Bracha – Page 35 – Peninim on the Torah

והיה בעברכם את הירדן תקימו את האבנים האלה... בהר עיבל

It shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall erect these stones… on Har Eival. (27:4)

Har Gerizim was the site of the blessings; Har Eival served as its counterpart, the site reserved for the curses. Would it not make sense that the Mizbayach, Altar, upon which the Korbanos Shelamim, Peace-offerings and Festive-offerings were brought, would be situated on Har Gerizim, the mountain of blessing? Har Eival was the mountain upon which the curses were pronounced. One would consider it an unlikely candidate for the Mizbayach. Horav Moshe Feinstien, zl, illuminates us with an insight into the meaning of — and the distinction between –blessing and curse. Blessing is defined as abundance, fulfillment of all one’s…

Home -> 5777 -> Emor

ויצא בן אשה ישראלית והוא בן איש מצרי... ושם אמו שלומית בת דברי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5777

The son of a Yisraeli woman went out – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the name of his mother was Shlomis bas Divri. (24:10,11)

Chazal (Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 32) state that Klal Yisrael was redeemed from Egypt due to its high standard of morality. Indeed, not one Jewish man or woman was involved with an Egyptian, except for Shlomis bas Divri, who is singled out in the Torah. This is our Torah’s way of teaching that no other Jew or Jewess had sinned. A powerful statement, attested to by the Torah. How did they do it? It is not as if Klal Yisrael was perfect. Veritably, the people clung steadfast to certain traditions and lifestyles, but to rise above the moral turpitude that was…

Home -> 5777 -> Emor

אלה מועדי ד' מקראי קדש... בחדש הראשון... בין הערבים פסח לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5777

These are the appointed Festivals of Hashem, the holy convocations… in the first month… in the afternoon is the time of the Pesach-offering to Hashem. (23:4,5)

In his Chorev (23), Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains why the Festivals, the Yamim Tovim, are referred to in the Torah as Moadim, which means appointed times. He writes, ‘The Moadim summon us to submit ourselves entirely to the contemplation and inner realization of those ideals which lie at their foundation. The Moadim are days which stand out from among the other days of the year. They summon us from our everyday life to halt and to dedicate all of our spiritual activities to them. They (the Moadim) give us the spirit, power, and sanctity for the future by reviving…

Home -> 5777 -> Eikev

למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה אשר נשבע ד' לאבתיכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5777

In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the land that Hashem has sworn to your forefathers. (11:21)

I just came across a homily published in 1929 by Horav Elazar Meir Preill, zl, Rav of Elizabeth, New Jersey, in which he decries the lack of respect for the “older” generation. There used to be a time (he writes) when the older generation were the pillars of the Jewish community, their advice sought, appreciated and accepted. “Here” (in America at that time), the younger generation has taken charge – relegating their forebears to a place of honor in a nursing home or to a corner of their homes. Not only is their opinion not sought, it is not accepted….

Home -> Devarim -> 5777

אכל תשברו מאתם בכסף ואכלתם... כי ד אלקים ' ברכך בכל מעשה ידיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Devarim

You shall purchase food from them for money so that you may eat… For Hashem, your G-d, has blessed you in all your hard work. (2: 6,7)

Rashi explains that Hashem has provided you with ample funds, so that you can pay for the food that you receive from Eisav’s descendants. If Hashem provides, it would be ingratitude on your part to ask for food without paying for it. Horav Moshe Chevroni, zl, derives from here a powerful lesson concerning the meaning of gratitude. When a Jew has the means, yet he presents himself as destitute and in need of assistance, he defames Hashem. He makes it appear that the Almighty does not provide for His subjects. This applies (I assume) not only before gentiles, but even…

Home -> 5777 -> Balak

ויפתח ד' את פי האתון

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5777

Hashem opened up the mouth of the she-donkey. (22:28)

At times, the truth can be painful. It can be brutal. Why? Because it is the truth. Unembellished truth can be enlightening – but, sadly, not all of us are able to withstand the power of illumination. Balak sought to defeat the Jewish People. He hired Bilaam, an evil pagan prophet, to curse them. Bilaam was a powerful individual who had been blessed with being the pagan world’s response to Moshe Rabbeinu. In the end, Bilaam’s intended negative itent was transformed into positive results. Bilaam was not supposed to accept Balak’s offer, but, true to his evil, weak nature, he…

Home -> 5777 -> Kedoshim

מפני שיבה תקום והדרת פני זקן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5777

In the presence of an old person shall you rise and you shall honor the presence of a sage. (19:32)

In the Talmud Kiddushin 32b, a Tannaic dispute is presented concerning a zakein ashmai, iniquitous elder, whether if one must honor him or not. Rashi is the one who defines ashmai as iniquitous. Tosfos disputes this, since it is a mitzvah not to respect an iniquitous elder. Such a person warrants disrespect. Therefore, Rabbeinu Tam explains ashmai to mean a boor, an ignoramus, one who is otherwise unworthy of respect. Nonetheless, since when are we enjoined to respect an ignoramus, simply due to his advanced age? One must earn respect, be worthy of the reverence accorded him by others. True,…

Home -> 5777 -> Kedoshim

קדושים תהיו... איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתותי תשמרו אני ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5777

You shall be holy… every man: your father and mother shall you revere and My Shabbasos shall you observe. I am Hashem. (19:2,3)

It was 1945 and Horav Moshe David Tenenbaum, zl, who was then head of the Vaad HaYeshivos in the Holy Land, went for a vacation in a small village in the north. As he was walking one day, a member of a nearby kibbutz approached him and asked if he could serve as the tenth man for a minyan. At first, he thought the fellow was teasing him, since it was a non-religious kibbutz and tefillah b’tzibur, davening with a minyan, was uncommon (to say the least). How surprised he was when he arrived at the kibbutz to meet the…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

This pasuk, which claims that the Torah is our morashah, heritage, seems to contradict Rabbi Yossi’s statement in Pirkei Avos 2:12, “And prepare yourself to study the Torah, for it does not come to you by inheritance.” Is it a yerushah – or not? Horav Meir Lehmann, zl, Rav of Mainz, Germany, (1850’s-1890) explains that indeed, the Torah is the heritage of the community of Yaakov – but not an inheritance of the individual Jew. The Torah belonging to the Jewish community-at-large will never be lost. There will always be men who will see to it that it is transmitted…

Home -> 5771 -> Nitzavim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Nitzavim, 5771

It will be when all these things come upon you – the blessing and the curse… Then you will take it to your heart. (30:1)

While no one can actually pinpoint the corollary that exists between our rebellious behavior and the curses which follow, a definite pattern in history demonstrates that allegiance to Hashem is followed by blessing and sinful behavior precedes punishment. There are those who vehemently deny this verity, and have chosen to ignore what is plain to see. They continue to remain indifferent to what even a simpleton can deduce. Hashem has been very upfront with us. In Parashas Ki Savo, the Torah outlines the wonderful blessings that will be showered upon us for complying with the Torah. There is also a…

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והיה בעברכם את הירדן תקימו את האבנים האלה... בהר עיבל

It shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall erect these stones… on Har Eival. (27:4)

ויצא בן אשה ישראלית והוא בן איש מצרי... ושם אמו שלומית בת דברי

The son of a Yisraeli woman went out – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the name of his mother was Shlomis bas Divri. (24:10,11)

אלה מועדי ד' מקראי קדש... בחדש הראשון... בין הערבים פסח לד'

These are the appointed Festivals of Hashem, the holy convocations… in the first month… in the afternoon is the time of the Pesach-offering to Hashem. (23:4,5)

למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה אשר נשבע ד' לאבתיכם

In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the land that Hashem has sworn to your forefathers. (11:21)

אכל תשברו מאתם בכסף ואכלתם... כי ד אלקים ' ברכך בכל מעשה ידיך

You shall purchase food from them for money so that you may eat… For Hashem, your G-d, has blessed you in all your hard work. (2: 6,7)

ויפתח ד' את פי האתון

Hashem opened up the mouth of the she-donkey. (22:28)

מפני שיבה תקום והדרת פני זקן

In the presence of an old person shall you rise and you shall honor the presence of a sage. (19:32)

קדושים תהיו... איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתותי תשמרו אני ד'

You shall be holy… every man: your father and mother shall you revere and My Shabbasos shall you observe. I am Hashem. (19:2,3)

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

It will be when all these things come upon you – the blessing and the curse… Then you will take it to your heart. (30:1)

YEARS

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