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Home -> 5753 -> Ki Savo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Savo, 5753

“Cursed (be he) that confirms not the words of this Torah to do them.” (27:26)

As translated above, this pasuk is ambiguous. How does one “confirm” the words of the Torah? The Ramban offers various interpretations of the word oheh from which we may derive important lessons. First, the Ramban states that the word “yakim” means to “uphold and accept” the validity of the Torah in all generations. Consequently, the curse applies to anyone who denies the relevance of any part of the Torah. Accordingly, it is our obligation to impress upon all Jews the Torah’s relevance as a living source of guidance for modern society. Second, the Ramban cites the Yerushalmi in Sotah 7:4,…

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Home -> Pekudei -> 5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5753, Pekudei

“And so Moshe finished the work.” (40:33)

The parsha concludes with the final account of the erection of the Mishkan. It mandates the precise placement of the Shulchan, table, the menorah, and the Aron Hakodesh. The entire parsha is a study in detail, providing the exact description of each vessel and the specific verbs used to describe each activity necessary for creating these vessels. Examples include: “and he gave;” “and he placed;” “and he brought;” “and he spread out;” “and he screened.”             Horav Moshe Swift, z.l., notes the Torah‘s emphasis on each activity. Every man has his own job to perform. One cannot be a silent…

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Home -> 5753 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5753

“And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh.” (7:3)

We are taught that every person has before him two paths: the path of good and life, and the path of evil and death. One of our prime tenets of faith is that we the have the freedom to choose between these contrasting paths. Pharaoh was evidently so evil that this opportunity was denied to him. There is a divergence of opinions among the commentaries regarding this denial. A unique insight offered by Horav Simcha Zissel, z.l., of Kelm sheds light upon this problem. He explains that by increasing Pharaoh’s obstinacy, Hashem was revealing the true character of evil-doers who…

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Home -> 5751 -> Tzav

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Tzav, 5751

“This is the offering of Aharon and his sons.” (6:13)

The offering described in this posuk and in the following psukim according to explanations in the commentaries, are the Chavitei Kohain Gadol, a daily morning and evening offering to be brought by the Kohain Gadol, and the Minchas Chinuch of the Kohain Hedyot, a minchah which every Kohain brought upon his induction to the priestly service. In essence these two offerings were the same, except in name, and in mode of offering. The Kohain Gadol, brought this offering daily, offering half in the morning, and the other half in the evening, while the ordinary Kohain brought it once, on the…

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Home -> Masei -> 5751

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5751, Masei

“And the cities which you shall give unto the Leviim, they shall be the six cities of refuge which you shall give to the murderer to flee therein.” (35:6)

The Chinuch states two reasons why the Leviim were chosen by Hashem as the “protectors” of the accidental killers. He attributes this to their being men of great nobility who, by virtue of the worthiness of their activity and the grace of their distinction, were chosen to use their territory as refuge to anyone who kills someone accidently. Perhaps their land, hallowed by their holiness, would effect atonement for him. He suggests another reason for this matter. Since they were men who possessed a good heart, and were renown for the eminent worth of their qualities and wisdom, it was…

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Home -> 5775 -> Vayeira

כי שמע אלקים אל קול הנער באשר הוא שם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5775

For G-d has heeded the cry of the youth as he is, there. (21:17)

Avraham Avinu had a son, Yishmael, who deviated from the derech, path, which his father had surely encouraged him to follow. Likewise, Yitzchak Avinu had a son, Eisav, who paved for himself a path to infamy. Two sons – two reshaim, wicked men; yet, Yishmael repented, while Eisav died as he had lived – a rasha. One might suggest that Yishmael was made of finer spiritual material, better middos, character traits. This is not true. The angel told Hagar that her son would be a pera adam, a wild man, similar to a wild donkey– his hand in everything and…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5775

ועתה שני בניך הנולדים לך בארץ מצרים עד באי אליך מצרימה לי הם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, Vayechi

And now, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before my coming to you in Egypt shall be mine. (48:5)

Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, derives from this pasuk that the symbol of the pertinacity of a Torah education; its staying power, and ability to overcome challenge, is whether it is still perceived in later generations. An education that endures generations is a good education. This idea is gleaned from Yaakov Avinu’s statement concerning Yosef’s children who were born prior to the arrival of the Patriarch in Egypt. Li heim, “They are mine!” has meaning only if they had been born and raised in the moral filth of Egyptian society without Yaakov Avinu to serve as a positive influence, as the…

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Home -> 5775 -> Vaeira

ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם והייתי לכם לאלקים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vaeira, 5775

I shall take you to Me for a people, and I will be a G-d to you. (6:7)

The election of Klal Yisrael as the nation upon whom Hashem confers His Name is a concept about which every ben Torah, every observant Jew and Jewess, is acutely aware. Sadly, the term “observant” in this case is more than a mere adjective. It defines those who believe in Klal Yisrael as the am ha’nivchar, “chosen people.” We choose to be chosen, and only we are willing to aspire to be worthy of the mission of “choseness.” Of the millions who carry the name Jewish to define race, only those who are knowledgeable and committed to this mission understand its…

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Home -> 5775 -> Terumah

ועשית שנים כרבים זהב מקשה תעשה אתם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5775

You shall make two Keruvim of gold – hammered out shall you make them. (25:18)

Rashi teaches that the Keruvim had the image of young children. The Mishkan/Bais Hamikdash was the holiest place on the Jewish spiritual landscape. The Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, was the holiest place in the Sanctuary. The penultimate seat of holiness within the Kodesh HaKedoshim was the Keruvim which rested atop the Ketores, Cover, of the Aron Hakodesh. It was from there that Hashem’s Voice would emanate out to speak with Moshe Rabbeinu. The Keruvim had the image of children. In Sefer Bereishis, when the Torah relates Adam HaRishon’s expulsion from Gan Eden, two Keruvim stood at the entrance to…

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Home -> 5775 -> Nitzavim

ראה נתתי לפניך היום את החיים ואת הטוב ואת המות ואת הרע... ובחרת בחיים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Nitzavim, 5775

See – I have placed before you today the life and the good, and the death and the evil… and you shall choose life. (30:15, 19)

After all, what else should one choose? Why would anyone be so foolish as to choose death? Apparently, some of us remain clueless with regard to the definition of evil and death. Indeed, some still have difficulty distinguishing between good and evil – life and death. Yes, there are those who think that they are very much alive, despite the fact that they are “living” a slow death. The Torah gives us a clue as to the meaning of life when it exhorts us to choose life. Why? Because – “so that you will live, you and your offspring.” In…

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