Emes – Page 54 – Peninim on the Torah

The Assembly shall rescue the killer from the hand of the avenger of the blood. (35:25)

The bais din is enjoined to seek every possible way to circumvent the death penalty. We always give the accused every possible benefit of the doubt. Likewise, if the court judges that the death was caused by a truly unavoidable accident, it must rule that the killer does not require exile. Consequently, the goel ha’dam, relative who is the avenger of the blood, must desist. He has no right whatsoever to harm the killer. It was an accident which Hashem made happen – end of story. The Talmud Sanhedrin 17a teaches an interesting halachah, which at first glance seems perplexing….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Masei

They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sinai and encamped in Kivros Hataavah. They journeyed from Kivros Hataavah and encamped in Chatzeiros. They journeyed from Chatzeiros and encamped in Rismah. They journeyed from Rismah and encamped in Rimmon-Peretz. They journeyed from Rimmon-Peretz and encamped in Livnah. (33:16-20)

The commentators, each in his own inimitable manner, suggest that the names of the various encampments are allusions to the various shortcomings, or consequences to inappropriate behavior, manifest by the Jewish nation during their trek through the Wilderness. Rashi interprets these places as referring to specific sins committed by the people. The Chasam Sofer indicates that the above names are consequences, resulting from distancing oneself from Torah study. The Talmud Succah 52b makes a formidable statement: Yitzro shel adam misgaber alav b’chol yom u’mevakeish l’ha’miso, “A man’s evil inclination threatens every day to overpower him, and seeks to kill him:…

Home -> 5771 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5771

When he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

Kana’us, zealousness, is not a trait that one should exhibit indiscriminately. Pinchas exemplifies the true kanai, zealot. He acts definitively for the sake of the community, placing the needs of the klal, congregation, above his own safety and reputation. The kanai is not lauded; dinners are not rendered in his honor, nor does he have a large group of friends. People are actually afraid of him, never knowing where and when he will strike; what will anger him; what he will see that is wrong. The kanai lives in a select circle, revered by those who understand his value to the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5771

“May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his.” (23:10)

It is the old story. The wicked want to live a life of abandon, yet, they want to die as the righteous and upright. The Chafetz Chaim, zl, explains that Bilaam did not want to live like a Jew. After all, Torah Judaism makes “difficult” demands on a person. Morality, ethicality, spiritual integrity: these are not simple qualities to which someone like Bilaam is able to adhere. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. For a Jew, on the other hand, it is much simpler to deal with death than life. The Jew views death as a…

Home -> 5771 -> Chukas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5771

“And our soul is disgusted with the insubstantial food.” (21:5)

We do not find the Jews complaining much about the manna during their forty-year trek in the Wilderness. Suddenly, at the end of their trip, as they stood geared to enter the Promised Land, they issued their complaints concerning the Heavenly bread. Could they have found no other time to register their discontent concerning the manna? Why now? The Chiddushei Ha’Rim offers a practical explanation. Satisfaction is often determined by the character of the individual and his concomitant comfort level. Yes, for forty years the Jews ate the manna and it was delicious and satisfying. However, these were different Jews….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5771

Any open vessel that has no cover fastened to it is contaminated/impure. (19:15)

It is sad, but true: A person is most often judged by his external appearance. His manner of dress, be it conventional or “different,” determines our first opinion of him. We become caught up in the chitzoniyus, externals, and ignore the “real” Jew, the pnimiyus, internal essence of the person who stands before us. I have found this to be a reality, especially in dealing with individuals of both genders who are incarcerated for various felonies – some light, others serious, but felonies no less. At first glance, they might present themselves in an unsavory light, but, upon getting to…

Home -> 5771 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5771

This distressed Moshe greatly. (16:15)

Moshe Rabbeinu had just experienced the nadir of chutzpah: Korach and his rebels had openly defied his authority. When Klal Yisrael’s leader, the individual who had led the nation out of bondage, asked them to appear before him with their grievances, they flatly refused. However, that was not all. They read off a list of concocted complaints which were blatantly false. Talk about chutzpah! They referred to Egypt, the country that had enslaved them for over two centuries as, “the land of milk and honey.” Egypt – not Eretz Yisrael! They laced into Moshe for the sin of the meraglim,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5771

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, and you shall see it and you shall remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:39)

What is it about the mitzvah of Tzitzis that the Torah – more so than for any other mitzvah – emphasizes that will engender the remembrance of all of the other mitzvos? The commentators render explanations, ranging from the simple p’shat, to the homiletic and even to the esoteric. Perhaps, we might suggest the following: Tzitzis, unlike any other mitzvah, also comprises the Jew’s uniform. A Tallis katan (Tzitzis) is worn all day. The Tallis gadol is worn during davening, and some righteous Jews even sit in their Tallis and Tefillin throughout the day. In any event, the Tallis is the Jew’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5771

In this wilderness shall your carcasses drop. (14:29)

During their forty-year trek through the Wilderness, Klal Yisrael breached their relationship with Hashem, as they committed a number of transgressions. Yet, the Almighty punished the actual perpetrator(s) and forgave the rest of the populace. These were not simple sins. The chet ha’eigel, sin of the Golden Calf, was no simple transgression. Shortly after they left Egypt, Klal Yisrael committed a sin of grave proportions, as they turned their backs on Hashem, Who had done so much for them. They were scared; their leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, was late in descending the mountain, so they sinned. This was no excuse. Yet,…

Home -> 5771 -> Beha'alosecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5771

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

Humility is built upon a person’s assessment of himself. It has nothing to do with his being able to speak up or take a stand on behalf of what is right. A humble person is well aware of his personal ability and successes in life. He just feels that he could have done so much more. As far as his ability is concerned, he considers himself lacking in achievement. With his G-d-given talents, he should have been that much greater. As a result of this self-assessment, one carries himself in a manner incongruous with that of a person who is…

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The Assembly shall rescue the killer from the hand of the avenger of the blood. (35:25)

When he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

“May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his.” (23:10)

“And our soul is disgusted with the insubstantial food.” (21:5)

Any open vessel that has no cover fastened to it is contaminated/impure. (19:15)

This distressed Moshe greatly. (16:15)

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, and you shall see it and you shall remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:39)

In this wilderness shall your carcasses drop. (14:29)

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

YEARS

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