Commitment – Page 38 – Peninim on the Torah

“And Yitzchak prayed opposite/for his wife for she was barren.” (25:21)

The cause and effect seem to be presented in the reverse sequence in this pasuk. The Torah should have mentioned Rivkah’s inability to conceive prior to citing Yitzchak’s prayer on her behalf. In response to this analysis, the Torah Temimah suggests that Rivkah actually was an akarah, childless, because Hashem desired to hear the tefillos of Yitzchak and Rivkah. The cause was the need for supplication, while the effect was Rivkah’s barren state. What really is a tefillah, prayer? Tefillah is an expression of extreme devotion in which man negates his entire being in deference to Hashem. His individual essence…

Home -> 5755 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5755

“And Yitzchak and Yishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpeilah.” (25:9)

Rashi states that from this pasuk we derive the idea that Yishmael repented and permitted Yitzchak to precede him in their father’s funeral procession. This statement is puzzling. Why did the Torah wait until the end of Avraham’s life to confirm that Yishmael repented? We know that thirty-eight years prior to Avraham’s demise, Yishmael was one of the “young men” who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah. Why is it imperative to acknowledge Yishmael’s teshuvah once again? Horav Shimon Schwab, z.l., offers a profound insight into the teshuvah process which applies to this situation. Perhaps Yishmael initially repented only…

Home -> 5755 -> Vayeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5755

“And you did not withhold your son, your only one (son).” (22:16)

Avraham is commended for his devotion to Hashem in standing ready to perform every request made of him. He was even prepared to sacrifice his “only son,” Yitzchak, to conform to the will of Hashem. It seems strange that he is praised for not acceding to his parental emotions, rather than for his positive affirmation of Hashem’s will. Imagine giving someone a bag of precious diamonds. One would assume that the recipient would thank the benefactor for giving the gift, rather than for not withholding it. Why is Avraham not lauded for his positive orientation? Horav Mordechai Pogremonski z.l., explains…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5774

ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קודש... כל העשה בו מלאכה יומת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayakhel

On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you… whoever does work on it shall be put to death. (35:2)

In the previous parshah (Ki Sisa), the Torah addressed the mitzvah of Shabbos observance, detailing the punishment for its desecration. Why does the Torah reiterate it yet again in this parshah (Vayakhel)? Furthermore, if the primary point is to prevent us from working on the seventh day, why does the Torah preface it by saying, “Six days you shall work”? Why not get to the point? Horav Tzvi Pesach Frank, zl, quotes his brother-in-law, Horav Aryeh Levine, zl, who heard the following explanation from a well-known gaon, Torah scholar. At the beginning of Meseches Pesachim, Tosfos explains why the Torah…

Home -> 5774 -> Va'eschanan

לא מרבכם מכל העמים חשק ד' בכם ויבחר בכם כי אתם המעט מכל העמים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5774

Not because you are numerous than all the peoples did Hashem desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples. (7:7)

Toward the end of the parsha, the Torah describes Hashem’s relationship with Klal Yisrael, claiming that it has nothing to do with our being numerous – because we are not. We are a minority among nations. Because we are the fewest of peoples, however, Hashem has decided to bestow His love on us. Rashi explains that size does not actually play a significant role in determining our relationship. Rather, “fewest” means we minimize ourselves, like Avraham Avinu who said, V’Anochi afar va’eifar, ‘I am but dust and ashes” (Bereishis 18:27) and like Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen, who said, Va’anachnu…

Home -> 5774 -> Tazria

אדם כי יהיה בעור בשרו שאת או ספחת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5774

If a person will have on the skin of his flesh a seis, or a sapachas. (13:2)

The Torah details various forms of tzaraas, which is often incorrectly translated as “leprosy.” It is a spiritual illness that manifests itself in the body by displaying white spots on one’s skin, similar to leprosy. The Sifsei Kohen posits that the words seis and sapachas allude to two spiritual deficiencies which catalyze the tzaraas. Seis is connected to hisnasus, elevating/lording oneself over others, raising himself above those around him. Such a person walks with an upright gait as if to “push up against the Shechinah” Who towers over everyone, melo kol ha’aretz Kevodo, “The entire earth is filled with His…

Home -> 5774 -> Tazria

תביא כבש בן שנתו לעלה ובן יונה או תר לחטאת... וכפר עליה הכהן וטהרה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5774

She shall bring a sheep within its first year for an Elevation-offering and a young dove or a turtle dove for a Sin-offering… and the Kohen shall provide atonement for her and she shall leave purified. (12:6,8)

The new mother is required to bring a korban, sacrifice, to atone – for what? This woman just brought a new neshamah, soul, into the world. She should be the recipient of accolades. Yet, she must bring a korban to atone for herself. Chazal teach that Moshiach will not arrive until all of the neshamos that are “waiting” in Heaven are born. She, in fact, was mekareiv, brought closer, the geulah, Final Redemption. Still, she must bring a korban for atonement. Chazal address this question and explain that, because during the extreme pangs of childbirth she had uttered an oath,…

Home -> 5774 -> Shoftim

והאיש אשר יעשה בזדון... ומת האיש ההוא ובערת הרע מישראל. וכל העם ישמעו ויראו ולא יזידון עוד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5774

And the man that will act with willfulness… that man shall die, and if you shall destroy the evil from among Yisrael. The entire nation shall listen and fear, and they shall not act willfully anymore. (17:12,13)

How often – upon confronting a young Jewish boy or girl and inquiring why he or she has suddenly opted for living a life of spiritual risk, or of turning off completely to religious observance – will the response be, “I was turned off by the lack of truth, the dearth of intellectual honesty, the improper behavior such as chillul Hashem and hypocrisy”? Veritably, the response that we receive has a ring of truth to it. The system is perfect; the people, however, are human, and human beings err – some by not thinking, while others are simply dishonest. In…

Home -> Shemos -> 5774

ויאמר משה אל ד'... לא איש דברים אנכי גם מתמול גם משלשם גם מאז דברך אל עבדך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Shemos

Moshe replied to Hashem… I am not a man of words, not since yesterday, not since the day before yesterday, nor since You first spoke to your servant. (4:10)

Rashi notes that this was the seventh day of Moshe Rabbeinu’s dialogue with Hashem. Moshe’s reluctance to assume the leadership of Klal Yisrael was because he did not want to arrogate himself over his older brother, Aharon, who was a Navi, Prophet, and the present leader of the people. The Yalkut Shimoni quotes Moshe, “Until I stood here, my brother, Aharon, had been prophesizing for the last eighty years. Now I should come into his perimeter? I should be his adversary and cause him pain?” Hashem replied, “You will neither be his adversary, nor will you cause him pain. Indeed,…

Home -> 5774 -> Shelach

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5774

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

Probably the most common catalyst for sinful behavior is low self-esteem, which is often the precursor of depression. While depression alone is not a sin, it leads one to commit the most egregious transgressions. When one thinks ill of himself, he has little reason to act positively. After all, who cares? This, explains the Kotzker Rebbe, zl, was the motivation for the sin perpetrated by the meraglim, spies. They felt worthless; they had no chance of overcoming such a strong nation. Their negativity was infectious, causing the entire nation to feel bereft of their leadership. They all began to cry….

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“And Yitzchak prayed opposite/for his wife for she was barren.” (25:21)

“And Yitzchak and Yishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpeilah.” (25:9)

“And you did not withhold your son, your only one (son).” (22:16)

ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קודש... כל העשה בו מלאכה יומת

On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you… whoever does work on it shall be put to death. (35:2)

לא מרבכם מכל העמים חשק ד' בכם ויבחר בכם כי אתם המעט מכל העמים

Not because you are numerous than all the peoples did Hashem desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples. (7:7)

אדם כי יהיה בעור בשרו שאת או ספחת

If a person will have on the skin of his flesh a seis, or a sapachas. (13:2)

תביא כבש בן שנתו לעלה ובן יונה או תר לחטאת... וכפר עליה הכהן וטהרה

She shall bring a sheep within its first year for an Elevation-offering and a young dove or a turtle dove for a Sin-offering… and the Kohen shall provide atonement for her and she shall leave purified. (12:6,8)

והאיש אשר יעשה בזדון... ומת האיש ההוא ובערת הרע מישראל. וכל העם ישמעו ויראו ולא יזידון עוד

And the man that will act with willfulness… that man shall die, and if you shall destroy the evil from among Yisrael. The entire nation shall listen and fear, and they shall not act willfully anymore. (17:12,13)

ויאמר משה אל ד'... לא איש דברים אנכי גם מתמול גם משלשם גם מאז דברך אל עבדך

Moshe replied to Hashem… I am not a man of words, not since yesterday, not since the day before yesterday, nor since You first spoke to your servant. (4:10)

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

YEARS

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