Bracha – Page 47 – Peninim on the Torah

וישמן ישרון ויבעט

Yeshurun waxed fat, and rebelled. (32:15)

The pasuk implies that wealth is the source of Klal Yisrael’s rebellion, indicating that prosperity may not contribute to a strong spiritual balance. It is almost as if wealth is a curse, not a blessing. Yet, two pesukim earlier the Torah tells us that we will be blessed with material abundance: Yarkiveihu al bamesei aretz, va’yochal tenuvos sadai, “He shall cause them to ride the high places of the Land and eat the produce of its fields” (ibid. 32:13). Klal Yisrael will enter the land and be greeted with incredible prosperity. Apparently, here prosperity comes across as a blessing. On…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5774

הצור תמים פעלו כי כל דרכיו משפט קל אמונה ואין עול צדיק וישר הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Ha'azinu

The Rock! – Perfect is His work, for all His paths are justice; A G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He. (32:4)

The term tamim, perfect, is a reference to the totality of Hashem’s work – the big picture. Individual life is part of a large puzzle with countless pieces of all shapes and sizes, representing good fortune, failure, joy and sadness, tragedy and celebration. When these are all factored together by Hashem, everything fits in perfectly. Human cognition is limited; thus, we are able to grasp very little. If it makes sense to the human mind, it is good. If it does not make sense, it is not good. This is the human way of understanding a situation. It sees the…

Home -> 5774 -> Eikev

והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5774

This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances. (7:12)

In this instance, the word mishpatim, statutes, is a general term to describe the various divisions of the mitzvos – eidus, chukim and Mishpatim – under one title. All mitzvos, whether they commemorate an historic religious event, a legal obligation to a fellow Jew, a form of Heavenly service, or a mitzvah which defies human comprehension, are all included in the category of mishpatim, legal maxims. As such, it is our duty to execute them simply because it is Hashem’s command; it is our duty – with no thanks or reward to be claimed. Yet, by doing all of these,…

Home -> 5774 -> Chukas

זאת חקת התורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5774

This is the chok/statute/decree of the Torah. (19:8)

The term chok is used to describe a mitzvah which, for all intents and purposes, seems inexplicable. While Hashem certainly has a rationale for this mitzvah, our little finite minds have difficulty understanding that which is infinite. We are instructed to serve Hashem out of love and awe – not because it makes sense, it seems the right thing to do, or we understand it. We serve Hashem because He is the Almighty, and, on Har Sinai we accepted to be His People, with a resounding declaration of Naase v’Nishma, “We will do and we will listen,” thereby affirming our…

Home -> 5774 -> Chukas

זאת חקת התורה... ויקחו אליך פרה אדמה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5774

This is the chok, statute/decree… take to you – red heifer. (19:2)

Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer, is from its very beginning, a paradox. It is used to purify one who has become spiritually defiled by coming in contact with a human corpse. This is done by burning the cow and mixing its ashes with pure water, with the mixture then being sprinkled on the defiled person. What is the meaning of tumah, impurity, and how is it purified by means of sprinkling water? The paradox goes deeper. The Kohen who burnt the Parah Adumah and sprinkled the water on the defiled person – himself becomes tamei, impure, while the subject of…

Home -> 5774 -> Beshalach

אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל את השירה הזאת לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5774

Then Moshe and Bnei Yisrael sang this song to Hashem. (15:1)

The verb yashir, he sang [will sing] is written in the future tense, although it is clearly a reference to an event which had already taken place. Rashi explains that the future tense is related to a past occurrence, the time that Moshe Rabbeinu first considered singing. In an alternative exposition, he quotes Chazal, who interpret yashir as referring to an event which will yet take place in the future. This pasuk is a remez, allusion, that the axiom, Techiyas HaMeisim min haTorah, the Resurrection of the Dead, is referenced in the Torah. Indeed, Moshe and all Yisrael sang then,…

Home -> Behar -> 5774

וכי ימוך אחיך... והחזקת בו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Behar

If your brother becomes impoverished… you shall strengthen him. (25:35)

It is not always about money. Some of the wealthiest people are depressed, and, conversely, some of the poorest people are filled with joy. A person’s attitude reflects his needs. V’chi yamuch achicha, ‘If your brother becomes impoverished,” is not necessarily about money. He might need a shoulder to cry on; a hand to pat his back; a smile to brighten his day; a compliment to make him feel relevant. Emotional depression is worse than financial woe. People cover up their feelings. They smile, laugh, joke, all while they are crying bitterly from within. A number of years ago, a…

Home -> 5774 -> Beha'alosecha

והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5774

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! (12:3)

Moshe Rabbeinu was the quintessential leader of our People. He was replete with and exemplified, every positive character trait. Yet, the one middah, character trait, with which the Torah defines Moshe is anavah, humility. This teaches us the significance of humility as being the one middah which towers above all the rest. The Shlah HaKodesh states that the word ha’adam, person, is an acronym for the three pillars of humility – Avraham Avinu, David HaMelech and Moshe Rabbeinu. Aleph – Avraham, daled – David; mem– Moshe. Three giants of humility, of which Moshe was the greatest. Moshe’s humility is indicated…

Home -> 5774 -> Beha'alosecha

האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה... כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5774

Did I conceive this entire people… that You say to me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling. (11:12)

Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, interprets Moshe Rabbeinu’s lament to Hashem as analogous with the complaints issued by rabbinic leaders throughout the generations. Two words used by Moshe are not synonymous with one another. An omein is more of a governess, who raises and instructs the child. We find Mordechai being referred to as Esther’s omein, V’hu omein es Hadassah, “And he raised Hadassah” (Megillas Esther 2:7). A yoneik, on the other hand, is a young suckling infant whose interest is primarily concerning its next meal. What is the relationship between the individual who is charged with educating the child and…

Home -> 5774 -> Beha'alosecha

ויאמרו האנשים ההמה... למה נגרע לבלתי הקריב את קרבן ד' במועדו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5774

Those men said to him… Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering at the appointed time? (9:7)

A group of people, who due to their being in a state of tumah, ritual impurity, were ineligible to bring the Korban Pesach, presented themselves before Moshe Rabbeinu, asking for a dispensation of some sort. Their desire to offer the Korban Pesach was so intense that they appealed to Moshe to somehow, someway, help them experience this milestone event. As a result of their burning desire to perform the mitzvah, Hashem made them agents through whom He revealed the mitzvah of celebrating Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach. Essentially, it was to be viewed as a makeup Pesach. This is the…

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וישמן ישרון ויבעט

Yeshurun waxed fat, and rebelled. (32:15)

הצור תמים פעלו כי כל דרכיו משפט קל אמונה ואין עול צדיק וישר הוא

The Rock! – Perfect is His work, for all His paths are justice; A G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He. (32:4)

והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה

This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances. (7:12)

זאת חקת התורה

This is the chok/statute/decree of the Torah. (19:8)

זאת חקת התורה... ויקחו אליך פרה אדמה

This is the chok, statute/decree… take to you – red heifer. (19:2)

אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל את השירה הזאת לד'

Then Moshe and Bnei Yisrael sang this song to Hashem. (15:1)

וכי ימוך אחיך... והחזקת בו

If your brother becomes impoverished… you shall strengthen him. (25:35)

והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! (12:3)

האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה... כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

Did I conceive this entire people… that You say to me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling. (11:12)

ויאמרו האנשים ההמה... למה נגרע לבלתי הקריב את קרבן ד' במועדו

Those men said to him… Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering at the appointed time? (9:7)

YEARS

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