Chinuch – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

I will be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

If one peruses history, he notes that the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem, Sanctifying Hashem’s Name, has applied to children as well. In other words, parents who were prepared to sacrifice themselves to sanctify Hashem’s Name were, likewise, prepared to do the same for their children. During the Crusades, it was not unusual for parents to take the lives of their children prior to killing themselves, just so that the murderers would not defile their bodies. Why are children not exempt from the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem? The only reason that mitzvos apply to children is chinuch, educating them in the…

Home -> 5771 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5771

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and you shall say to them. (21:1)

Rashi notes the redundancy in the words, emor v’amarta, “Say (to the Kohanim) and you shall say (to them).” He explains that this is “to enjoin the adults with regard to minors.” It is consistent with the Talmud Yevamos 114a, in which Chazal explain that the word, “say” indicates that adult Kohanim are prohibited to make themselves impure through contact with the dead. “And you shall say” implies that the Kohanim are commanded to make sure that Kohanim who are minors must also not defile themselves. L’hazhir gedolim al ha’ketanim, “To caution adults with regard to the children” has become…

Home -> 5771 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5771

And let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. (25:2)

The Bais Yisrael of Gur offers a homiletic rendering of this pasuk that has practical application, especially for those who devote themselves to Jewish outreach. An issue that concerns one who spends most of his time teaching Aleph Bais, the Hebrew alphabet, to those who are returning to Judaism, is that perhaps he might stunt his own personal growth. In addition, such people spend much of their time in environments that are, at best, quite distant from the milieu of a Torah way of life. Thus, this phenomenon has negatively impacted the ranks of those who might otherwise have chosen to…

Home -> 5771 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5771

“This time I have sinned: Hashem is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the wicked ones.” (9:27)

The plague of hail brought Pharaoh to his knees – at least momentarily. He openly conceded his iniquity and lauded Hashem’s righteousness. This seems like a formidable confession coming from the archetypical man of evil, the Pharaoh of Egypt, a spiritually bankrupt country steeped in licentiousness and evil. This vidduy, confession, does not seem to coincide with Chazal’s maxim in the Talmud Eiruvin 19a: Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says, “The wicked, even when standing at the gates of Gehinom, Purgatory, refuse to repent.” How are we to reconcile Pharaoh’s statement with Chazal’s acknowledgment of the weakness of a rasha, wicked person?…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

Yaakov Avinu had experienced two tragedies with the loss of two sons: Yosef and Shimon. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains that Yaakov was addressing his sons from a practical, Torah-oriented perspective. It is quite possible that the “disappearance” of the brothers is unrelated. There is, however, one common thread between them: both tragedies directly affected Yaakov. He was left bereft of both sons. If things happen repeatedly to someone in a similar manner and he cannot see a clear reason why they should occur, he should not place himself into a position in which it could occur once again, until…

Home -> 5771 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

“…That you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites.” (24:3)

Avraham Avinu was adamant: Yitzchak was not to marry a girl from his Canaanite neighbors. Eliezer, Avraham’s student, must go to Aram Naharaim to find Yitzchak’s bashert, Heavenly-designated spouse. These two places had one thing in common: The people worshipped pagans. Avodah zarah, idol worship, was a way of life in both places. Therefore, what did Avraham gain by going elsewhere? At least, if Yitzchak’s wife were to come from Canaan, Avraham would be acquainted with the family. Kli Yakar focuses on this question and presents us with an important explanation. He explains that there is another fear that concerned Avraham….

Home -> Vayikra -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayikra

“And He called unto Moshe.”(1:1)

It has long been a Jewish tradition to begin a child’s Chumash education with Parshas Vayikra. The Yalkut Yehudah maintains that this custom is based upon the essence of this parsha. The korbanos, the focus of this parsha, represent sublime purity. Similarly, young children are pure and innocent of all sin. Let those who are pure involve themselves in Torah study through this parsha, which deals with man’s pure activity and duty – sacrifices to Hashem. The Avnei Azel employs the theme of sacrifice to address a parent’s necessary attitude towards Jewish education. In order to properly inculcate Torah…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayigash

“And he sent Yehudah before him to show the way before him to Goshen.” (46:28)

Rashi explains that Yehudah had been sent ahead to establish a house of study from which learning would emanate. The aged Patriarch was preparing to leave his home and familiar environment because of a terrible famine that had afflicted the land. His long-lost son Yosef was anxiously awaiting his arrival. A special parcel of land had been designated for these refugees. Yaakov, however, had one issue on his mind – to send Yehudah to pave the way to build houses of study. Before tents were to be set up, before houses were to be built, the Torah institutions were…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayakhel

“And the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael left Moshe’s presence. Each person who was ready to volunteer then came forward. And everyone who wanted to give brought a donation to Hashem for the making of the Ohel Moed, for all its labor and for the sacred vestments.”(35:20,21)

There seems to be a disparity between the “entire congregation” — which left Moshe’s presence — and “each person” — who volunteered to donate for the Mishkan. What happened to everyone who left Moshe’s appeal excited and enthusiastic, ready to respond? When Moshe spoke, the entire Klal Yisrael listened eagerly. When it came time to send in their donations, however, only the truly committed actually responded. Regrettably, as the Chida notes, there is a chasm between listening and committing oneself. What initially excites the person does not always translate into serious contribution. At times the disparity between intent and implementation…

Home -> 5755 -> Mishpatim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5755

“And these are the laws which you shall place before them.” (21:1)

Rashi explains the idea of “placing the laws before them” as referring to Moshe’s and every teacher’s obligation to teach the laws over and over until the student is proficient in them. The material must be placed before the student like a table which is set and prepared for eating. The Talmud in Eruvin 54b relates the story of Rav Pr’eida who had a student whose weakness demanded that he be taught each law four hundred times! Only after this persistent review, would he comprehend the material. One day, after the “usual” review of four hundred times, Rav Pr’eida was…

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I will be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and you shall say to them. (21:1)

And let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. (25:2)

“This time I have sinned: Hashem is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the wicked ones.” (9:27)

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

“…That you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites.” (24:3)

“And He called unto Moshe.”(1:1)

“And he sent Yehudah before him to show the way before him to Goshen.” (46:28)

“And the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael left Moshe’s presence. Each person who was ready to volunteer then came forward. And everyone who wanted to give brought a donation to Hashem for the making of the Ohel Moed, for all its labor and for the sacred vestments.”(35:20,21)

“And these are the laws which you shall place before them.” (21:1)

YEARS

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