Commitment – Page 43 – Peninim on the Torah

אז יבדיל משה שלש ערים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5773

At that time, Moshe designated three cities. (4:41)

In Sefer Mishlei 24:30-33, Shlomo HaMelech teaches us the inevitable consequence of indolence. Al sadeh ish atzeil avarti, “By the field of a lazy person I passed and behold, it was entirely covered with thorns, its face covered with weeds, and its wall of stones was in ruins. I saw, and I took a lesson: a little sleep, a little dreaming, a little folding of the hands to rest; your poverty will come racing after you.” The wisest of all men tells us that it does not take much. A little slacking off, and one gets into the habit. Habit…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5773

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בניו לא ידע כי שמרו אמרתך ובריתך ינצורו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition and his children he did not know; for they (the Leviim) have observed Your word and Your covenant they preserved. (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu prepared to bless Shevet Levi, he characterized it according to the unusual qualities and virtues of the people. He related their unwavering devotion to the Almighty, their consummate ability to withstand and triumph over the most difficult challenges – all because of their intense fealty to Hashem. Nothing stood in their way – not even their most personal commitments. Their commitment to Hashem transcended everything. This quality was evinced during the sin of the Golden Calf when Moshe declared, Mi l’Hashem elai – “Whoever is for Hashem, join me!” (Shemos 32:26). Shevet Levi came forth in unison,…

Home -> 5773 -> Tzav

Command Aharon and his sons. (6:2)

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5773

Command Aharon and his sons. (6:2)

Rashi quotes Toras Kohanim that comments, “Tzav, the word, ‘command,’ can only be meant to express urging on, miyad u’le’doros, for the immediate moment and for future generations. (Furthermore) The Torah must especially urge in a situation where there is a loss of money.” The Kohanim sustain a financial loss because they are not paid for their service. In order to perform it, they must be readily available, thus precluding any other form of livelihood. The Torah makes this point within the context of the Olah – Elevation/Burnt Offering, because the loss of income in this case is especially significant….

Home -> 5773 -> Tetzaveh

ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת...והיו על אהרן ועל בניו בבאם אל אהל מועד...לשרת בקדש...חקת עולם לו ולזרעו אחריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5773

And make holy garments for your brother Aharon, for honor and distinction… They shall cover Aharon and his sons when they enter into the Ohel Moed… to serve in the Sanctuary…It shall be a statute forever for him and for his descendants after him. (28:2,43)

The idea of clothing making the man is a Madison Avenue stratagem. In truth, as we see from the Bigdei Kehunah, Priestly vestments, clothing is actually a reflection of the man. They do not make a person, but they do convey a message and allow us a window into the wearer’s personality and character. The Bigdei Kehunah were an essential part of the character of the Kehunah, Priesthood. Their significance is evident from the instructions concerning their construction. The validity of the sacrificial service is dependent upon the priestly garments. Indeed, they are a chukas olam, statute forever, such that,…

Home -> 5773 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה תצוה את בני ישראל ויקחו אליך שמן זית זך כתית למאור להעלות נר תמיד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5773

And you shall command Bnei Yisrael and they shall take pure olive oil, crushed, for illumination, to light the eternal light. (27:20)

Yirmiyahu HaNavi says: Zayis raanan yifei pri toar kara Hashem shemeich. “A flourishing olive tree, a beautiful and shapely fruit Hashem has called Your Name” (Yirmiyahu 11:16). What did Yirmiyahu see that catalyzed his comparison of our ancestors to an olive tree? All types of liquids mix with one another, but oil stands by itself. So, too, Klal Yisrael does not mix with the non-Jews. As it says, V’lo sischatein – “You shall not be married to them.” The Sfas Emes explains that oil’s nature prevents it from mixing with water. Hashem has made the unique nature of the Jewish…

Home -> 5773 -> Terumah

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם. ככל אשר אני מראה אותך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5773

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them. Like everything that I show you. (25:8,9)

The Mishkan, Sanctuary, was an edifice dedicated to the service of Hashem. A structure of stone and mortar becomes consecrated through the devotion and commitment to G-d of those who build and maintain it. Anything not built solely for G-d has little to no meaning. Man’s ability to transform and elevate mere mundane, physical ingredients into a structure of holiness indicates the incredible spiritual powers vested within him. K’chol asher Ani mareh osecha, “Like everything that I show you,” is a reference to Hashem showing Moshe Rabbeinu the exact form of each of the Mishkan’s vessels. Thus, Moshe had before…

Home -> 5773 -> Tazria

וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5773

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (12:3)

Interestingly, the opening lines of Parshas Tazria relate to the Bris Milah that is to take place on a boy’s eighth day of life. This is juxtaposed upon the previous parsha, Shemini, which concludes with the words, “to distinguish between the contaminated and the pure.” The exhortation makes it incumbent upon us to learn how to distinguish between things that appear to be similar, such as between purity and the contamination. Horav Yehonasan Eibeshutz, zl, explains that specifically the mitzvah of Milah distinguishes between tamei, ritually impure, and tahar, ritually pure, and between the members of the gentile nations and…

Home -> 5773 -> Shelach

והיו לכם לציצת וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5773

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38)

What is it about the mitzvah of Tzitzis that the Torah, more so than for any other mitzvah, emphasizes that it will engender within us the remembrance of all of the other mitzvos? The commentators render explanations, ranging from the simple p’shat, to the homiletic and even to the esoteric. Perhaps, we might suggest the following: Tzitzis, unlike any other mitzvah, also comprises the Jew’s uniform. A Tallis katan is worn all day. The Tallis gadol is worn during davening, and some righteous Jews even sit in their Tallis and Tefillin throughout the day. In any event, the Tallis is…

Home -> 5773 -> Mishpatim

מדבר שקר תרחק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5773

Distance yourself from a false word. (23:7)

Sforno writes that one must distance himself from anything that might lead to falsehood. Sometimes we do something innocuous, but it creates a situation in which someone else is compelled to lie – albeit inadvertently. Sefer Chassidim mentions an all-too common situation, whereby one notices a group of friends speaking furtively among themselves. Of course, he wants to know what it is they are shrouding in so much secrecy. If he approaches them and asks, “What are you talking about?” he knows that he might cause them to lie. Let’s face it, if they wanted him to know the topic…

Home -> 5773 -> Mishpatim

ואלה המשפטים אשר תשים לפניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5773

And these are the judgments that you shall place before them. (21:1)

Rashi teaches that Hashem told Moshe Rabbeinu, “It should not occur to you to say, ‘I shall teach them the chapter and the law two or three times, until it is set in order in their mouths according to its format (i.e. until they memorize it), but I shall not trouble myself to make them understand the reasons of the matter and its explanation.’ Therefore it says, ‘that you shall place it before them – like a table that is set and prepared to be eaten from, placed before a person.’ In other words, there is no room for error…

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אז יבדיל משה שלש ערים

At that time, Moshe designated three cities. (4:41)

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בניו לא ידע כי שמרו אמרתך ובריתך ינצורו

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition and his children he did not know; for they (the Leviim) have observed Your word and Your covenant they preserved. (33:9)

Command Aharon and his sons. (6:2)

Command Aharon and his sons. (6:2)

ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת...והיו על אהרן ועל בניו בבאם אל אהל מועד...לשרת בקדש...חקת עולם לו ולזרעו אחריו

And make holy garments for your brother Aharon, for honor and distinction… They shall cover Aharon and his sons when they enter into the Ohel Moed… to serve in the Sanctuary…It shall be a statute forever for him and for his descendants after him. (28:2,43)

ואתה תצוה את בני ישראל ויקחו אליך שמן זית זך כתית למאור להעלות נר תמיד

And you shall command Bnei Yisrael and they shall take pure olive oil, crushed, for illumination, to light the eternal light. (27:20)

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם. ככל אשר אני מראה אותך

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them. Like everything that I show you. (25:8,9)

וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (12:3)

והיו לכם לציצת וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38)

מדבר שקר תרחק

Distance yourself from a false word. (23:7)

ואלה המשפטים אשר תשים לפניהם

And these are the judgments that you shall place before them. (21:1)

YEARS

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