Derech Eretz – Page 50 – Peninim on the Torah

“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Hashem your G-d redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.” (24:18)

The admonition to remember our status as slaves in Egypt is repeated four times in the Torah. It is mentioned here in regard to taking advantage of the widow and orphan. It is repeated when the Torah details the laws involving giving to the poor and needy. It is again recounted in reference to the laws prohibiting labor on Shabbos. Finally it is mentioned concerning the mitzvah of ha’annakah, sending off the eved Ivri, Jewish servant, with gifts that will raise his self-esteem. Considering the references to these mitzvos, why does the Torah emphasize the liberation from Egypt as the…

Home -> 5755 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5755

“If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son, who does not listen to the voice of his father and the voice of his mother.” (21:18)

The halachos which apply to the ben sorer u’moreh, the wayward and rebellious son, are difficult to grasp. Indeed, Chazal comment that the unusual demands made by halacha basically prevent this phenomenon from occurring. Nonetheless, many important lessons in education and parenting may be derived from it. Let us focus on a few of these lessons. We are taught that the ben sorer u’moreh does not “just happen”. A definite pathology is the precursor of such a child’s problem. It all starts with his parents, even before he is born. The laws of ben sorer u’moreh are juxtaposed to the…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5774

ולזבולן אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהלך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, V'zos HaBrachah

To Zevulun he said: Rejoice, Zevulun, in your going out, and Yissachar in your tents. (33:18)

Moshe Rabbeinu appears to be counting words. His blessings to the three Shevatim, Tribes, of Dan, Yissachar and Zevulun are quite brief. This is in stark contrast to the blessings given by Yaakov Avinu prior to his death. It is precisely these tribes whom he blessed profusely, sparing no words in showering them with eloquent and lengthy blessings. Why did Moshe choose the path of brevity, while Yaakov functioned on the other extreme? Furthermore, Moshe’s blessings do not seem to do justice to Yissachar, who abides in his tents. These tents are the tents of Torah, which produced the nation’s…

Home -> 5774 -> Vayishlach

ויעקב שמע כי טמא את דינה בתו ובניו היו את מקנהו בשדה והחריש יעקב עד באם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5774

Now Yaakov heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah, while his sons were with his cattle in the field; so Yaakov kept silent until their arrival. (34:5)

There were no cellphones in those days, so Yaakov Avinu had to wait until his sons arrived home before he could tell them of the outrage that had taken place. Abarbanel explains that the Patriarch waited for his sons, because he was not going to make a decision without first consulting them. Their input was important to him. Horav Yaakov Meir Shechter, Shlita, explains that including mature children in decision making is good parenting. In fact, this is specifically how one should relate to his children. This is especially true under circumstances in which one is compelled to point out…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5774

ונפש כי תחטא ושמעה קול אלה והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לא יגיד ונשא עונו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayikra

If a person will sin: if he accepted a demand for an oath, and he is a witness – either he saw or he knew. (5:1)

I recently came across a story related by a father, telling about a traumatic experience that he and his family had undergone with one of their teenage sons. A young boy, fifteen years old, had slowly begun to drift away from his attachment to Torah. At first, it was gravitation to the frivolities of the outside world. He continued with his usual good middos, character traits, never offending another student, always showing respect for his rebbeim, his good natured smile always manifest on his face. Yet, this was not enough to maintain his tenure in the yeshivah where he was…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5774

ויפל על צואריו ויבך על צואריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayigash

He fell on his neck, and he continued to cry on his neck. (46:29)

The meeting of father and son was certainly an emotionally-powered reunion. The love they manifested towards one another was unusual. This, coupled with the twenty-two year forced separation, created a situation in which their first encounter was a heightened opportunity for intense expression of love. This is why Rashi quotes Chazal, who say that it was only Yosef who hugged and kissed his father. Yaakov Avinu, at that exalted moment – instead of embracing his son – was reciting Shema Yisrael. Then Yaakov concluded the meeting with, Amussa ha’paam, acharei re’osi es panecha, “Now that I have seen your face…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5774

ולא יכול להתאפק לכל הנצבים עליו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayigash

Now Yosef could not restrain himself in the presence of all who stood before him. (45:1)

Rashi explains that Yosef could not allow the Egyptians to be present when he was putting his brothers to shame. The Midrash goes further, claiming that Yosef had placed himself in great danger, for if his brothers had decided to kill him, no one would have known one way or the other. He said, “Better I should be killed than I should humiliate my brothers in front of the Egyptians.” Embarrassing someone is an egregious sin for which one loses his portion in Olam Habba, the World to Come. Ish L’reieihu quotes Horav Yosef Chaim Blau, Shlita, Rav of Ashkelon,…

Home -> Vayechi -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayechi

“Zevulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, and he (shall be) a shore for ships.” (49:13)

Rashi explains that Zevulun’s descendants would always be found in the region of the ports to which ships would bring their wares. Zevulun engaged in commerce and provided sustenance for the tribe of Yissachar, while Yissachar engaged in Torah study. This is consistent with the pasuk in Devarim 33:18 in which Moshe bids his farewell to Klal Yisrael saying, “Rejoice Zevulun in your going out (to commerce) and Yissachar in your tents.” Indeed, the relationship between Yissachar and Zevulun was truly a remarkable one. This may be understood from the fact that the Torah places Zevulun before Yissachar, since Zevulun…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5774

ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayeishev

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

It is sad that those who – either by choice or by upbringing – live a life totally estranged from Torah have no clue how distant they are from the verities of the Torah, its values and proposed lifestyle. Many of them are well-meaning, good people, who simply do not know. They are clueless concerning what a Torah Jew believes and the lifestyle to which he adheres. I recently had occasion to have a conversation with a respected member of the secular Jewish clergy – which taught me how distant two minds can be from another. Yet, one of them…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeishev

“Yosef was seventeen years old … and he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah … and Yosef would bring evil reports about them to their father.” (37:2)

A number of questions regarding the text of this pasuk demand clarification. First, what is the meaning of “he was a youth,” and what purpose does it serve in the narrative? Second, the word “tchu,” “And he would bring,” doesn’t seem appropriate. One does not bring reports; rather, one relates them to others. Third, why does the Torah refer to Yaakov as “their father”? Was he not also Yosef’s father? Horav Yechiel Michel Rabinovitz z.l., the author of the Afikei Yam, derives the following important lesson from this pasuk. One who sees his friend acting inappropriately may hope to prevent…

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“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Hashem your G-d redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.” (24:18)

“If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son, who does not listen to the voice of his father and the voice of his mother.” (21:18)

ולזבולן אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהלך

To Zevulun he said: Rejoice, Zevulun, in your going out, and Yissachar in your tents. (33:18)

ויעקב שמע כי טמא את דינה בתו ובניו היו את מקנהו בשדה והחריש יעקב עד באם

Now Yaakov heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah, while his sons were with his cattle in the field; so Yaakov kept silent until their arrival. (34:5)

ונפש כי תחטא ושמעה קול אלה והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לא יגיד ונשא עונו

If a person will sin: if he accepted a demand for an oath, and he is a witness – either he saw or he knew. (5:1)

ויפל על צואריו ויבך על צואריו

He fell on his neck, and he continued to cry on his neck. (46:29)

ולא יכול להתאפק לכל הנצבים עליו

Now Yosef could not restrain himself in the presence of all who stood before him. (45:1)

“Zevulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, and he (shall be) a shore for ships.” (49:13)

ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

“Yosef was seventeen years old … and he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah … and Yosef would bring evil reports about them to their father.” (37:2)

YEARS

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