Bracha – Page 32 – Peninim on the Torah

“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

The Torah is expressing the basic principle of bechirah chafshis, free-will. The blessing, which results from one’s good deeds, is catalyzed by one’s own positive decision. Similarly, one effects the curse by a negative decision. The Sfas Emes posits that there is a bracha for thanking Hashem for the gift of free-will, which distinguishes man from all other creatures. The abilitiy to discern between good and evil and to decide which path to take, raises man above all other creations. Everyday we recite this bracha, vkhk ihcu ouh ihc ihjcvk vbhc hufak i,b rat” Who gave the rooster understanding to…

Home -> Matos -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Matos

“The children of Reuven and the children of Gad had abundant livestock… they approached him (Moshe) and they said, pens for the flock we shall build here for our livestock and cities for our children… and Moshe said to them… Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your livestock.” (37:1,16,24)

Chazal teach us that Moshe criticized Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven for the prioritization of their values. They said they would build pens for their animals and cities for their children. They were implying that their livestock rated higher priority than their children. In Moshe Rabbeinu’s response, he implied that they should respond first to the needs of their children, and only then take the necessary steps to care for their livestock. It is difficult to comprehend that such great people would place their livestock before their children. This is not a question of priorities – it represents sheer stupidity!…

Home -> 5756 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5756

“And Korach took/separated himself… They gathered together against Moshe and Aharon.” (16:1,3)

Korach is one of the most tragic figures in the Torah. He had such amazing potential for achievement. In fact, he was one of those who participated in carrying the Aron Ha’Kodesh. This distinction, together with the massive wealth he had accumulated, was still not sufficient to quell his feelings of envy, his lust for power. Chazal refer to Korach’s incursion as “shtus,” foolishness. We would assume that a man who carried the Aron would know better. Did he not know that the Aron was not carried by its carriers, but that actually the Aron supported itself, as well as…

Home -> 5756 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5756

“A man’s holies shall be his, and what a man shall give to the Kohen shall be his.” (5:10)

Chazal interpret this pasuk to imply that he who gives tzedakah to the poor or gifts to the Kohen or Levi will not sustain any loss as a result. It shall be vhvh uk, it will continue to be his-as Hashem will reward him. Accumulating wealth carries with it enormous responsibility. The first blessing that the Kohanim confer upon Bnei Yisrael is, “Hashem should bless you and guard you.” This blessing grants Klal Yisrael material abundance. Riches and prosperity, however, do not always generate blessing. At times, one needs to be protected from his own possessions, he must be guarded…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bechukosai

If you follow My decrees… then I will provide your rains in their time… But if you will not listen to Me… then I will do the same to you.” (26:3,4,14,16)

This parsha is often misunderstood to be dealing with reward and punishment, blessings and curses. This is absolutely not true. Hashem does not curse. The correct name given to that portion of the parsha in which the reader recites the various “responses” to our iniquitous behavior is the “tochachah,” warning, admonishment. Horav Moshe Swift, zl, remarks that reward and punishment are applicable in the hereafter. In this world, however, we deal with direct consequences. Every action or endeavor promotes a consequence. If we walk in Hashem’s path, if we observe His mitzvos, then the consequences are positive. We will receive…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayikra

Speak unto the Bnei Yisrael and say to them, A man from you who will bring close an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

Rashi explains the Torah’s emphasis upon the word “adam”, man, as an allusion to Adam Ha’Rishon. His korban did not have a tinge of impropriety connected to it, since everything belonged to him. So, too, may we not offer any korbanos from that which is not rightfully ours. We may question the Torah’s choice of word–adam–as the point of reference for teaching us that we may not use that which is stolen. Throughout the Torah, we derive the prohibition from using that which is gezel, stolen, from the word “la’chem,” yours. That which we use for a mitzvah must belong…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayigash

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. (46:28)

Yaakov sent Yehudah ahead of the family to prepare for their arrival. The Midrash understands the word “l’horos” according to its Hebrew definition, “to teach.” Yaakov sent Yehudah to found a yeshivah, a place where their family could study Torah. We infer from Yaakov’s action that Torah study takes priority over any other endeavor. When a community is being developed, one must first establish a Torah institution, nurturing its inhabitants spiritually. The commentators address the fact that Yehudah, not Yosef, was chosen to establish the yeshivah, even though Yosef was a distinguished talmid chacham, who had already been in…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

Sforno interprets the idea of “this evil,” to mean the performance of bad in return for good. Yosef’s prime concern was the gratitude he owed his master. He could not respond to the advances of his master’s wife because of his hakoras hatov, the appreciation he felt to Potiphar. We may infer from here a lesson regarding the significance of hakoras hatov, and how far one must go to fulfill his obligation to acknowledge gratitude. Yosef was subject to the blandishments of Potiphar’s wife on an almost constant basis. She tried to entice him in every way possible. She would…

Home -> 5758 -> Vayeitzei

Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

In his commentary on this pasuk, Ibn Ezra makes a compelling statement. He interprets Leah’s “gratitude” as if she were saying, “I have had four sons. I, therefore, thank Hashem, for I want no more.” It is as if she were saying, “I have enough; Hashem has been very kind. I am now grateful for everything that He has given me.” Therefore she stopped giving birth. Horav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, infers from Ibn Ezra that Leah caused her own inability to bear additional children. She claimed that she had had enough. Thus, she stopped conceiving and giving birth. Whether…

Home -> 5758 -> Vayeitzei

Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

In his second interpretation of this pasuk, Rashi cites the Talmud in Chullin 91, which relates that Yaakov traveled to Charan to find a wife, according to his parents’ request. After a long journey, he reached Charan. When he arrived, he realized that he had passed by Har Ha’Moriah without having stopped to pray there. He was shocked at his oversight. How could he have passed the place where his father and grandfather used to say their tefillos and not take advantage of the opportunity to do the same? He immediately turned around and began the journey all the way…

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“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

“And Korach took/separated himself… They gathered together against Moshe and Aharon.” (16:1,3)

“A man’s holies shall be his, and what a man shall give to the Kohen shall be his.” (5:10)

If you follow My decrees… then I will provide your rains in their time… But if you will not listen to Me… then I will do the same to you.” (26:3,4,14,16)

Speak unto the Bnei Yisrael and say to them, A man from you who will bring close an offering to Hashem. (1:2)

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef to prepare ahead of him in Goshen. (46:28)

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

YEARS

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