Bracha – Page 38 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5771

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash says that when Iyov heard about the tragic deaths of Aharon HaKohen’s two sons, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi v’yitar mimkomo, “Even for this, my heart trembles and it leaps from its place” (Iyov 37:1). Iyov had suffered as no other man. He believed that he did not deserve to suffer such extreme pain and misery. He felt that had led a virtuous and pious life, and had not done anything wrong – certainly nothing of the caliber to warrant such serious punishment. Iyov claimed that the physical/emotional pain of losing his children and his possessions paled in…

Home -> 5771 -> Shemini

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5771

“I will be sanctified through those who are close to Me, and thus, I will be honored before the entire people.” (10:3)

Rashi offers the accepted interpretation of this pasuk. When Hashem imposes His attribute of Strict Justice, even on those closest to Him, He is feared and honored. People say, if this is how Hashem punishes those who are close to Him, surely the punishment in store for those who disobey Him is far worse. Well, at least this is how it should be – how the world should react when tragedy strikes Hashem’s intimate ones. The Torah expects an intelligent person to derive a positive lesson from an act of G-d which appears to the human eye to have a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayikra

If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin unintentionally. (4:27)

Sin is a deviation from the appropriate behavior expected of a Jew. When one sins, he is off the mark, missing the target of the area upon which he is supposed to focus. This is one circumstance in which being a poor marksman is a serious liability. There is sin which is intentional, and there is the instance where one unintentionally deviates from the focus of the target. Somehow, he forgot, did not think, or was the product of an assimilated background – he did not mean to stray, but regrettably he did. He receives no punishment. He brings an…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Pekudei

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! – they had done it… and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

Blessing an individual who was involved in the creation and successful completion of a project is more than a token of encouragement. It ratifies his work and shows that it is appreciated. When Klal Yisrael completed the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbeinu blessed them. Rashi quotes the text of the blessing. “Yehi ratzon, may it be Hashem’s Will that the Shechinah rests upon your handiwork. As you successfully completed the Mishkan, so should you merit to go on to build the Bais HaMikdash.” Ralbag writes that it is appropriate for the pre-eminent leader of the generation (or any other spiritual leader, for that…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

When Klal Yisrael stood at the foot of Har Sinai, they pledged their eternal devotion to Hashem with their seminal declaration of Naaseh v’Nishma, “We will do and we will listen!” Their obedience to the Almighty and His Torah was affirmed and ratified with these words. Alas, forty days later, they broke their trust by betraying their promise, offering their allegiance instead to a molten calf of their own creation. This marked the nadir of disloyalty. Hashem stated that He would put an end to this recalcitrant people. Such people did not deserve a commutation of Hashem’s desired decree. (Nevertheless,…

Home -> 5771 -> Mishpatim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5771

If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep, and slaughter it or sell it, he shall pay five cattle in place of the ox, and four sheep in place of the sheep. (21:37)

The Talmud Bava Kamma 79b distinguishes between a ganav, thief – who steals surreptitiously – and a gazlan, robber, who fears no man and steals publicly. The ganav pays keifel, a fine of double the value of the principal, and arbaah v’chamisha, four and five times the principal depending on whether it is a sheep or an ox, in the event that he sells or slaughters the animal. The students asked Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai why the Torah is more stringent concerning the ganav than it is toward the gazlan. Rabban Yochanan replied that the gazlan has equalized the respect he…

Home -> 5771 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5771

“Hashem shall do battle for you, and you shall remain silent.” (14:14)

If one had to suggest the underlying motif of Parashas Beshalach, I think it would be emunah and bitachon, faithful trust in the Almighty. From its very outset, as the nascent Jewish nation left Egypt, until its closing pesukim – describing our triumphant battle over our archenemy, Amalek – the Parshah is replete with instances of emunah and bitachon. Let us focus on a few of these examples. As Klal Yisrael stood at the banks of the Red Sea, the people were overwhelmed by fear, and began to cry. They raised their voices in prayer, entreating Hashem to spare them. Moshe Rabbeinu…

Home -> 5771 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5771

“And you shall guard the matzos, for on this very day I brought your legions out of the land of Egypt.” (12:17)

Rashi cites the well-known Midrash which tells us not to read the word as matzos, but as mitzvos (which are spelled the same). We derive from here that “just as one should not allow matzoh to become leavened, so too, should one not cause leavening with regard to any mitzvah. Rather, if a mitzvah comes to your hand (an opportunity arises), perform it immediately.” Do not postpone performing a mitzvah. Every mitzvah is precious, and every moment is valuable, so do not squander such a golden opportunity. The need to incorporate zerizus, alacrity, joyful willingness and excitement, into our mitzvah performance…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

Yaakov Avinu had experienced two tragedies with the loss of two sons: Yosef and Shimon. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains that Yaakov was addressing his sons from a practical, Torah-oriented perspective. It is quite possible that the “disappearance” of the brothers is unrelated. There is, however, one common thread between them: both tragedies directly affected Yaakov. He was left bereft of both sons. If things happen repeatedly to someone in a similar manner and he cannot see a clear reason why they should occur, he should not place himself into a position in which it could occur once again, until…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeishev

After these things, his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Yosef. (39:7)

After spending a year in Potiphar’s service, the stage was set for Potiphar’s wife to express her desire for this handsome slave. Chazal teach that there is more to the story. Yosef ruminated, “My father was tested, my grandfather was tested, and I should not be tested?” Immediately upon hearing this, Hashem decided to grant Yosef his wish. He, too, would be tested. Chazal conclude that Yosef wanted to be tested, so that his latent strength of character would be freed and he could ultimately achieve more. Clearly, languishing in an Egyptian jail was not conducive to Yosef’s hidden abilities….

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After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

“I will be sanctified through those who are close to Me, and thus, I will be honored before the entire people.” (10:3)

If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin unintentionally. (4:27)

Moshe saw the entire work, and behold! – they had done it… and Moshe blessed them. (39:43)

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep, and slaughter it or sell it, he shall pay five cattle in place of the ox, and four sheep in place of the sheep. (21:37)

“Hashem shall do battle for you, and you shall remain silent.” (14:14)

“And you shall guard the matzos, for on this very day I brought your legions out of the land of Egypt.” (12:17)

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

After these things, his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Yosef. (39:7)

YEARS

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