Emes – Page 45 – Peninim on the Torah

“And the entire assembly said to pelt them (Yehoshua and Calev) with stones.” (14:10)

It seems that Bnei Yisrael were acting in a totally irrational manner. Hurling stones is something one might do to punish someone or to protect oneself from a future aggressor. Yehoshua and Calev would not have elicited such behavior for either reason. They were righteous people who had never hurt anyone. What effect could they have on the future of Klal Yisrael? They were only two people. This is, however, the nature of those who have alienated themselves from a Torah lifestyle. The diffidence that permeates their every action is manifest in their attitude towards their more observant counterpart. No…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5756

“Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire congregation of the assembly of Bnei Yisrael.” (14:5)

Moshe and Aharon were no longer able to tolerate Bnei Yisrael‘s invidious behavior. Their ranting and raving, their inane fear and lack of faith, were no longer bearable. Moshe and Aharon gave up in frustration. This defeatist attitude is not typical of Moshe and Aharon’s leadership characteristics. Are these the same individuals who stood fearlessly before Pharaoh and demanded that he release the Jews from slavery? Is this the same Moshe who smashed the Luchos to the ground, when he descended from Har Sinai to witness the decadent behavior of Bnei Yisrael, as they worshipped the Golden Calf? Was he…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“If any man will be contaminated through a human corpse or on a distant road… he shall make the Pesach offering to Hashem.” (12:10)

The law of Pesach Sheini was inspired by a group of men who had been tamei, contaminated, by a corpse. They came forth and complained that they had not been permitted to share in the mitzvah of Korban Pesach. Chazal debate the identity of these men. Rabbi Yishmael says that they were the ones who were carrying Yosef’s coffin. Rabbi Yitzchak claims that they had become tamei as a result of tending to a “meis mitzvah,” a corpse who has no one to look after him. Rabbi Akiva opines that they were Aharon’s cousins, Mishael and Eltsafan, who had become…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

And the people took to seeking complaints; it was evil in the eyes of Hashem. The rabble among cultivated a craving… and they said, ‘Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, and the cucumbers, melons… But now our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the manna.'” (11:1,4,5,6)

The chapter dealing with the “misonenim,” complainers, demands interpretation. Let us address the following questions: First, they complained that they lacked meat. This is not true! The Torah (Shemos 12) clearly states that they took sheep and cattle with them when they left Egypt. Second, when they complained that they had received fish in Egypt for free, Rashi comments that “free” actually means that there were no “strings attached.” They did not have to observe mitzvos in order to get food. They did, however, have to undergo backbreaking and degrading labor in order to receive whatever limited food they were…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“There were men who were contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the Pesach-offering on that day… Those men said to him (Moshe)… ‘Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering in its appointed time?'” (9:6,7)

That a portion of the Torah was dedicated to these people suggests that they had great merit. Indeed, Chazal teach us that they deserved this distinction. Chazal discuss the identity of these individuals. According to Rabbi Akiva, they were Aharon Ha’Kohen’s cousins, who tended to the bodies of Nadav and Avihu. Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, derives two significant lessons from the incident of Nadav and Avihu which should be mentioned. Aharon was rewarded for his unparalleled kiddush Hashem, sanctification of Hashem’s Name. What really was the kiddush Hashem? Horav Bergman cites the Rashbam who imputes the kiddush Hashem to be…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5756

“When a woman conceives and gives birth to a male.” (12:2)

The Midrash begins its commentary on this parsha by presenting various perspectives on the human condition. Chazal interpret the pasuk in Tehillim 139, hb,rm oseu rujt, “Back and front You have fashioned me,” as being a reference to human life. Rish Lakish says, “back” refers to the last day of creation, while “front” refers to the beginning of creation. If a person is worthy and leads a virtuous life, he is told, “You came before the entire work of creation. If, however, he is not worthy as a result of sin, they tell him, “Even a gnat preceded you; even…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5756

“To distinguish between the contaminated and the pure.” (11:47)

In the last pasuk of the parsha, the Torah elaborates the underlying motif of Judaism and the mandate for every Jew to follow. We are charged to study and learn how to distinguish between that which is ritually defiled and that which is pure. In theory this is clearly our goal, but practical application is possible only through study. One may desire to be observant. If he is not proficient, however, in the code precise observance remains elusive. Rashi interprets the concept of havdalah, the ability to discern between pure and defiled (kosher and non-kosher), as applying to more than…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shemini, 5756

“By those that are near Me I shall become sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” (10:3)

Secular leaders may posit the view that those who are especially talented or highly placed have total freedom to use their gifts. To the contrary, the Torah teaches us “B’krovai A’kadesh,” by those that are near to Me I shall become sanctified. The greater a man’s position, the closer he is to the spiritual core, the stricter is the standard by which he is judged. Thus, the consequences of an individual’s guilt are greater if he is deficient in living up to this standard. Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita opines that this principle is the underlying rationale for the accusations and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5756

“If he offers it by reason of gratitude.” (7:12)

One of the central themes in Judaism is the concept of thanksgiving. Indeed, we are called “Yehudim,” a name derived from the name Yehudah. Leah gave Yehudah that name because if reflected her profound appreciation to Hashem for granting her this child. She felt she now had more than she deserved. The Gerer Rebbe, zl, comments that every “Yehudi” should feel that whatever he receives from Hashem is more than he actually deserves. Our first words when we arise in the morning are, “Modeh Ani Le’fanecha,” “I thank you Hashem.” These opening words should set the tone for our daily…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Vayikra

“When a man among you bring an offering to Hashem.” (1:2)

Rashi explains that the Torah‘s uses the word Adam to allude to Adam Ha’Rishon. The first man was able to say that everything he offered up as a korban had no vestige of impropriety connected to it, since it all belonged to him. Likewise, when one offers a korban to Hashem, it may not be tainted by theft. It seems strange that we would need the lesson from Adam Ha’Rishon to teach us that a korban may not be derived through theft. In a pasuk in Yeshayah 61, the Navi “quotes” Hashem as saying, “I am Hashem who despises a…

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“And the entire assembly said to pelt them (Yehoshua and Calev) with stones.” (14:10)

“Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire congregation of the assembly of Bnei Yisrael.” (14:5)

“If any man will be contaminated through a human corpse or on a distant road… he shall make the Pesach offering to Hashem.” (12:10)

“There were men who were contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the Pesach-offering on that day… Those men said to him (Moshe)… ‘Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering in its appointed time?'” (9:6,7)

“When a woman conceives and gives birth to a male.” (12:2)

“To distinguish between the contaminated and the pure.” (11:47)

“By those that are near Me I shall become sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” (10:3)

“If he offers it by reason of gratitude.” (7:12)

“When a man among you bring an offering to Hashem.” (1:2)

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