Emes – Page 44 – Peninim on the Torah

“When you go forth in camp against your enemies, you shall guard against evil. ” (23:10)

The Torah previously addressed the problems and challenges that abound during the course of warfare. The Torah here does not seem to be speaking of physical war, but rather of spiritual war. The term “machane” is different from the term “milchamah.” We are referring here to one’s own “machane,” camp, one’s peace of mind and spiritual values – not the enemy’s. Hence, the Torah says, “You shall guard against evil.” This suggests that the only time one needs shmirah, “protection” is when he goes out. This is obviously not true. Chazal state that the Satan is particularly active during times…

Home -> 5756 -> Shoftim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5756

“Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue.” (16:20)

The only virtue which the Torah demands that we pursue is righteousness – the equivalent of emes, truth. On the other hand, sheker, falsehood, is the only negative quality from which the Torah admonishes us to distance ourselves. The Torah in Shemos 23:7 says, ejr, rea rcsn, “From a false word you shall distance yourselves.” The Chidushei Ha’Rim infers a profound lesson regarding the compelling importance in our lives of turning away from falsehood and turning toward truth. The signature of Hashem is emes. Thus, every Jew should strive to be like G-d – by shirking away from any endeavor…

Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5756

“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

The Torah is expressing the basic principle of bechirah chafshis, free-will. The blessing, which results from one’s good deeds, is catalyzed by one’s own positive decision. Similarly, one effects the curse by a negative decision. The Sfas Emes posits that there is a bracha for thanking Hashem for the gift of free-will, which distinguishes man from all other creatures. The abilitiy to discern between good and evil and to decide which path to take, raises man above all other creations. Everyday we recite this bracha, vkhk ihcu ouh ihc ihjcvk vbhc hufak i,b rat” Who gave the rooster understanding to…

Home -> 5756 -> Eikev

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5756

“This shall be your reward when you listen to these ordinances.” (7:12)

Rashi explains that according to the Midrash, the word ceg also means “heel.” The Torah, therefore, alludes to those mitzvos which people may regard as unimportant. This disregard for the body of mitzvos that people determine to be relatively unimportant, extends to the point that they tend to tread upon the discarded mitzvos with their heels. The Torah promises Klal Yisrael that if they maintain their devotion to all of the mitzvos, even those which have been neglected due to their apparent insignificance, Hashem will reward them. What is the meaning of “treading upon mitzvos“? Horav Moshe Swift, zl, remarks…

Home -> 5756 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5756

“And you will find Him, if you will seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (4:29)

Chazal teach us that sheker, falsehood, has no “legs/foundation;” ultimately, it must fall. Whatever is built upon a foundation of falsity, be it blatant deceit or merely insincerity, will not endure. If so, why do we find that so many reshaim, wicked people, whose goals are to manipulate the minds and lives of their followers, seem to succeed in their endeavors? In response to this critique, Horav Yisrael Salanter, zl, commented that they act with an emes; these people approach their reprehensible work with a “sincerity” that perhaps has greater veracity to it than the emes that we perform. Regrettably,…

Home -> Devarim -> 5756

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“We turned and ascended by way of the Bashan and Og King of Bashan went out toward us. Hashem said to me, ‘Do not fear him for in your hand I have given him.” (3:1,2)

Hashem told Moshe not to be concerned with Og, for He had promised that Og would fall into Moshe’s hands. The Midrash explains Moshe’s apprehension and Hashem’s reassurance. Og had assisted Avraham by bringing him the news of Lot’s capture. This merit might have been a sufficient reason for Hashem to spare Og. Hashem responded that although Og’s actions were noble, his intentions were deceiving. He informed Avraham of Lot’s capture only because he sought to lure Avraham into the battle. He had hoped that Avraham would be killed, so that Og would be able to take Sarah for himself….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Devarim

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

The Midrash in Eichah distinguishes the context of Moshe’s use of the word “eichah” from the ways in which Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu use the same word. Moshe was lamenting his obligation to deal personally with Klal Yisrael‘s petty complaints. On the other hand, Yeshayahu lamented Bnei Yisrael‘s unfaithfulness to Hashem. vbuzk v,hv vfht, “How had the faithful city become like a harlot,” he cried out. Yirmiyahu, who saw their humiliation and destruction cried out, vfht ssc vcah, “Alas, she (Klal Yisrael) sits in solitude.” The commentators differentiate among these three “eichahs” as referring to distinct stages of Klal Yisrael‘s iniquity….

Home -> 5756 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 75a Chazal remark, “Of your honor – but not all of your honor.” The elders of that generation said, “The face of Moshe is like that of the sun, while the face of Yehoshua is similar to that of the moon. Woe to such embarrassment; woe to such humiliation.” We are taught that Yehoshua’s spiritual brilliance paled in comparison to that of Moshe. Indeed, the elders who observed this apparent disparity viewed Yehoshua as an embarrassment in light of Moshe. We must endeavor to understand Chazal’s statement. Is it common to find someone whose spiritual…

Home -> 5756 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

Our parsha begins by recounting Pinchas’s courageous act of zealousness which took place in the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu and the entire Jewish leadership. Everyone stood watching while Zimri flaunted his repulsive act. Yet, only one person stepped forth and followed through with the halachic demand for purging Klal Yisrael of this incursion. Pinchas demonstrated decisiveness in reacting to Zimri’s transgression. He was not concerned with “what people might say.” He did not act impulsively. He responded bravely to the travesty, catalyzing an end to a tragic episode in the history of Klal Yisrael. It would, therefore, seem natural that…

Home -> 5756 -> Shelach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“I am Hashem your G-d, Who has taken you out from the land of Egypt to be a G-d unto you.” (15:4)

The Torah commands us to remember the exodus from Egypt everyday. The Talmud in Bava Metzia 61b explains the juxtaposition of yetzias Mitzrayim upon the parsha of tzitzis in the following manner. Hashem declared, “I discerned between a drop that was a first born to that which was not. I will in the future punish he who places a kala ilan, thread dyed blue with a cheap dye called indigo, and claims it is techeles.” One of the four threads which are to be doubled over into eight should be colored techeles, a form of blue. This dye is prepared…

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“When you go forth in camp against your enemies, you shall guard against evil. ” (23:10)

“Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue.” (16:20)

“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

“This shall be your reward when you listen to these ordinances.” (7:12)

“And you will find Him, if you will seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (4:29)

“We turned and ascended by way of the Bashan and Og King of Bashan went out toward us. Hashem said to me, ‘Do not fear him for in your hand I have given him.” (3:1,2)

“How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (1:12)

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

“I am Hashem your G-d, Who has taken you out from the land of Egypt to be a G-d unto you.” (15:4)

YEARS

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