Commitment – Page 27 – Peninim on the Torah

וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

Of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim befit Your devout one. (33:8)

Moshe begins his blessing by addressing the Kohanim. Then, he speaks to the rest of the tribe. The praises that he sings are truly impressive and certainly warranted. Are we to ignore the fact, however, that the greatest controversy in the history of the nascent Jewish nation was initiated by a member of the tribe of Levi? The machlokes Korach, controversy of Korach, is one of the saddest moments in our history. Moshe Rabbeinu, also a member of the tribe of Levi, seems to have glossed over it. Why? Surely it must have pained him to recall that bitter dispute…

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והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

And they were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances.(33:3)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 8a, Chazal interpret this pasuk as a reference to talmidei chachamim, Torah scholars, who cut their feet going from town to town and country to country to learn Torah. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, relates the story of a certain gadol, Torah leader, who grew up in abject poverty. He was able to continue his Torah studies unimpeded due to his mother’s singular devotion to Torah. Winter cold and frost presented a unique problem for his mother. She had three sons who attended cheder and their shoes were not fit for walking in the cold and…

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אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands; and Ithey were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances. (33:3)

In an alternative exposition of this pasuk, Rashi says that the love that Hashem demonstrated is a reference to a time in which Hashem manifests endearment to the nations of the world. He shows them a smiling countenance when He delivers Klal Yisrael into their hands. Nonetheless, “all its Holy ones are in Your hands.” Despite this g’zar din, difficult decree, against the Jewish People, its righteous ones and its good ones have cleaved to Hashem, never once doubting Him. Hashem, therefore, guards them. These deeply committed Jews accept Your decree with love and joy, declaring: Torah tzivah lanu Moshe morashah…

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וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5763, V'zos HaBrachah

FOf Levi he said, ‘Your tumim and your urim befit Your devout one.’ (33:8)

First, Moshe Rabbeinu stressed Levi’s position as the tribe from which the spiritual leadership, the Kohanim, of the nation emanated. Then, Moshe turned to the tribe as a whole, focusing on its bravery and steadfast loyalty in the desert. He then blessed the Leviim as the teachers of the nation. The commentators note the omission of Shimon from the blessings. This is due to the fact that Shimon was severely criticized by Yaakov Avinu for the tribe’s later participation in the worship and consequent moral deviation concerning the Baal Peor idol. The Sifri notes that at one time, Shimon and Levi…

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אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, V'zos HaBrachah

“He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands.” (33:3)

In an alternative explanation, Rashi explains that even at a time when Hashem demonstrates endearment towards the gentile nations who persecute the Jews, Klal Yisrael’s righteous ones remain true and continue to cleave to Hashem. They overcome the challenge to their faith as a result of their strong commitment to faith in the Almighty. The extreme devotion and commitment exhibited by the Klausenberger Rebbe, z.l., during the Holocaust years is legend. Regardless of the success of the Nazi’s, the Rebbe’s religious fervor never waned. He refused to eat anything that might not be kosher. During his entire stay in the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

Rashi explains that this refers to Moshe’s initiative to shatter the Luchos right before Klal Yisrael’s eyes. Moshe saw that the people were not ready to accept the Luchos at this point. They had compromised their faith. The Luchos cannot be given on compromise. One must make his whole-hearted commitment to Hashem and trust that He will be present for him at all times. We do not reject Hashem and look for new gods just because, in our minds, Moshe is a little bit late. Thus, Moshe shattered the Luchos for all to see. Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, zl, was…

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…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

The Zohar Ha’Kadosh interprets the “kaf yerech” as “tamchin do’oraisa,” referring to those who support Torah. The Chafetz Chaim explains that Eisav’s angel disputed Yaakov’s claim to the blessings, offering the argument that Eisav had as much right to the blessings as Yaakov did. Yaakov retorted that his descendants would one day receive the Torah to study. Although Eisav’s angel could not impugn this rationale, he nevertheless attempted to hurt Yaakov. He succeeded in weakening the financial support for Torah. In the “Ikvasa d’Meshicha,” the period of time close to the advent of Moshiach, Torah supporters will seek excuses to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayikra

When a person offers a meal-offering to Hashem…And he (the Kohen) shall scoop his three-fingersful from it, from its fire-flour and from its oil, as well as from its frankincense; And the Kohen shall cause its memorial portion to go up in smoke upon the altar…. (2:1,2)

The Torah begins the laws of the Korban Minchah, meal-offering. While the Torah lists five varieties of voluntary, personal meal-offerings, they all consist of the same basic ingredients: finely ground wheat flour, oil, and frankincense. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, infers from the word “minchah,” which in the Hebrew language means “gift” or “tribute,” that the meal-offering proclaims the owner’s acknowledgment that his life and all he has is a gift from the Almighty. Grain, a staple of the human diet, represents our very existence. Oil symbolizes comfort, and the frankincense alludes to joy, both gifts from Hashem. We have only…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayikra

He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him. (1:1)

The third Sefer of the five Chumashim opens with a summons to Moshe. Interestingly, the word trehu —Vayikra–“He called” is spelled with a small aleph at the end of the word. The commentators all express their insights into this deviation from the norm. We suggest the following reason for the small aleph, especially in light of its position at the beginning of Sefer Vayikra, which deals with sacrifices. The Midrash in the beginning of Vayikra minimizes our obligations as Jews. Chazal relate: Hashem says to Klal Yisrael, “I have given you ten pure animals which you may enjoy. Three of…

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וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim befit Your devout one. (33:8)

והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

And they were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances.(33:3)

אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands; and Ithey were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances. (33:3)

וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

FOf Levi he said, ‘Your tumim and your urim befit Your devout one.’ (33:8)

אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך

“He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands.” (33:3)

And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

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

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

When a person offers a meal-offering to Hashem…And he (the Kohen) shall scoop his three-fingersful from it, from its fire-flour and from its oil, as well as from its frankincense; And the Kohen shall cause its memorial portion to go up in smoke upon the altar…. (2:1,2)

He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him. (1:1)

YEARS

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