Commitment – Page 9 – Peninim on the Torah

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

Horav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, offers an outstanding insight into the enjoinment that one fear Hashem. Every moment of one’s life one must ask himself, “What does Hashem ask of me – now?” An hour later, he should ask himself again, “Now, what does Hashem ask of me?” This is the depth of the meaning of v’atah, now. Every moment of one’s life, throughout every circumstance, the question that he should ask is: “What does the Almighty want of me now? How should I act in this situation?” Fear of Hashem is a way of life. One does not simply punch…

Home -> Matos -> 5783

לא יחל דברו ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Matos

He shall not profane his word; according to whatever comes from his mouth, shall he do. (30:3)

Rashi defines Lo yacheil d’varo, “He shall not profane his word.” While he does not necessarily profane his word, the mere fact that he does not use his G-d-given speech/word for a purpose imbued with sanctity is considered profanity. When a person uses his G-d-given speech, it should be elevating, sanctifying, complimentary, obligating himself in higher, more consecrating endeavors. Even a mundane conversation which wastes time that could have been used to improve and enlighten is, by omission, a form of profaning. If we want Hashem to listen to our words, we must see to it that they have value…

Home -> 5783 -> Pinchas

וירא פנחס... ויקם מתוך העדה...פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמת

Sruly Schnair In Pinchas, 5783

Pinchas… and rose up from the midst of the people, and took a spear. (25:7)…Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back my wrath. (25:11)

It appears that Pinchas’ rising up from among the people contributed to his ultimate success. Indeed, we recite in the Selichos, Mi she’anah l’Pinchas b’kumo mitoch ha’eidah; “May He – Who answered Pinchas when he rose up from the midst of the people.” Why should his rising up from the midst of the people carry such weight? Horav Tzvi Kushelevsky, Shlita, explains that “rising up from the midst of the people” is reference to Pinchas’ acting independently, with no support or assistance. No one rallied him on. He had only detractors. Indeed, if Zimri and Kosbi would have stopped their…

Home -> 5783 -> Tazria

וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו

Sruly Schnair In Tazria, 5783

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

The custom among Jews is to wish the father of the newly-circumcised infant, K’sheim she’nichnas l’bris, kein yikanes l’Torah, u’lechuppah, u’lmaasim tovim, “As the infant enters into the covenant of Bris Milah, so, too, should he enter into Torah, chuppah/marriage and the performance of good deeds.” Many commentators have offered interpretations of this statement by Chazal (Shabbos 137b) – each one intimating an important lesson. I will share but a few. Tochachas Chaim explains the concept behind k’sheim she’nichnas, “As the (infant) enters into the Bris”: When a father brings his newborn son into the covenant of Avraham Avinu, it…

Home -> 5783 -> Tzav

וזאת תורת המנחה

Sruly Schnair In Tzav, 5783

This is the law of this meal-offering. (6:7)

In Parashas Vayikra, the Torah addresses the laws of the Korban Minchah. The Torah (2:1) begins the laws of Korban Minchah with a word not used regarding any of the other korbanos nedavah, voluntary offerings: Nefesh, soul (v’nefesh ki sakriv). Rashi explains that, concerning a Korban Minchah, the Torah makes an exception, since this inexpensive korban is usually the offering which a poor man brings. Hashem says, “I will regard it (the korban of an ani, poor man) as if he had offered his very soul. Concerning the Korban Minchah, Chazal (Menachos 110a) teach, Echad ha’marbeh v’echad ha’mamit, ubilvad she’yichavein…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5783

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אותם להביא לכל המלאכה ... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Vayakhel

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

Upon reading the pasuk, one is struck by its redundancy. What is the difference between kol ishv’ishah, every man and woman, and Bnei Yisrael? Are they not one and the same? The Chida, zl explains this with a pertinent analogy. Often a shul has an appeal on Shabbos for badly needed funds to support an important project. In the heat of the announcement, people tend to get carried away and, wanting to “keep up with the Joneses,’” pledge more than they would normally give. At first, the donor is very proud of himself. After all, everyone else, even the wealthy…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5783

וישכימו ממחרת ויעלו עולות ויגישו שלמים וישב העם לאכל ושתו ויקומו לצחק

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ki Sisa

The next day they rose early, offered up burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to make merry. (32:6)

Horav Yaakov Galinsky, zl, posits that this pasuk offers us a window into the mindset of the idol worshippers. At first, it begins with burnt offerings, which are wholly burnt and offered up to the higher being whom they claim to worship. This step is filled with idealism. After all, the entire animal is offered up, indicating the participants’ desire to give up their money and their lives on the altar of idealism. They still think that something will happen; their idol will speak to them. This step does not last very long, because nothing happens – no response from…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5783

ויאמר אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך ד' ילך נא ד' בקרבינו כי עם קשה עורף הוא

Sruly Schnair In 5783, Ki Sisa

If I have favor in Your eyes, My Lord, let my Lord go among us – for it is a stuff-necked people. (34:9)

A superficial reading of the pasuk will cause the reader to pause and question Moshe Rabbeinu’s comment concerning the stiff-necked nature of Klal Yisrael. On the surface, stiff-necked does not appear to be a positive attribute. It denotes one who is imperious, overly-assertive, and pretentious. These traits may have positive sides to them, but Moshe was seeking to ameliorate their side – not to present it as an act of chutzpah by a people who seem to have audacity as part of their DNA. When seeking forgiveness for the nation, it would seem best to downplay their brashness. Horav Moshe…

Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה הקרב אליך את אהרן אחיך

Sruly Schnair In Tetzaveh, 5783

Now you bring near to yourself Aharon your brother. (28:1)

Chazal (Shemos Rabbah, Tetzaveh 37:4) teach that Moshe Rabbeinu was not overjoyed that Hashem endowed the Kehunah, priesthood, to Aharon and his descendants. It is not that Moshe begrudged Aharon. On the contrary, he was happy that his older brother was granted such an exalted mission. He just wanted to serve Hashem in every possible manner. Hashem assuaged Moshe’s feelings. He said, “I had the Torah, which I gave to you (to give to Klal Yisrael). If not for the Torah, I would have lost My world.” Hashem told Moshe that the Torah was His most precious possession, because of…

Home -> 5783 -> Beshalach

ואהרן וחור תמכו בידיו

Sruly Schnair In Beshalach, 5783

And Aharon and Chur supported his hands. (17:12)

When Moshe Rabbeinu raised his hands, Klal Yisrael became stronger. However, his hands were becoming heavy. To prevent his hands from descending, Aharon and Chur placed a stone beneath him, so that he could sit, and they supported his hands – one on each side. Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, observes that Moshe’s two supporters in the war against the evil Amalek were two individuals – his brother, Aharon, and his nephew, Chur, who had disparate natures and approaches toward serving Hashem. Aharon was the consummate ohaiv shalom, v’rodef shalom, loved peace and pursued peace. He was a pacifist who sought…

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ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

לא יחל דברו ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה

He shall not profane his word; according to whatever comes from his mouth, shall he do. (30:3)

וירא פנחס... ויקם מתוך העדה...פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמת

Pinchas… and rose up from the midst of the people, and took a spear. (25:7)…Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back my wrath. (25:11)

וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו

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

וזאת תורת המנחה

This is the law of this meal-offering. (6:7)

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אותם להביא לכל המלאכה ... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

וישכימו ממחרת ויעלו עולות ויגישו שלמים וישב העם לאכל ושתו ויקומו לצחק

The next day they rose early, offered up burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to make merry. (32:6)

ויאמר אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך ד' ילך נא ד' בקרבינו כי עם קשה עורף הוא

If I have favor in Your eyes, My Lord, let my Lord go among us – for it is a stuff-necked people. (34:9)

ואתה הקרב אליך את אהרן אחיך

Now you bring near to yourself Aharon your brother. (28:1)

ואהרן וחור תמכו בידיו

And Aharon and Chur supported his hands. (17:12)

YEARS

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