Challenge – Page 32 – Peninim on the Torah

והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה

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 -> Beshalach

מלחמה לד' בעמלק מדר דר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beshalach, 5774

A war against Amalek from generation to generation. (17:16)

Hashem will continue the war against Amalek from generation to generation – literally, forever, until the memory of that evil nation will be expunged. The Melitzer Rebbe, Shlita, of Ashdod derives from here the profound difference between the Jewish People and the offspring of Amalek. Dor l’dor yeshabach maasecha, “Generation to generation will praise Your deeds” (Tehillim 145:4). The very essence of the Jewish People is dependent upon their mesorah, tradition transmitted throughout the generations, from father to son. Dor l’dor, generation to generation. The lamed connects the first dor, generation, to the next. There is a filial bond that…

Home -> 5774 -> Balak

אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5774

“If Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

Rashi notes that by speaking of silver and gold, Bilaam revealed his true character: a greed-filled desire for money and the power that accompanies it. The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos 6:9, relates that the Tanna Rabbi Yose ben Kisma once met a Jew from another community who offered the sage the opportunity to move to his city where he would set him up with whatever material needs he would require. Rabbi Yose replied, “If you were to give me all the silver, gold and precious stones in the world, I would only make my home in a city of Torah.”…

Home -> 5774 -> Acharei Mos

כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

No one was permitted to enter the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, except for Aharon HaKohen and future Kohanim Gedolim. This would take place once a year, on Yom Kippur. It was in the Kodesh HaKedoshim, from within a Cloud hovering above the Kapores, Ark Cover, that Hashem’s Glory was manifest. Hashem’s Glory is hidden beneath many veils. It is within the innermost area of sanctity and, even then, it is shrouded within a cloud. Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, derives a powerful, inspirational lesson from Hashem’s clandestine Presence. Ki be’anan eiraeh, “For in a Cloud will I appear.” Every time,…

Home -> 5774 -> Acharei Mos

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5774

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

Nadav and Avihu were great tzaddikim, righteous and pious persons. Indeed, Hashem attests to their virtue when He says, Bikrovai akadesh, “I will be sanctified through those who are nearest to Me” (Vayikra 10:3). The average person taking a cursory look at this tragedy will, no doubt, have pressing questions that challenge the core of his faith in the Almighty. After all – why? The question screams out at us. Let us posit that, indeed, Nadav and Avihu erred by getting so carried away by their consummate love for Hashem that they just had to go into the Mishkan and…

Home -> 5759 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5759

The Kohen who is exalted above his brethren – upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured. (21:10)

The Kohen Gadol “stands” above the other Kohanim as a result of certain qualities with which he has been vested. Chazal enumerate five areas in which he was “greater” than the others. One of these was strength. The Kohen Gadol was exceptionally strong. This is indicated by Aharon Hakohen’s ability to consecrate twenty-two thousand Leviim – in one day. This process involved physically raising each one and moving them back and forth, up and down. The magnitude of this task is evident when one realizes that this was all performed in the space of one day! Let us analyze this…

Home -> 5759 -> Yisro

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5759

The entire people responded together and said, “Everything that Hashem has spoken we shall do.” (19:8)

Chazal praise Klal Yisrael’s affirmative response, their ability to accept the challenge of performing Hashem’s command without demanding a rationale. “Naase v’nishma,” – “We will do and we will listen,” was the clarion cry of our anscestors as they accepted the Torah. Chazal cite the awesome reward that Klal Yisrael received for declaring “naase“, we will do, before “nishma,” we will listen. Indeed, Hashem queried, “Who revealed this secret to My children, a phrase that only the ministering angels use?” Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves: What difference does it really make? In the end, they accepted both aspects- to…

Home -> 5759 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5759

They shall make an Ark of shittiim wood…You shall cover it with pure gold…and you shall make on it a gold crown all around. (25:10,11)

Three of the four primary Klei haMishkan, appertenances of the Mishkan, had crowns/ golden rims, decorating them: the Aron HaKodesh; Ark; the Shulchan, Table; and the Mizbayach, Altar. The Menorah, candelabra, did not. This fact corresponds with the words of Chazal in Pirke Avos, 4:13, “There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of Kehunah, priesthood, and the crown of malchus, kingship. The crown of shem tov, a good name, is greater than them all. ” The Aron HaKodesh, which contained within it the two Luchos upon which were inscribed the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments, corresponds with the…

Home -> Shemos -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Shemos

It happened in those days that Moshe grew up and went out to his brethren…and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man. He went out on the next day and behold! Two Hebrew men were fighting. (2:11,13)

Moshe grew into a position of responsibility. He became ready to minister to the needs of his people. Horav Zeev Weinberger, Shlita, feels that Moshe had two distinct goals in mind when he began to serve Klal Yisrael: His first objective was to expunge the evil that the Egyptian environment had engendered. Second, he sought to correct and bring back the Jewish People. The occurrences related in the pesukim on the two days that Moshe “went out” to his brethren demonstrate these two faci. On the first day, Moshe encountered an Egyptian beating a Jew. He immediately “corrected” the problem,…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Eikev ->

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)

מלחמה לד' בעמלק מדר דר

A war against Amalek from generation to generation. (17:16)

אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

“If Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

כי בענן אראה על הכפרת

For in a Cloud will I appear upon the Ark-Cover. (16:2)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן

After the death of Aharon’s two sons. (16:1)

The Kohen who is exalted above his brethren – upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured. (21:10)

The entire people responded together and said, “Everything that Hashem has spoken we shall do.” (19:8)

They shall make an Ark of shittiim wood…You shall cover it with pure gold…and you shall make on it a gold crown all around. (25:10,11)

It happened in those days that Moshe grew up and went out to his brethren…and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man. He went out on the next day and behold! Two Hebrew men were fighting. (2:11,13)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!