Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

  • Reset
Category

Back to Home -> Toldos ->


Home -> 5778 -> Toldos

יעקב איש תם ישב אהלים

Roberto Szerer
In Toldos, 5778

But Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

Rashi explains that a tam is wholesome, a person who is not adept at deceiving. Thus, Yaakov Avinu is called a tam, because he did not deceive. Deception went against his grain. We find, however, in the following parshah, when Yaakov meets Rachel Imeinu, Va’yaged Yaakov l’Rachel ki achi avihah hu, “And Yaakov told Rachel that he was her father’s brother” (Bereishis 29:12). Rashi clarifies this statement, quoting the Midrash, “If he (Eisav) comes for deceit, I, too, am his brother in deceit; but, if he is a decent person, I am also the son of Rivkah, his decent sister.”…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Vayeira

ברך עלינו... את השנה הזאת

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

Bareich aleinu… es ha’shanah ha’zos. Bless upon us… this year.

We begin the prayer for sustenance with the acknowledgement that everything – every penny – comes from Hashem. Indeed, one who does not acknowledge Hashem’s complete control over his livelihood takes the chance, when things do not go his way, of engaging in illicit behaviors, even acts of perjury and theft. One who trusts in Hashem knows that he will earn whatever Hashem wants him to earn: no more; no less. Now, when we begin our day with the realization that all of our blessings are Heaven-sent, and that what we will earn is specifically the product of Hashem’s decree,…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Vayeira

נברכו בו כל גויי הארץ

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

And all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by him. (18:18)

All the nations shall bless themselves through Avraham Avinu, and, by extension, his descendants – Klal Yisrael. Avraham set the standard for the world population to emulate – so should we. Previously, in Parashas Lech Lecha (12.2), Hashem told Avraham, V’heyei brachah; “And you shall be a blessing.” You will have the power to bless whomever you wish (Rashi). Ramban interprets this to mean that Avraham will be the standard by which people will bless themselves. Indeed, this is a powerful and frightening mandate for us – as his descendants. We must live up to our responsibility to set the…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Lech Lecha

ויבא הפליט ויגד לאברם העברי

Roberto Szerer
In Lech Lecha, 5778

Then there came the fugitive and told Avram, the Ivri. (14:13)

Avram haIvri, the conjunctive name, Avram the Ivri, is found only once in the Torah. It defines our Patriarch as being on one side, the other side, alone against the world. An individual whose moral, spiritual and ethical compass stood in stark contrast to that of the entire world – and continues to do so until this very day. Some people need to be popular, to receive public accolades, to be surrounded by the crowds, to be accepted by everyone. We understand that public appeal and acclaim can be dangerous snares that might devour a weak person. They are willing…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך... ואעשך לגוי גדול

Roberto Szerer
In Lech Lecha, 5778

Go for yourself… and I will make of you a great nation. (12:1,2)

לך לך… ואעשך לגוי גדול Go for yourself… and I will make of you a great nation. (12:1,2) The term/class/status, minority, implies deficiency to a certain extent. Indeed, in contemporary society (and probably much earlier), the appellation, minority, relegates its members, or member, to an implied second-class status. This, of course, is dependent on the individual or individuals who fall under this status, either imposed by the members of the majority or self-imposed – due to a desire to segregate themselves from the majority. Having said this, we will analyze our People’s status – both vis-à-vis the world community and…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Noach

ויאמר ד' לנח בא אתה וכל ביתך אל התב

Roberto Szerer
In Noach, 5778

Then Hashem said to Noach, “Come to the Ark, you and all your household.” (7:1)

The Zohar HaKadosh asks, “Could Hashem not have secured Noach in a corner of the world, safe from the raging waters of the mabul, flood?” He could have transported Noach to Eretz Yisrael, which was left unscathed, and have him remain there throughout the deluge. Rabbi Shimon explains that Hashem wanted Noach to experience the flood, to see its massive destruction. Why did Hashem want Noach to be in the Ark, within the floodwaters, surrounded by death? Horav Chaim Zaitchick, zl, explains that it was important for Noach to see and feel, to see the dead and dying, to feel…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Noach

נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדרתיו

Roberto Szerer
In Noach, 5778

Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generation. (6:9)

The Talmud Sanhedrin 108b relates that actually the decree to annihilate the dor haMabul, generation of the Flood, had originally applied to Noach as well. It was rescinded due to the chein, favor, Noach found before Hashem: V’Noach matzah chein b’einei Hashem, “Noach found favor in the eyes of Hashem” (Bereishis 6:8). The question which confronts the reader is whether or not Noach was worthy of reprieve. If he was not, why should “favor” alter his sentence? Since when does favor determine one’s worthiness? Our sages debate the integrity of Noach’s virtue:  Did it stand on its own accord, or…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Bo

והיה כי יאמרו אליכם בניכם מה העבדה הזאת לכם

Roberto Szerer
In Bo, 5778

And it shall be that when your children say to you, “What is this service to you?” (12:26)

The Torah addresses four “sons” – each one different from the other. One is wise; one is (called) wicked; one is simple; the last one is uninitiated, unable to ask. They all have one common denominator: they are sons. One deals differently with a son. One does not attempt to “best” a son; one seeks to teach a son, to enlighten, to help him understand, to inspire him. Thus, regardless of who the son is, how he acts, or how he presents his questions – remember, he is still your son. We do not seek to prevail, to triumph, over…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5772 -> Bereishis

ויקרא ד' אלקים אל האדם ויאמר לו איכה...ויאמר האשה אשר נתתה עמדי היא נתנה לי מן העץ...ותאמר האשה הנחש השיאני

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Bereishis, 5772

Hashem Elokim called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”… The woman whom You gave to be with me – she gave me of the tree… The woman said, “The serpent deceived me.” (3:9,12,13)

What really was the nature of Adam and Chavah’s sin, such that it necessitated their expulsion from Gan Eden? Ostensibly, it is because they ate of the Eitz HaDaas, Tree of Knowledge. This is what, at first glance, is gleaned from the pesukim.  Hashem did not, however, banish them until after He had had a dialogue with them. Something in that conversation was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Something ensued from that conversation that made it evident to Hashem that they had to go. Hashem “searched” for Adam and He called out, “Ayeca?” Where are you? Clearly,…

Continue Reading

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, V'zos HaBrachah

The Torah that Moshe commands us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov. (33:4)

Ramban interprets this well-known pasuk to be a declaration of our inherent right to the Torah – as our unassailable possession – to be transmitted from one generation to the next. The word morashah can also be read as me’orasah, married, inspiring Chazal in the Talmud Pesachim 49b to expound that the relationship between the Jewish People and the Torah is similar to that of a chassan and kallah, a groom and his bride. We are wed to the Torah. In his derashos, the Maharal comments that this refers to the entire nation. Every Jew, rich or poor, pedigreed or…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!