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Home -> 5777 -> Tzav

וזאת תורת זבח השלמים... אם על תודה יקריבנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5777

This is the law of the feast Peace-offering… if he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering. (7:11,12)

One who has survived a life-threatening crisis brings a Korban Todah, thanksgiving-offering: first, to demonstrate that he acknowledges that it was Hashem Who saved him; second, to pay gratitude to Hashem. David Hamelech says (Tehillim 107:21,22) Yodu la’Hashem chasdo, v’niflaosav livnei adam. V’yizbechu zivchei Todah v’yisapru maasav b’rinah. “Let them acknowledge to Hashem His kindness, and to the children of man His wonders. And let them sacrifice thanksgiving-offerings and relate His works with joyful song.” We derive from here that the offering of a Korban Todah is of overriding significance and is an integral part of the process of expressing…

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Home -> 5777 -> Metzora

זאת תהיה תורת המצרע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Metzora, 5777

This shall be the law of the metzora. (14:2)

Tzaraas is a punishment visited upon a person whose morally-flawed character has caused him to slander a fellow Jew. It often begins with gossip and wratches up to full-fledged slander and character assassination. A spike in one’s self-esteem can catalyze an unbecoming arrogance, which allows a person to think – to actually believe – that he is better than others, that he can decide who is worthy and who is not. This self-generated haughtiness allows him to speak callously of others, to lord over them to the point that they become miserable. He is punished with tzaraas, an affliction which…

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Home -> 5777 -> Shemini

ואת החסידה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shemini, 5777

And the chasidah (11:19)

An interesting name for a non-kosher fowl. Rashi adds to the ambiguity with his reason for the name chasidah. This bird performs kindness with others of its species by sharing food with them. This is supposedly a compassionate bird, because it shares. Furthermore, its compassion is even noted by its given name – all the more reason that it should be included among the kosher birds. The Chassidic Masters explains that selective chesed with one’s own species, while ignoring the plight of other species, is far from admirable. Jews are not exclusive in their chesed activities. We help everyone. This…

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Home -> 5777 -> Ki Seitzei

כי קבור תקברנו ביום ההוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, 5777

Rather, you shall surely bury him on that day. (21:23)

The prohibition against keeping a body unburied overnight applies even to one who has died of natural causes. The Talmud Yerushalmi Moed Kattan (2:4) states that one is not permitted to disinter the bones of a corpse unless it is for the purpose of reinterring them in a family plot. This prohibition is applicable, even if it means moving the bones to a cemetery that is more dignified than the original place where the body had been buried. Also, a person/neshamah would rather be buried in close proximity to family (Meshech Chochmah). The Meshech Chochmah seems to say that same-day…

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Home -> 5777 -> Ki Savo

השקיפה ממעון קדשך מן השמים וברך את עמך ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Savo, 5777

Gaze down from Your abode, from the heavens and bless Your people Yisrael. (26:15)

Rashi explains that this prayer implies: “Hashem, we have carried out Your wishes. We have done that what You decreed upon us; now, You do what behooves You.” The word hashkifah, “gaze (down)”  is unique in that it is almost always used to denote careful examination to determine the appropriate punishment. In other words, it is not used in connection with something positive about to occur.  Rashi observes this in his commentary to Bereishis 18:16, Vayashkifu al pnei Sodom; “They (the angels) gazed towards Sodom.” The angels who had come to visit and participate in the healing of Avraham Avinu,…

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Home -> 5777 -> Emor

ויצא בן אשה ישראלית והוא בן איש מצרי... ושם אמו שלומית בת דברי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Emor, 5777

The son of a Yisraeli woman went out – and he was the son of an Egyptian man… the name of his mother was Shlomis bas Divri. (24:10,11)

Chazal (Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 32) state that Klal Yisrael was redeemed from Egypt due to its high standard of morality. Indeed, not one Jewish man or woman was involved with an Egyptian, except for Shlomis bas Divri, who is singled out in the Torah. This is our Torah’s way of teaching that no other Jew or Jewess had sinned. A powerful statement, attested to by the Torah. How did they do it? It is not as if Klal Yisrael was perfect. Veritably, the people clung steadfast to certain traditions and lifestyles, but to rise above the moral turpitude that was…

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Home -> Behar -> 5777

וכי ימוך אחיך... והחזקת בו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5777, Behar

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

The Pele Yoetz writes: “Chesed, performing acts of kindness, is a pillar of the world. It is one of those mitzvos whose fruits are eaten in this world, but whose principal remains for him (generating reward) in Olam Habba, the World to Come.” The Chafetz Chaim writes that the performance of chesed can engender such incredible merit that it has the power to overwhelm the Middas HaDin, Attribute of Strict Justice. Rebbetzin Miriam Shmuelevitz, wife of the venerable Rosh Yeshivah of Mir Yerushalayim, was very involved in a successful chesed organization that reached out to Jews all over Yerushalayim. I…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Ha'azinu

Remember the days of old, understand the years of each generation. (32:7)

Remembrance is a major part of Jewish service to Hashem. Much of our tradition is based  upon remembering  what once was – our highs and  lows,  joys and travails. Most important, however, is the ability to see the Yad Hashem, guiding Hand of G-d, throughout all that occurs. The Bostoner Rebbe, zl, put remembrance into perspective when he said, “Remembrance is important, but we must know what to remember. Even concerning those tragedies closest to our own time, such as the Holocaust, are we to remember the pain – or the self-sacrifice – what its victims died for – or…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Ha'azinu

Let My teachings drip like the rain, may My utterance flow like the dew. (32:2)

The Torah is compared to rain which descends from the heavens, reviving the seeds buried within the earth. The Sefas Emes notes a relationship between adamah, earth, and rain vis-à-vis Adam HaRishon, primordial man, his offspring, and the Torah which is compared to rain. The earth filled with seed is potential vegetation, grass, etc. It is only when rain descends on the adamah that this potential is released and the seeds begin to sprout and produce. Likewise, adam, man, created from adamah, is filled with tremendous potential. Will he realize his potential, or will it continue to lay dormant? Torah…

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Home -> 5771 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, 5771

If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son. (21:18)

In the Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16b, Chazal teach, “A person is judged only in accordance  with  his  actions/behavior  at  that  moment,  as  it  is  written (concerning Yishmael), ‘For G-d has heeded the cry of the youth – ba’asher hu shum – in his present state’” (Bereishis 21:17). The Midrash Bereishis adds: Afilu hu asid l’harshia l’achar z’man, “Even if he will act wicked after time.” Chazal refer to the dialogue between the ministering angels and the Almighty as Yishmael lay sick with thirst. “Ribono Shel Olam!” the angels declared. “To one whose descendants will kill Your children with thirst, You…

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