Derech Eretz – Page 46 – Peninim on the Torah

“And all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you… because you did not serve Hashem with joy.” (28:45-47)

We may note that the Torah reveals that the only sin which will effect these terrible curses is a deficiency in serving Hashem joyously. An insipid service of Hashem is not only wrong, but it also distorts the very essence of spirituality. As the Nefesh Hachayim points out, a service devoid of passion is comparable to the interaction characteristic of the relationship of a slave to his master or a prisoner to his captor. Why does the Torah inflict such terrible punishment upon one who fails to achieve this spiritual apex? Individual personalities vary, and not all people are…

Home -> 5752 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5752

“And your camp shall be holy, that He shall not see in you any unseemly thing.” (23:15) – There shall be no woman who acts licentiously from among the daughters of Yisrael, neither shall there be a moral degenerate from the Bnei Yisrael.” (23:18)

The contrast in these pesukim is striking. On the one hand, we are positively enjoined to maintain a strict degree of holiness. On the other hand, we are admonished not to degrade ourselves by acting licentiously. Do not the mitzvos of the Torah focus on establishing us as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation? Therefore, it seems incongruous that a nation which willingly has accepted the entire Torah should need to be cautioned regarding debauchery. It is unlikely that these two antagonistic attitudes coexist within the same individual. Obviously, a nation, whose goal is to maintain a hallowed…

Home -> 5752 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5752

“And you will say in your heart, it is my strength and the power of my hand that performed this valorous deed… and walk after other gods and serve them.” (8:17-19)

As Bnei Yisrael neared the culmination of their forty year trek in the desert, Moshe warned them of the pitfalls that might accompany their successful entry into Eretz Yisrael. As they forged their way, conquering the seven nations whose might was to prove no match for the Divinely ordained army of Bnei Yisrael, they might fall prey to pride and haughtiness. They might even begin to believe that their own military prowess enabled them to defeat their enemies. They might forget that it was Hashem who had promised them that these events would occur and that it was only through…

Home -> Devarim -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Devarim

“Do not contend with them, for I will not give you of their land.” (2:5) – “Be not at enmity with Moav, and do not contend with them in battle.” (2:9) – “Do not harass them and do not contend with them for I will not give of the land of the children of Ammon to you for a possession.” (2:19)

After their lengthy sojourn in the desert, Bnei Yisrael had attained a reputation for their physical prowess which commanded profound respect. They had the “ability” to achieve many more conquests, exterminating their adversaries. Hashem implored them, however, three times to refrain from battle. He declared three adversaries who possessed choice pieces of land to be off limits. The Abarbanel cites Hashem’s desire to educate Bnei Yisrael as the reason for this command. Bnei Yisrael felt confident that they could defeat all opposition with their own strength. In order to curb their audacious attitude, it was essential to place specific controls…

Home -> Devarim -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Devarim

“You shall not respect persons in judgment, the small and the great alike, you shall listen to, you shall not fear the face of any man, for the judgment is Hashem’s.” (1:17)

Rabeinu Yonah in his Sharei Teshuvah (3:33) cites this pasuk as a reassurance to Torah leadership that they should not fear reprisal from any decision they render. Judgment comes from Hashem and He will protect those who stand resolute in executing His imperatives. We may question the stated rationale for this mandate, “for judgment is Hashem’s”. What relationship exists between the source of judgment and the need for courage in administering legislation? This pasuk may be clarified in the following manner. Chazal made a very strong statement regarding the character of a Talmid Chacham (Torah scholar). Any Talmid Chacham…

Home -> Masei -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Masei

“For blood pollutes the land.” (й”о д”о)

The word “yachnif” is a derivative of the Hebrew word “chanufah” which means flattery. It seems peculiar that the Torah uses such a word in regard to murder. Horav Moshe Feinstein Z”l cites the contrast between the perspectives of the Torah and contemporary society regarding murder as the Torah’s basis for the use of this word. Current society deplores murder because of its damaging effect on the world. For example, if a nation feels that another nation is a threat to its future, it will wage war against that nation. Indeed, many nations feel that war is constructive, for it…

Home -> 5752 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5752

“And Bilaam smote the donkey to turn her into the way… And she lay down under Bilaam and he smote the donkey with a stick.”(22:23-27)

At first glance it appears, that Bilaam smote the donkey simply in order to turn her onto the correct path. The sequence of pesukim, however, seems to indicate that he smote the donkey in response to her ridicule, a public demonstration of lack of respect. “And Bilaam said unto the donkey, for you have mocked me, if there were a sword in my hand, I would now kill you.” (22:29) It seems incredible that Bilaam would want to kill his donkey for exhibiting disrespect toward him. Indeed, as Horav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik Z”l explains, this is the nature of an…

Home -> 5752 -> Shelach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5752

“And the people wept in this night.” (14:1)

The Talmud in Taanis 29a comments that “this” night was Tisha B’av, the ninth day of Av, which was to witness Klal Yisrael’s most tragic events. Hashem said to the people, “you wept without a reason, I will cause you to weep in the distant future.” The people’s unjustified desperation in reaction to the alarming report of the spies instigated severe misconduct which, in turn, caused death of that generation in the desert. Moreover, the consequences of that misconduct plague us to this very day. This unwarranted form of depression has been the source of significant problems for Bnei Yisrael….

Home -> 5752 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5752

“When a man or a woman shall commit any sin that men commit… and they shall confess their sin which they have done, and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and the fifth part thereof he shall add unto it, and give it to whom he has been guilty.” (5:6-7)

The question concerning these pesukim is obvious. The Torah begins its account of the sin in the plural form (uaguw usuu,vu) and sums it up in the singular form (chavu wi,bu)! Horav Chaim Zaitzik Z”l poignantly explains that the succession of events which leads up to an individual’s transgressing suggests that frequently the sin is communal. The individual, who actually executes the misdeed is the product of an environment which has laid the foundation for this sin to transpire. In reality, this sin originates in the community. He cites scenarios to support this hypothesis. For example, let us look…

Home -> Behar -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Behar

“And if your brother becomes poor, and his means fail with you, then you shall uphold him.” (25:35)

The primary focus of this mitzvah is supporting those who have been poverty stricken. The Torah states “you shall uphold and support him; giving charity is a fine art, which involves more than the act of writing a check and dispensing it. The Torah demands a unique sensitivity to the concerns of the impoverished. No one is as vulnerable to humiliation as the needy. The Torah voices its concern for the protection of the poor man’s esteem. Don’t let him falter into depression! Hold him up and strengthen him! Horav Moshe Shternbuch Shlita extends this mitzvah yet further….

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Ki Savo ->

“And all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you… because you did not serve Hashem with joy.” (28:45-47)

“And your camp shall be holy, that He shall not see in you any unseemly thing.” (23:15) – There shall be no woman who acts licentiously from among the daughters of Yisrael, neither shall there be a moral degenerate from the Bnei Yisrael.” (23:18)

“And you will say in your heart, it is my strength and the power of my hand that performed this valorous deed… and walk after other gods and serve them.” (8:17-19)

“You shall not respect persons in judgment, the small and the great alike, you shall listen to, you shall not fear the face of any man, for the judgment is Hashem’s.” (1:17)

“For blood pollutes the land.” (й”о д”о)

“And Bilaam smote the donkey to turn her into the way… And she lay down under Bilaam and he smote the donkey with a stick.”(22:23-27)

“And the people wept in this night.” (14:1)

“When a man or a woman shall commit any sin that men commit… and they shall confess their sin which they have done, and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and the fifth part thereof he shall add unto it, and give it to whom he has been guilty.” (5:6-7)

“And if your brother becomes poor, and his means fail with you, then you shall uphold him.” (25:35)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!