Chesed – Page 19 – Peninim on the Torah

ויקבר אותו בגי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5766, V'zos HaBrachah

He (Hashem) buried him in the depression. (34:6)

In Sotah 14a, the Talmud notes that the Torah begins with an act of chesed, kindness, and likewise concludes with an act of chesed. The Torah begins with Hashem fashioning kosnos or, garments of skin, for Adam and Chavah. It ends with Hashem burying Moshe Rabbeinu’s mortal remains. It is noteworthy that Chazal select the kosnos or to serve as the example of Hashem’s chesed. What is there about these garments or the act of clothing Adam and Chavah that stands out, making it more prominent than even the entire universe? Olam chesed yibaneh, “The world is built upon chesed/kindness”…

Home -> 5765 -> Bereishis

אלה תולדות השמים והארץ בהבראם ביום עשות ה' אלקים ארץ ושמים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5765

These are the products of the heaven and the earth when they were created on the day that Hashem G-d made earth and heaven. (2:4)

The Torah now focuses on the events preceding the creation of man. In the second interpretation he offers in his commentary to this pasuk, Rashi explains the word b’hi’baram, “when they were created,” to mean that Hashem created them with the letter “hay.” This is supported by the pasuk in Yeshayah 26:4, “With ‘kah’ (G-d’s Name is spelled with “yud” and “hay”), G-d created worlds.” In other words, b’hay baram means that the two worlds – this temporary world and the Eternal world – were created with the letters that connote Hashem’s Name, “yud” and “hay.” The letter “hay” was used…

Home -> 5763 -> Bereishis

וירא אלקים את כל אשר עשה והנה טוב מאד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5763

And G-d saw all that He had made and behold it was very good. (1:31)

Life is comprised of successes and failures. Some of us have a greater number of successes. Others look at failure more often than at success. This is not a perfect world, but our perspective on life and the world can make a “world” of difference. Hashem created the world that we know in Six Days of Creation. He made some subtle changes during Creation in order to offset some of the problems that arose. Hashem first created light. This was a powerful, intense and very spiritual light. In fact, it was so spiritually illuminating that the wicked would never be worthy…

Home -> 5757 -> Yisro

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5757

“And Yisro rejoiced over all the good which Hashem had done for Yisrael.” (18:9)

Rashi cites the Talmud Sanhedrin 94a which suggests that the word sjhu alludes to the word ohsusj, prickles. The reference to prickles could have one of two connotations. They might be prickles of joy, indicating that Yisro was overwhelmed with happiness. Alternatively, they could be prickles of distress. Although Yisro was filled with happiness for the Jews, he still felt uneasy over what had happened to the Egyptians. Chazal go on to say that one should neither humiliate a gentile, nor speak disparagingly in the presence of a ger, convert, even up to ten generations after his conversion. Horav Yecheskel…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And Eisav took his wives… and all the members of his household… and went to a land because of Yaakov his brother.” (36:6)

The commentators suggest a number of reasons that Eisav suddenly decided to separate from Yaakov. Some of them posit that pure greed motivated this decision. He felt the land could not support him in the style to which he had become accustomed. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, contends that Eisav’s decision was a pragmatic one; he could not tolerate Yaakov’s presence. Despite their newfound relationship, the moral gulf that existed between them was loathsome for Eisav. He simply could not cope with his brother’s lifestyle. These various explanations notwithstanding, we still must address the reason that Eisav left. Why could he…

Home -> 5757 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5757

“For I have loved him because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem.” (18:19)

This pasuk expresses the reason that Hashem “loved” Avraham, as well as suggesting the probable reason that Hashem chose Avraham to become the first Patriarch. Avraham did what a father is supposed to do. He taught his children, conveying to them the heritage as he received it — without adding his personal agenda. One’s real perspective on life is reflected in what he teaches his children. Avraham transmitted his monotheistic values, his belief in Hashem, exemplified by his unique chesed, kindness, to his children — all to be handed down throughout the generations. Avraham Avinu was also the first gadol,…

Home -> 5757 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5757

“And he said (Yitzchak), ‘Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing.'” (27:35)

Probably one of the most difficult narratives in the Torah to understand, is the one which depicts Yaakov as “taking” the blessings from Yitzchak, through a manner uncharacteristic of someone who is considered to be the epitome of veracity. We do not understand the ways of Hashem. Why did He choose that Yitzchak be unaware that he was actually blessing Yaakov — and that Eisav was actually not fit for blessing altogether. The Zohar Ha’Kadosh comments that this scenario was essential so that the blessing would come directly from Hashem to Yaakov via the medium of the unsuspecting Yitzchak. The…

Home -> 5757 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5757

“And the boys grew up and Eisav was a man who knew hunting, a man of the field; Yaakov was a wholesome man dwelling in tents. ” (25:27)

With these few words, the Torah characterizes the essence of Yaakov and the essence of Eisav. Indeed, it seems that the text pinpoints the predominant difference between the two brothers. One question is readily apparent. Eisav was a rasha m’rusha, evil incarnate. Even before his birth, in his mother’s womb, his wicked tendencies were already manifest. Chazal teach us that when Rivkah passed by a house of idolatry, Eisav gravitated towards it. All this while he was still in the womb! On the day that he sold his birthright, he committed five cardinal sins. Is this a man who should…

Home -> 5757 -> Shoftim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5757

You shall be wholeheartedly simple with Hashem, your G-d. (18:13)

Fundraising can be a disheartening endeavor, regardless of the organization or individual for which one is working. The esteem which we accord the fundraiser is commensurate with the individual’s own level of self respect. One can view his undertaking as an opportunity to enable another Jew to share in the spiritual reward reserved for those who demonstrate strength of character – to overcome that “little voice” that finds every excuse to urge them not to give tzedakah. If he succeeds in adopting this perspective, he will approach his mission in a positive light. There is a story told about the…

Home -> 5757 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5757

An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem….because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt. (23:4,5)

The character flaw which Moav exhibited was sufficient reason for the Torah to exclude them from Klal Yisrael. We must address how this negative trait was manifest in descendants of Lot, Avraham Avinu’s nephew. Lot was a person who risked his life to fulfill the mitzvah of hachnasas orchim, hospitality to the wayfarer/stranger. His daughter died as a result of his commitment. Their family exemplified a conviction to chesed, kindness to others. How then did they become so degenerate that several generations later the family served as the paradigm of those who lack chesed? Meilitz Yosher explains that the primary…

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ויקבר אותו בגי

He (Hashem) buried him in the depression. (34:6)

אלה תולדות השמים והארץ בהבראם ביום עשות ה' אלקים ארץ ושמים

These are the products of the heaven and the earth when they were created on the day that Hashem G-d made earth and heaven. (2:4)

וירא אלקים את כל אשר עשה והנה טוב מאד

And G-d saw all that He had made and behold it was very good. (1:31)

“And Yisro rejoiced over all the good which Hashem had done for Yisrael.” (18:9)

“And Eisav took his wives… and all the members of his household… and went to a land because of Yaakov his brother.” (36:6)

“For I have loved him because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem.” (18:19)

“And he said (Yitzchak), ‘Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing.'” (27:35)

“And the boys grew up and Eisav was a man who knew hunting, a man of the field; Yaakov was a wholesome man dwelling in tents. ” (25:27)

You shall be wholeheartedly simple with Hashem, your G-d. (18:13)

An Amoni or Moavi shall not enter the congregation of Hashem….because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt. (23:4,5)

YEARS

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