Chafetz Chaim explains that Eisav’s angel disputed Yaakov’s claim to the blessings, offering the argument that Eisav had as much right to the blessings as Yaakov did. Yaakov retorted that his descendants would one day receive the Torah to study. Although Eisav’s angel could not impugn this rationale, he nevertheless attempted to hurt Yaakov. He succeeded in weakening the financial support for Torah. In the “Ikvasa d’Meshicha,” the period of time close to the advent of Moshiach, Torah supporters will seek excuses to…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayigash

“And he saw the wagons that Yosef had sent to transport him.” (45:27)

Chazal teach us that Yosef had a specific motivation in sending “agalos,” wagons. The Hebrew word “agalah,” wagon, is similar to the word “eglah,” calf. Yosef intended to provide a hint to Yaakov, referring to the laws of the eglah arufah (the calf which was killed as a symbol of the innocence of the elders of a city where a murder had been committed), which was the last section of halachah that Yosef had studied with Yaakov. He thereby demonstrated to his father that he had not forgotten his studies. Also, Yosef had taken leave of his father without escort…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayigash

“And Yehudah approached him and said, ‘If you please, my master, may your servant speak a word?'” (44:18)

Rashi views Yehudah’s opening statement as blunt and provocative. Yehudah was telling Yosef that if he did not release Binyamin, dire consequences would ensue. If necessary, Yehudah was prepared to wage war against Yosef and his country in order to effect Binyamin’s release from captivity. What happened? Yehudah seems to have undergone a remarkable personality change. In his previous encounter with Yosef, Yehudah appeared to be a meek, simple person, imploring Yosef to exercise his good graces towards them. Suddenly, Yehudah had become the mighty statesman, who threatened to wage war and heap disaster upon Egypt if he did not…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And I will return to my father’s home in peace; there Hashem will be my G-d.” (28:21)

Rashi interprets this pasuk in the sense that Yaakov Avinu was concerned that there should be no blemish on his descendants. Yaakov did not want to be saved from death at the hands of his brother, Eisav, only to have his offspring doomed to assimilation. The Jew has always concerned himself with his children’s future. The “future” to which Yaakov was referring was his children’s spiritual future. He certainly was anxious regarding their physical and financial security, but that was not his prime concern. The security of financial success was secondary to the Patriarch who was to build Klal Yisrael….

Home -> 5757 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And he dreamt, and behold a ladder was set earthward… and behold angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

The story of Yaakov Avinu’s dream captivates the mind of every Chumash student. Indeed, it has been the source of countless commentaries. As he flees from his brother Eisav, Yaakov stops enroute to lie down. Resting, he falls asleep and has a dream in which he sees Heavenly angels “going up and down” a ladder which stretches from Heaven to earth. At first glance, something seems wrong with this dream. One would expect Heavenly angels to first descend from Heaven and then go up again. Why do they “start” their journey on earth and go upward? Horav Moshe Swift, zl,…

Home -> 5757 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5757

“And tachash skins and shittim wood.” (25:5)

Rashi says that the Mishkan, its vessels, and the priestly garments were made from thirteen types of raw materials. When we count the materials, however, we find that there were actually fifteen. The commentators offer a number of explanations to reconcile this disparity. Interestingly, Rashi questions the desert origin of two of these materials. Rashi specifically wonders how Bnei Yisrael were able to obtain the shittim wood and the tachash skins in the desert. He explains that Yaakov Avinu brought the shittim wood to Egypt for the sole purpose of using it in the future Mishkan. The tachash was a…

Home -> 5757 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5757

“And he said (Yitzchak), ‘Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing.'” (27:35)

Probably one of the most difficult narratives in the Torah to understand, is the one which depicts Yaakov as “taking” the blessings from Yitzchak, through a manner uncharacteristic of someone who is considered to be the epitome of veracity. We do not understand the ways of Hashem. Why did He choose that Yitzchak be unaware that he was actually blessing Yaakov — and that Eisav was actually not fit for blessing altogether. The Zohar Ha’Kadosh comments that this scenario was essential so that the blessing would come directly from Hashem to Yaakov via the medium of the unsuspecting Yitzchak. The…

Home -> 5757 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5757

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

Chazal, at the end of Meseches Uktzin, say, “There is no greater container to hold Klal Yisrael’s blessings than peace.” One may have everything – health, prosperity, and fame – but without peace these gifts have no significance. Consequently, the blessings which the Kohanim are to impart upon Bnei Yisrael are sealed with the hope for peace. A community can catalyze peace in one of two ways. The first way is the positive approach, in which people work towards ironing out their differences, seeking ways to increase harmony and good will. Discord is viewed as taboo, so the slightest infraction…

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ויברך אלקים את יום השביעי ויקדש אתו

“G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” (2:3)

“Therefore the Bnei Yisrael are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip socket… because he (the angel) struck Yaakov’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew.” (32:33)

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

“And he saw the wagons that Yosef had sent to transport him.” (45:27)

“And Yehudah approached him and said, ‘If you please, my master, may your servant speak a word?'” (44:18)

“And I will return to my father’s home in peace; there Hashem will be my G-d.” (28:21)

“And he dreamt, and behold a ladder was set earthward… and behold angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

“And tachash skins and shittim wood.” (25:5)

“And he said (Yitzchak), ‘Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing.'” (27:35)

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

YEARS

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