Deveikus – Page 2 – Peninim on the Torah

And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

Rashi notes that concerning Hashem’s promise that Avraham Avinu would have offspring, the Patriarch did not request a sign, while regarding the promise of the Land, he did ask for a sign from Hashem asking: Bamah eida, “How shall I know?” Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, explains this based upon a deeper understanding of the meaning of emunah, loosely translated as faith in Hashem. I say “loosely translated,” because faith and emunah are not identical. Faith is belief without proof, it’s more of a strong hypothesis, while emunah is much more profound. It is experiential. Emunah is derived from the word emes,…

Home -> 5755 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5755

“You shall observe My decrees and My laws which man shall carry out and by which he shall live.” (18:5)

From the words, ovc hju, “and by which he shall live,” Chazal have derived that mitzvos are not to be performed in a way that would endanger someone’s life. Literally, the pasuk is read to mean that mitzvah performance enables one to achieve physical well-being and often longevity. This is in addition to a spiritually healthy moral life replete with the joy and peace of mind inherent when one acts in accordance with the dictates of Hashem. Rashi, however, interprets these words as referring to spiritual longevity in the World to Come, since everyone in this world must eventually die. …

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5774

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת ולמדה את בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayeilech

So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to Bnei Yisrael. (31:19)

Every ben Yisrael, Jew, is enjoined to write a Sefer Torah. The source of this mitzvah is the above pasuk. Mitzvas Kesivas Sefer Torah, the commandment to write a Sefer Torah, has the distinction of being the last, 613th, mitzvah of the Torah. It is the culmination of the Torah’s commandments. When one writes something down on paper, he concretizes it. I remember visiting my Rosh Yeshivah, Horav Mordechai Gifter, zl, with a request for his approbation on one of my volumes. He began to weep. He said that part of his learning process was to put to immediately paper…

Home -> 5759 -> Noach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

Now these are the chronicles of Terach, Terach begot Avram, Nachor and Haran…Haran died in the lifetime of Terach his father. (11:27,28)

The Torah traces the genealogy of Avraham Avinu. It records the names of his two brothers, Nachor and Haran, and adds that Haran died during his father Terach’s lifetime. Rashi cites the Midrash that claims that Haran actually died because of his father. Terach was an idol merchant who complained to the wicked Nimrod that his son, Avraham, had smashed his wares. Nimrod could not tolerate that someone “defaced” his idols, so he threw Avraham into a fiery furnace. Haran was challenged to decide between his brother and his king. Should he follow Avraham, whose belief in monotheism made sense?…

Home -> 5773 -> Ki Savo

ובאת אל הכהן... ואמרת אליו הגדתי היום לד' אלקיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5773

You shall come to whomever will be the Kohen… and you shall say to him, “I declare today to Hashem, your G-d.” (26:3)

The individual who brings the Bikurim makes a declaration: “I have come to the land that Hashem swore to our forefathers to give to us.” Rashi comments concerning the necessity of making a declaration which underscores our gratitude to the Almighty for giving us the land, She’eincha kafui tovah, “That you are not an ingrate.” It is a requirement for the landowner to express his gratitude. As a result of human nature, people do not want to be beholden to anyone. They look for any and every opportunity or excuse not to express their gratitude. The mitzvah of Bikurim serves…

Home -> 5775 -> Emor

ולא תחללו את שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5775

You shall not desecrate My Holy Name; and I shall be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

The above pasuk is the source of the mitzvah of Kiddush Shem Shomayim, enjoinment to sanctify Hashem’s Name. This mitzvah applies to all Jews – not simply a select few. Our willingness to sanctify His Name is the determining factor in measuring our level of commitment and faith. If this is the case – and if Kiddush Hashem is of such overriding significance – why does the Torah not write it in a more “commandment like” vernacular, such as, “Sanctify My Name!” Instead, the Torah presents it in such a manner as to be describing an unrelated future event that…

Home -> 5775 -> Chukas

ותמת שם מרים ותקבר שם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5775

Miriam died there and was buried there. (20:1)

Rashi quotes the Talmud Bava Basra 17a, where Chazal teach that Miriam HaNeviah merited missas neshikah, death through Hashem’s kiss, as did her brothers, Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen. Rashi wonders why the Torah does not add al pi Hashem, by the mouth of Hashem, as it writes concerning the passing of her brothers. He explains that it would not have been derech kavod shel Maalah, appropriate respect for Hashem Yisborach to make such a statement. Horav Shimon Schwab, zl, asks the question that is probably posed by any student of Torah, anyone who has read and truly understood the…

Home -> 5776 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך אל הארץ אשר אראך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Lech Lecha, 5776

“Go for yourself from your land, the land of your birthplace, and from your father’s home, to the land that I will show you.” (12:1)

The Degel Machane Efraim teaches that the Torah is eternal and not limited to one specific period in time. Every Jew can discover a response to life’s challenges in the Torah. Thus, the words, Lech lecha me’artzecha u’mimoladetecha u’mibeis avicha, applies to each one of us. The Zohar Hakadosh addresses this issue and explains that the words, Lech lecha me’artzecha, are stated by Hashem speaking to the neshamah, soul, which is viewed as being an av, father, to the guf, body, of a person. “Avram” would then represent the av, soul, which descends from ram, on high, Heaven above. Hashem…

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And he trusted in Hashem, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (15:6)

“You shall observe My decrees and My laws which man shall carry out and by which he shall live.” (18:5)

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת ולמדה את בני ישראל

So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to Bnei Yisrael. (31:19)

Now these are the chronicles of Terach, Terach begot Avram, Nachor and Haran…Haran died in the lifetime of Terach his father. (11:27,28)

ובאת אל הכהן... ואמרת אליו הגדתי היום לד' אלקיך

You shall come to whomever will be the Kohen… and you shall say to him, “I declare today to Hashem, your G-d.” (26:3)

ולא תחללו את שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל

You shall not desecrate My Holy Name; and I shall be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael. (22:32)

ותמת שם מרים ותקבר שם

Miriam died there and was buried there. (20:1)

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך אל הארץ אשר אראך

“Go for yourself from your land, the land of your birthplace, and from your father’s home, to the land that I will show you.” (12:1)

YEARS

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