Derech Eretz – Page 65 – Peninim on the Torah

וכל אשה חכמת לב בידיה טוו...וכל הנשים אשר נשא לבן אותנה בחכמה טוו את העיזים

Every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands…all the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom spun the goats. (35:25,26)

This was extraordinary craftsmanship, for they would spin the fibers from the fleece on the backs of the goats before it was shorn from them. Sforno explains that, after it is shorn from the animal, goat’s hair loses more and more of its luster each time that it is handled. Thus, by combing and spinning the fleece while it was still growing, they were able to preserve much of the luster that would otherwise have been lost. How much luster is diminished after a few hours of spinning? Probably a minimal amount, which is unnoticeable. Yet, the women made the…

Home -> 5776 -> Va'eschanan

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5776

Honor your father and mother. (5:16)

To render honor to one’s parents is an awesome task. Honor means much more than respect. It means: to value; to cherish; to appreciate; to understand that one’s presence in this world is attributed to his parents. The Sefer HaChinuch writes: Heim sibas heyoso b’olam, “They are the cause of his being in this world.” When one realizes that his basic “being” is due to them, he should be filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Honor should be the result of this emotion. Sadly, this emotion, or lack thereof, can backfire, when one has determined for himself that he…

Home -> 5776 -> Tzav

והרים את הדשן אשר תאכל האש את העולה על המזבח ושמו אצל המזבח

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5776

And he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has consumed the elevation/burnt offering on the Altar, and lay them down at the side of the Altar. (6:3)

Prior to arranging the pyre and the kindling of the Altar fire, the Kohen was enjoined to perform the mitzvah of Terumas HaDeshen. The purpose of Terumas HaDeshen is not to prepare the Altar for the coming day’s sacrifices, since this is the focus of the Hotzoas HaDeshen, the removal of the ashes; rather, Terumas HaDeshen is in and of itself an avodah, priestly service. Thus, it may be carried out only by a Kohen kasher, dressed in his priestly vestments. The Haromas HaDeshen is the final conclusion to the service of the preceding day. Just as with the Korban…

Home -> 5776 -> Toldos

ויאמר ד' לה שני גיים בבטנך ושני לאומים ממעיך יפרדו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5776

And Hashem said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two regimes from your insides shall be separated. (25:23)

Rashi explains that the two nations which would descend from the twins within Rivkah’s womb would have two great leaders who were friends. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, known as Rebbi, was the redactor of the Mishnah. His contemporary was the Roman emperor, Antoninus, a descendant of Eisav. The Chasam Sofer explains that Rivkah was informed that the twins, Yaakov and Eisav, had the potential to complement one another’s service to Hashem, much like Yissacher who studied Torah supported by his brother, Zevullun. We find that Antoninus was subservient to Rebbi to the point that he enabled him to redact the Mishnah….

Home -> 5776 -> Terumah

והיו הכרובים פורשי כנפים למעלה... ופניהם איש אל אחיו אל הכפורת יהיו פני הכרובים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5776

The Keruvim shall be with wings spread upward… with their faces toward one another; toward the Cover shall be the faces of the Keruvim. (25:20)

In his commentary to the Torah, the Abarbanel writes that the phrase, “The Keruvim shall be with wings and spread upward,” alludes to the idea that all Jews should be focused on Heaven. A person’s mind determines his goals and objectives. His thoughts should be motivated; his values should concentrate on spiritual growth. If one is stimulated towards nurturing his spiritual dimension, he can be certain that everything else in life that matters– ethics, morals — will develop on a positive note. When one’s values are distorted, the distortion takes its toll on everything else in his life, leaving him…

Home -> 5776 -> Terumah

ועשו ארון עצי שטים אמתים וחצי ארכו ואמה וחצי רחבו ואמה וחצי קמתו וצפית אתו זהב טהור מבית ומחוץ תצפנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5776

They shall make an Ark of shittim wood, two and a half cubits its length; a cubit and a half its width; and a cubit and a half its height. You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without shall you cover it. (25:10, 11)

The construction of the Mishkan — its various components and accompanying vessels — is replete with symbolism. The materials used for the Mishkan, its very measurements, and the manner of constructing its components are a source for much exposition by the various commentators. While we are not on the level of comprehending the mystical aspects and secrets involved in this holy edifice, there is great practical application to be derived from what we are able to understand. The Chafetz Chaim explains the half-measurements of the Aron as alluding to the reality that no human being can claim to have achieved…

Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5776

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

The meraglim felt a sense of low esteem when they heard the Canaanites refer to them as grasshoppers. These people were giants and, to them, the Jewish spies appeared quite puny. Why is it necessary to inform us how they felt about themselves? All that is necessary for the reader to know is that the Canaanite giants perceived the Jews as tiny insects. Perhaps the lesson is that, as long as one maintains his own self-esteem, others will also respect him. Once the meraglim felt like grasshoppers, they were, in turn, viewed as grasshoppers. One cannot be put down unless…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5762

הלד' תגמלו זאת עם נבל ולא חכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Ha'azinu

“Is it to Hashem that you do this, o’ vile and unwise people?” (32:6)

In the list of middos, character traits, that can possibly define one’s personality, the middah of hakoras ha’tov, appreciation and expression of gratitude, is of pivotal significance. Relationships, our attitude toward Hashem and our fellowman, indicate our true character. Our Sages were meticulous in their “observance” of this middah. They made every effort to “recognize” every bit of benefit they received – directly or inadvertently, from another person – and return the favor, always cognizant of their “debt” of gratitude. Elisha Ha’navi was the beneficiary of a simple favor from the Shunamis. His appreciation of her gift compelled him to pray…

Home -> 5776 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5776

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

Kinaah and kanaus, jealousy and zealousness, are two terms which share the same root word. Indeed, Rashi interprets kanaus, zealousness, as a jealous reaction, which results in vengeance. One becomes outraged when something which he feels is rightfully his has been taken from him. A jealous person feels slighted by someone who has that which he feels is rightfully his. A true zealot feels that when someone impugns Hashem, His Torah and mitzvos, he is infringing upon his religion. Such a person has a sense of kinship with Hashem and is grievously hurt by an action which undermines Hashem. The…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5776

ומשחת אתם כאשר משחת את אביהם וכהנו לי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Pekudei

You shall anoint them, as you had anointed their father, and they shall minister to Me. (40:15)

“As you anointed their father”: Why did Hashem stipulate that Moshe Rabbeinu’s anointing the sons of Aharon HaKohen was to be carried out in the same manner that Moshe had anointed his brother, Aharon? The Meshach Chochmah offers a powerful and quite practical insight – one that has a profound ring of truth to it. When Moshe anointed his brother, he did not experience even a twinge of jealousy. After all, Moshe was a Navi, Prophet; he had even held the position of Kohen Gadol prior to Aharon. Whatever the role that Moshe was transferring to Aharon was a position…

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וכל אשה חכמת לב בידיה טוו...וכל הנשים אשר נשא לבן אותנה בחכמה טוו את העיזים

Every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands…all the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom spun the goats. (35:25,26)

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Honor your father and mother. (5:16)

והרים את הדשן אשר תאכל האש את העולה על המזבח ושמו אצל המזבח

And he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has consumed the elevation/burnt offering on the Altar, and lay them down at the side of the Altar. (6:3)

ויאמר ד' לה שני גיים בבטנך ושני לאומים ממעיך יפרדו

And Hashem said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two regimes from your insides shall be separated. (25:23)

והיו הכרובים פורשי כנפים למעלה... ופניהם איש אל אחיו אל הכפורת יהיו פני הכרובים

The Keruvim shall be with wings spread upward… with their faces toward one another; toward the Cover shall be the faces of the Keruvim. (25:20)

ועשו ארון עצי שטים אמתים וחצי ארכו ואמה וחצי רחבו ואמה וחצי קמתו וצפית אתו זהב טהור מבית ומחוץ תצפנו

They shall make an Ark of shittim wood, two and a half cubits its length; a cubit and a half its width; and a cubit and a half its height. You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without shall you cover it. (25:10, 11)

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

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

הלד' תגמלו זאת עם נבל ולא חכם

“Is it to Hashem that you do this, o’ vile and unwise people?” (32:6)

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen turned back My wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

ומשחת אתם כאשר משחת את אביהם וכהנו לי

You shall anoint them, as you had anointed their father, and they shall minister to Me. (40:15)

YEARS

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