Emes – Page 56 – Peninim on the Torah

If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering. (7:12)

The Midrash teaches that l’asid lavoh, after the advent of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, all the korbanos, offerings, which effect atonement will be eliminated except for the Korban Todah, Thanksgiving-offering, which will continue. In a perfect world, sin will no longer exist. Yet, gratitude and thanksgiving will never be cancelled. While this statement is a powerful commentary on the significance of expressing gratitude, what purpose will there be for this declaration once Moshiach arrives and the “good times” begin? Hodaah, gratitude, is expressed by the recipient of a personal miracle; one who has been saved from a near-death experience; an individual who has survived…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5771

It is the olah [that stays] on the flame, on the Mizbayach… and the fire of the Mizbayach shall be kept aflame on it. (6:2)

In the Talmud Succah 28a, Chazal relate an incident to express the idea which is reflected in both parts of the above pasuk by two different commentators. Chazal relate that Hillel HaZakein had eighty students, thirty of whom were worthy that the Shechinah rest on them, as it did on Moshe Rabbeinu. Another thirty of them were worthy that the sun stand still for them, as it did for Yehoshua bin Nun. The remaining twenty ranked in-between. This means that they were on a greater spiritual plane than those disciples who were compared to Yehoshua, but were not quite as…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayikra

If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin unintentionally. (4:27)

Sin is a deviation from the appropriate behavior expected of a Jew. When one sins, he is off the mark, missing the target of the area upon which he is supposed to focus. This is one circumstance in which being a poor marksman is a serious liability. There is sin which is intentional, and there is the instance where one unintentionally deviates from the focus of the target. Somehow, he forgot, did not think, or was the product of an assimilated background – he did not mean to stray, but regrettably he did. He receives no punishment. He brings an…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayikra

Speak to Bnei Yisrael and say to them: ‘When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem.’ (1:2)

The word mi’kem, “from/among you,” prompts Chazal to derive the Halachic injunction mi’kem v’lo min umos ha’olam, “From you and not from the nations of the world.” This halachah is applicable primarily to the spiritual dimensions of the korban, since we do accept korbanos from gentiles. Chazal are basically teaching that Hashem does not desire a gentile’s sacrifice, and this sacrifice does not have the same spiritual standing as the korban of a Jew. Why? Horav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg, zl, poses this question as a basis for a thesis distinguishing between the concepts underlying Jewish worship and sacrifice and that of…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Pekudei

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan… which were reckoned at Moshe’s bidding. (38:21)

Imagine Moshe Rabbeinu gave an accounting of every item used for the construction of the Mishkan. He gave this accounting to the Jewish People to allay any fears that they might have concerning the propriety of his leadership. It is astounding – almost unreal – that the adon haNaviim, master of all prophets, the quintessential leader of the Jewish nation, had to prove himself! Concerning Moshe, Hashem attests: B’chol Beisi ne’eman hu, “In all My house he is trusted” (Bamidbar 12:7). Yet, Moshe felt it necessary to give a clear accounting to the people of every piece of gold, silver,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

When Klal Yisrael stood at the foot of Har Sinai, they pledged their eternal devotion to Hashem with their seminal declaration of Naaseh v’Nishma, “We will do and we will listen!” Their obedience to the Almighty and His Torah was affirmed and ratified with these words. Alas, forty days later, they broke their trust by betraying their promise, offering their allegiance instead to a molten calf of their own creation. This marked the nadir of disloyalty. Hashem stated that He would put an end to this recalcitrant people. Such people did not deserve a commutation of Hashem’s desired decree. (Nevertheless,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Ki Sisa

“Please show me now Your Glory”… “You will see My back, but My face may not be seen.” (33:18, 23)

The question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” has plagued man from time immemorial. To the individual who does not believe in an All-good, Omniscient, and Omnipotent G-d, this question remains unanswered. If Hashem is not All-good, He could do evil and even enjoy inflicting it on others. If the Almighty is not Omniscient, bad things could easily occur, since He does not know everything that is taking place in the world which He created. And, if G-d is not Omnipotent, then bad things could just happen, because forces exist in the world which are beyond His control….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5771

They shall take for you pure oil…to kindle the lamp continually. (27:20)

Chazal teach that Hashem gave us the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in the Bais HaMikdash, “not because I need the light.” After all, Hashem is the light of the world. “Rather, I command you to light for Me just as I provided illumination for you in the Wilderness. This will give you the opportunity to return the favor.” Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, derives an important lesson from Chazal: A beneficiary who may, somehow, want to return the favor – let him do it. Chazal are teaching us a lesson in Torah etiquette. When someone does a favor for another…

Home -> 5771 -> Mishpatim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5771

Distance yourself from a false word. (23:7)

The admonition against uttering a falsehood, is quite different from other prohibitive mitzvos. Nowhere does it state that one must distance himself from the aveirah, sin. Proximity to the sin, or area which might bring one to sin may not be advisable, but there does not seem to be a specific exhortation against it. Falsehood, however, seems to be very dangerous. It has such a strong gravitational pull that simply being in its immediate environment is dangerous and can influence one to sin. Why is it different than maachalos asuros, forbidden foods, which do not carry such a stringency that one…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5771

Hashem said to Moshe, “Come to Pharaoh, for I have made his heart… stubborn… and so that you may relate in the ears of your son and your son’s son that I made a mockery of Egypt.” (10:1,2)

Hashem informs Moshe Rabbeinu that He is keeping up the pressure on Pharaoh by threatening and exacting greater punishments. All this is for the purpose of teaching the Jewish People how He toyed with the Egyptians. The idea that Hashem manipulated the Egyptians is novel and begs elucidation. Why trifle with people who warrant powerful rebuke and punishment? Hashem punishes the wicked with serious punishments – not by toying with them. Imagine a child acting inappropriately at home. His father’s response is, “I am going to show you what I can do to you.” Obviously, the father is going to…

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If he shall offer it for a Thanksgiving-offering. (7:12)

It is the olah [that stays] on the flame, on the Mizbayach… and the fire of the Mizbayach shall be kept aflame on it. (6:2)

If an individual person from among the people of the land shall sin unintentionally. (4:27)

Speak to Bnei Yisrael and say to them: ‘When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem.’ (1:2)

These are the reckonings of the Mishkan… which were reckoned at Moshe’s bidding. (38:21)

Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Merciful and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. (34:6)

“Please show me now Your Glory”… “You will see My back, but My face may not be seen.” (33:18, 23)

They shall take for you pure oil…to kindle the lamp continually. (27:20)

Distance yourself from a false word. (23:7)

Hashem said to Moshe, “Come to Pharaoh, for I have made his heart… stubborn… and so that you may relate in the ears of your son and your son’s son that I made a mockery of Egypt.” (10:1,2)

YEARS

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