Bracha – Page 59 – Peninim on the Torah

ויצא אל אחיו וירא בסבלתם

And (he) went out to his brethren. And (he) saw their burdens. (2:11)

Rashi defines vayar b’sivlosam, “And he saw their burdens: Nasan einav v’libo liheyos metzar aleihem, ‘He focused his eyes and heart to be distressed over them.’” Literally, the phrase means that Moshe Rabbeinu “saw into their burdens.” He delved into their adversity. Apparently, the word va’yar, or its root raoh, to see, means much more than superficial perception. It demands cognitive application in conjunction with the perception. To see, and not to see beneath the surface, is not reiyah, seeing. I think that we have just uncovered a deep insight into the concept of “seeing” as evinced by the word…

Home -> 5775 -> Shemini

וישא אהרן את ידיו אל העם ויברכם... ויברכו את העם וירא כבוד ד' אל כל העם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5775

Aharon raised his hands towards the people and blessed them… and they blessed the people – and the glory of Hashem appeared to the entire people. (9:22,23)

A person can follow all the rules, do all that is expected of him; yet, without that special blessing, that prayer, that everything he has done find favor in the eyes of Hashem, it could all be for naught. Klal Yisrael had done it all, executed everything in accordance with the direction of Moshe Rabbeinu; still, the Shechinah, Divine Presence, had not reposed upon the Sanctuary. Something was missing. Only after they received the blessing of Moshe and Aharon did the work achieve fruition, and Hashem’s Shechinah reposed on the Mishkan. One can have the correct and proper intentions; his…

Home -> 5775 -> Shemini

ויהי ביום השמיני קרא משה לאהרן ולבניו ולזקני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5775

It was on the eighth day, Moshe summoned Aharon and his sons and the elders of Yisrael. (9:1)

Thrice daily, we recite the prayer, Al ha’tzaddikim v’al ha’chassidim v’al ziknei amcha Bais Yisrael v’al pleitas bais sofreihem, “(May Your mercies be aroused) upon the righteous, upon the pious, upon the elders of Your People, the House of Yisrael, upon the remnant of their sages.” We must recite this prayer with consummate kavanah, intention/devotion. Chazal understood the value to the Jewish People of these varied leaders, without whom we would not exist as a people. We rely on them, and we are unable to function without them. Therefore, it is our obligation to pray for their continued good health….

Home -> 5775 -> Noach

אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5775

These are the offspring of Noach – Noach was a righteous man. (6:9)

The pasuk begins with an introduction: the following are Noach’s offspring. Yet, rather than mention any names, it goes on to praise Noach as a righteous person. What happened to his offspring? Rashi quotes the Midrash which teaches that one’s primary “offspring” are his good deeds. This is especially true concerning the tzaddik whose entire life is devoted to the performance of good deeds. A young man who had been married for some time– and had not yet been blessed with children– had occasion to bring something to the venerable Rebbe of Gur, the Lev Simchah. The Rebbe was appreciative….

Home -> 5775 -> Naso

ולקח הכהן מים קדשים בכלי חרש ומן העפר אשר יהיה בקרקע המשכן יקח הכהן ונתן אל המים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5775

The Kohen shall take sacred water in an earthenware vessel, and the Kohen shall take from the earth that is on the floor of the Mishkan and put it in the water. (5:17)

The “bitter waters,” which the sotah, wayward wife, must drink, are the instrument of an ordeal which can have either negative or positive results. On the negative side, if the woman has, as accused, been involved in an extra-marital relationship, she will die a bitter death. On the positive side, if she has been wrongly accused, she stands to benefit considerably. She will be blessed with healthy children. The process begins with the Kohen reading the curses contained in Parashas Sotah on a piece of parchment. The verses of the Torah in which these curses are written are then erased…

Home -> 5775 -> Naso

ואיש את קדשיו לו יהיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5775

A man’s holies shall be his. (5:10)

The Chafetz Chaim, zl, was wont to say that the above pasuk teaches us that an object or endeavor which a person dedicates/consecrates for sacred use is what actually belongs to him, and this is what ultimately accompanies him to the eternal world of Olam Habba, the World to Come. This means that the only objects/endeavors that we may call “ours” are those which are linked to a spiritual goal. Otherwise, we cannot consider it to belong to us. Moreover, we should not rely on others to carry out our responsibilities. True, many wonderful and generous people are around who…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

והאמין בד' ויחשביה לו צדקה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

Rashi notes that, concerning Hashem’s promise to Avraham that he would be blessed with offspring, the Patriarch did not ask for a sign. Concerning the promise that he would take possession of Eretz Yisrael, Avraham Avinu asked, Bama eida, “Whereby shall I know?” requesting a sign from Above that he would inherit it. Why did the Patriarch ask for affirmation regarding the Land and not regarding the offspring? Horav Yitzchak Volozhiner, zl, explains this with an analogy that goes to the very crux of the issue which continues to haunt us until this very day. A king was once traveling…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט... ויאמר אברם אל לוט אל נא תהי מריבה ביני ובינך... הפרד נא מעלי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock… so Avram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between me and you… please separate from me.” (13:7, 8, 9)

Avraham Avinu spent a lifetime reaching out to the uninitiated, regardless of their beliefs. To Avraham, the most entrenched pagan was a person who could, and should be reached. Together with his wife, Sarah Imeinu, they converted thousands to monotheism. If so, why is it specifically his nephew, Lot, a person for whom he cared, that Avraham asked to leave his presence? What was Lot’s transgression? Petty theft from the fields of others was without a doubt inappropriate behavior, but did it warrant a complete break in their relationship? What about teshuvah, repentance? Avraham made the attempt to convince everyone…

Home -> 5775 -> Lech Lecha

ואעשך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שמך והיה ברכה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5775

And I will make of you a great nation; and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (12:2)

In an alternative explanation, Rashi says, “‘And I will make you a great nation” is a reference to the words Elokei Avraham, G-d of Avraham, which is recited in the beginning of Shemoneh Esrai. Vaavarchecha, ‘and I will bless you,’ refers to Elokei Yitzchak; and Vaagadlah shemecha refers to Elokei Yaakov. While I might think that they conclude the blessing of the Avos, Patriarchs, with all three of them, the pasuk states Ve’heyei b’rachah, ‘And you will be a blessing,’ Becha chosmin, v’lo bahem, ‘With you, Avraham, they conclude the blessing, and not with them.’” A well-known exposition is attributed…

Home -> 5775 -> Korach

ואון בן פלת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5775

And On ben Peles. (16:1)

On ben Peles was one of the original leaders of the Korach dispute. Yet, he was ultimately absent from the end confrontation; thus, he was spared the horrible punishment meted out to Korach and his followers. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 109a, Chazal teach that On was blessed with a wise and righteous wife, who saw where this confrontation was going and devised a plan, a logical argument, by which she was able to convince her husband to stay “home.” She said to him, “What do you (personally) have to benefit from this folly? Regardless who emerges the winner, Moshe or…

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ויצא אל אחיו וירא בסבלתם

And (he) went out to his brethren. And (he) saw their burdens. (2:11)

וישא אהרן את ידיו אל העם ויברכם... ויברכו את העם וירא כבוד ד' אל כל העם

Aharon raised his hands towards the people and blessed them… and they blessed the people – and the glory of Hashem appeared to the entire people. (9:22,23)

ויהי ביום השמיני קרא משה לאהרן ולבניו ולזקני ישראל

It was on the eighth day, Moshe summoned Aharon and his sons and the elders of Yisrael. (9:1)

אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק

These are the offspring of Noach – Noach was a righteous man. (6:9)

ולקח הכהן מים קדשים בכלי חרש ומן העפר אשר יהיה בקרקע המשכן יקח הכהן ונתן אל המים

The Kohen shall take sacred water in an earthenware vessel, and the Kohen shall take from the earth that is on the floor of the Mishkan and put it in the water. (5:17)

ואיש את קדשיו לו יהיו

A man’s holies shall be his. (5:10)

והאמין בד' ויחשביה לו צדקה

And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

ויהי ריב בין רעי מקנה אברם ובין רעי מקנה לוט... ויאמר אברם אל לוט אל נא תהי מריבה ביני ובינך... הפרד נא מעלי

And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock… so Avram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between me and you… please separate from me.” (13:7, 8, 9)

ואעשך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שמך והיה ברכה

And I will make of you a great nation; and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (12:2)

ואון בן פלת

And On ben Peles. (16:1)

YEARS

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