Challenge – Page 25 – Peninim on the Torah

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

The Torah repeats the mitzvah of Ahavas Ha’Ger, loving the convert, no less than thirty-six times! One would assume that the Torah would reiterate mitzvos such as Shabbos, the prohibitions against idol worship and murder, emphasizing their obvious importance. Indeed, the Torah does not repeat these critical mitzvos. The Torah is very careful with its words; every word has its own specific message. Yet, the Torah has no qualms about reminding us numerous times of our obligation to the ger. Why? We can derive a profound lesson from this pasuk regarding human nature. Man’s natural instinct is to denigrate those…

Home -> 5758 -> Chukas

Moshe Marcovich In Chukas, 5758

Regarding this the poets would come to Cheshbon, let it be built and established as the city of Sichon. (21:27)

In the Talmud Bava Basra78b, Rabbi Yochanan understands this pasuk differently. He contends that the word “moshlim,” “rulers,” refers to those who rule over themselves/their yetzer hora, evil inclination, while “cheshbon” means “reckoning.” Those who govern their passion — who are not controlled by their yetzer hora — say, “Let us make a reckoning of the world: the loss that a mitzvah entails against its reward; the profit from a transgression against the loss it brings.” In order to progress spiritually, one must triumph over the formidable challenge presented by the yetzer hora. The key to success is making a…

Home -> 5758 -> Beshalach

Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

And because of their test of Hashem, saying: “Is Hashem among us or not?” Amalek came and battled Yisrael in Rephidim. (17:7,8)

Klal Yisrael challenged Hashem to the point that a place is named for their contentious behavior. The name implies for all time that Hashem is always with us. Further, the name suggests that we should use prayer for expressing our needs, not complaint and challenge. Rashi explains the juxtaposition of the place that Klal Yisrael questioned Hashem’s presence among them upon the location of the battle with Amalek. When they asked, “Is Hashem among us?”, Hashem sent Amalek as an indication that He was there watching every move, listening to every complaint, responding to every ingratitude. The Midrash analogizes this…

Home -> 5758 -> Acharei Mos

Moshe Marcovich In Acharei Mos, 5758

You shall observe My decrees and My laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

Chazal have derived from the words, “V’chai bahem“, “by which he shall live,” that the mitzvos were given for the sake of life, not death. Consequently, if the performance of a ritual becomes life threatening, such as during a life threatening situation on Shabbos, life certainly takes precedence. This is not considered to be a violation of the laws of Shabbos. The exceptions to this rule are the three cardinal sins: idolatry, murder or adultery — or chillul Hashem, in which violating a mitzvah would desecrate Hashem’s Name. We suggest another interpretation of “V’chai bahem“. Many people would give…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5777

נפש כי תחטא ומעל מעל ב''ה וכחש בעמיתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Vayikra

If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem by lying to his comrade. (5:21)

Stealing from a fellow Jew is certainly an act of evil, but is it treachery against Hashem? Does the thief take into consideration that “borrowing” from his friend with no intention of repaying the “loan” is not only theft, but also a perfidious act of betrayal against Hashem? There is no question that the thief is not a “good” person, his moral and ethical compass leaves much to be desired, but did he sin against the Almighty? It certainly was not his intention. The early commentators explain that one who swears falsely using Hashem’s Name in uttering the oath (claiming…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5777

ונפש כי תקריב קרבן מנחה לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Vayikra

When a person (soul) offers a meal-offering to Hashem. (2:1)

Of all those who offer voluntary sacrifices/ offerings, only one who brings a Korban Minchah, Meal offering, is referred to by the Torah as a nefesh, soul. This inexpensive korban was brought primarily by the poor, since they were financially challenged to bring an animal or fowl. Hashem says: “I will regard the korban of a poor man as if he had offered his very nefesh, soul.” The simple explanation of this statement is that a wealthy person who brings a korban takes from his “extra” money – not from the money he needs for his daily sustenance. A poor…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5777

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Pekudei

These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony. (38:21)

Rashi explains the redundancy of the word Mishkan as alluding to the Bais HaMikdash, which was taken as collateral in its two destructions for the sins of Yisrael. Mishkan HaEidus, the Mishkan of the Testimony, attests to the fact that Hashem forgave Klal Yisrael for sinning with the Golden Calf. Despite the people’s incursion, the Divine Presence still rests among Klal Yisrael. Two explanations for the Mishkan: it serves as collateral; it is a symbol of forgiveness. Obviously, this requires a bit more elucidation. Horav Yaakov Kaminetsky, zl, offers an analogy which sheds light on the Mishkan’s dual function. A…

Home -> 5777 -> Tzav

והרים את הדשן... ושמו אצל המזבח... והוצא את הדשן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5777

He shall raise the ashes and place it next to the Mizbayach… He shall remove the ashes. (6:3,4)

The avodah in the Mishkan/Bais Hamikdash followed a daily routine. It was a clearly defined, Divinely-ordained, unchanging pattern of service. It began with the Terumas HaDeshen, the removal of the sacrificial ash from the previous day’s offerings, followed by the placing of wood, so that the fire on the Mizbayach, Altar, continued to burn. The first sacrifice of the day, as well as the last sacrifice, was the Korban Tamid. Tamid means consistent, which is a perfect way to describe the Korban. It was a constant. When activities are carried out in a particular order, unchanging, repeated daily, it might…

Home -> 5777 -> Shelach

ויעלו בנגב ויבוא עד חברון

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5777

They ascended in the south and he arrived at Chevron. (13:22)

From the Torah’s use of the singular va’yavo, and he came, Chazal (Sotah 34b) derive that Calev alone left the group, so that he could visit the graves of the Patriarchs to pray that they intercede on his behalf. So great was the ability of the meraglim to influence that Calev feared being influenced by them. Yehoshua had no reason to leave, since Moshe Rabbeinu had already prayed for him before they had all left the camp. In his Iyun Yaakov commentary to the Talmud, Horav Yaakov Reisher, zl, asks why Calev prayed at the graves of the Patriarchs. Chazal…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5777

וירא העם כי בשש משה לרדת מן ההר ויקהל העם על אהרן ויאמרו אליו קום עשה לנו אלהים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5777, Ki Sisa

The people saw that Moshe had delayed in descending the mountain, and the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods!” (32:1)

One error, one simple mistake was all that was needed to precipitate Klal Yisrael’s tragic rebellion, their egregious demonstration of infidelity– the construction of the Golden Calf. How did a people who had recently received the Torah under circumstances that were unreal become so faithless, almost overnight? It was all due to a mistake, an error in judgment. They thought that Moshe was to have been back, but they erred. Once they exhibited fear, Satan was certain that he had ensnared them. They were putty in his hands. He seized the opportunity and created an illusion of a deceased Moshe…

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And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

Regarding this the poets would come to Cheshbon, let it be built and established as the city of Sichon. (21:27)

And because of their test of Hashem, saying: “Is Hashem among us or not?” Amalek came and battled Yisrael in Rephidim. (17:7,8)

You shall observe My decrees and My laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live. (18:5)

נפש כי תחטא ומעל מעל ב''ה וכחש בעמיתו

If a person will sin and commit a treachery against Hashem by lying to his comrade. (5:21)

ונפש כי תקריב קרבן מנחה לד'

When a person (soul) offers a meal-offering to Hashem. (2:1)

אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות

These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony. (38:21)

והרים את הדשן... ושמו אצל המזבח... והוצא את הדשן

He shall raise the ashes and place it next to the Mizbayach… He shall remove the ashes. (6:3,4)

ויעלו בנגב ויבוא עד חברון

They ascended in the south and he arrived at Chevron. (13:22)

וירא העם כי בשש משה לרדת מן ההר ויקהל העם על אהרן ויאמרו אליו קום עשה לנו אלהים

The people saw that Moshe had delayed in descending the mountain, and the people gathered around Aharon and said to him, “Rise up, make for us gods!” (32:1)

YEARS

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