Emes – Page 59 – Peninim on the Torah

“And they wept for Aharon thirty days, all the house of Israel.” (20:29)

Rashi explains the reason that all of Bnei Yisrael grieved over Aharon’s death was his devotion to the promotion of harmony and love among all of the people. Indeed, this is stated in Avos (1:13), Be of the disciples of Aharon, love peace and pursue peace, love the people and bring them closer to the Torah. Dedication to seeking peace and harmony among people is a noble trait. Aharon exemplified this attribute through his loving sincerity in pursuing peace. His endeavor emanated from a deep sense of love for Bnei Yisrael . He did not desire to ingratiate himself in…

Home -> 5752 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5752

“Princes of the congregation, appointed to the assembly, men of renown.” (16:2)

The Talmud in Sanhedrin 52a depicts how a Torah scholar is viewed in the eyes of the common man who is not knowledgeable in Torah (am haaretz). He is compared to a shining golden vessel. This analogy is accurate only as long as the scholar does not condescend to the level of the commoner. Once this occurs, the am ha’aretz views the scholar as nothing more than a simple clay vessel whose value is ephemeral. Rashi applies this description to Korach’s relationship with the Torah scholars of his generation, who eventually submitted and joined his mutinous revolt against Moshe and…

Home -> 5752 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5752

“And Onn, the son of Peles.” (16:1)

The Talmud in Sanhedrin 109b states that although Onn was one of Korach’s original followers, it was his righteous wife who saved him from certain destruction. Even after she logically established the folly of following Korach it was still difficult to prevent the others from forcibly convincing her husband to return to the group. Therefore, she contrived a plot to rescue her husband from imminent disaster. She mixed a strong drink that put him to sleep. Then she and her daughter uncovered their hair and sat at the entrance to their tent. When Korach’s messengers arrived at the tent to…

Home -> 5752 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5752

“This was the offering of Nachson the son of Aminadav” (7:17) “This was the offering of Nesanel the son of Tzuar.” (7:23)

The Torah concludes each of the twelve paragraphs which describe the dedication offerings of the Nesiim with the above pesukim. We should note the Torah‘s refrain in its description of these offerings. Indeed, Chazal expound upon the preciousness of these offerings before Hashem. “The offering of the Nesiim is as precious to Hashem as the “song” Bnei Yisrael sang by the Red Sea, for there it says: This is my G-d; and here it says, “this is the sacrifice of Nachson.” Horav Shlomo Breuer Z”l suggests that this reference by Chazal to the “Shira” is intended to clarify…

Home -> 5752 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5752

“Any man whose wife deviates from the right path and commits an act of disloyalty towards him.” (5:12)

The word “vya” means to deviate from a prescribed direction. In this posuk “vya” means to turn aside from the correct moral path. Consequently, we understand Chazal’s statement “One does not commit a sin unless there has entered into him a spirit of foolishness has entered in him (Sotah 3a) in the following way: Every moral lapse is simultaneously a lapse of reasoning. Moral truth and logical truth coincide; man sins when he has lost sight of this connection. The behavior of the wife described in these pesukim does not yet actually imply adultery. It refers to a deviation…

Home -> 5752 -> Tazria

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tazria, 5752

“When there is a plague of leprosy on a man, he shall be brought to the Kohen.” (13:9)

The Medrash states, “One sees all plagues except one’s own plagues.” Kohanim were licensed to examine and diagnose the leprosy of all Jews, except their own. This halacha is not meant to imply that a Kohen would deliberately alter his findings in an effort to cover up the truth. There is a valid assumption, however, that despite his most sincere efforts at objectivity, man’s judgment invariably yields to self-interest. This is the implication of the above midrashic dictum. Another message conveyed in this pasuk is that man will perceive other people’s faults, but not his own. Perhaps it is…

Home -> 5752 -> Yisro

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5752

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

Bnei Yisrael responded ,with “We will do,” prior to saying “And we will listen”. Consequently, a Heavenly voice came forth and proclaimed, “Who revealed to My sons the secret of uttering vagb before gnab, an expression reserved for angels?” Because Bnei Yisrael were absolutely prepared to accept the Torah before hearing its commandments, they attained the highest spiritual level a human being is capable of achieving. We must endeavor to understand the great secret of exclaiming vagb prior to gnab/ What difference is there in the precise order of acceptance as long as the Torah is properly observed? In order…

Home -> 5752 -> Vaeira

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5752

“He that feared the word of Hashem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” (9:20)

In Moshe’s warning to Pharaoh preceding the plague of hail, he explicitly stated that any man or animal who remained outside during the hailstorm would surely perish. Nevertheless, the Torah clearly states that the only ones who went inside were those few individuals who were G-d fearing. In contrast to this select group, the majority of Egyptians disregarded Hashem’s word and left their slaves and animals outside. We must remember that this warning came after Hashem’s warning already had been confirmed through the six prior plagues. Each of these plagues were effected only after three weeks of warning and each…

Home -> Vayechi -> 5752

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Vayechi

“And like fish they shall multiply in the midst of the earth.” (48:16)

Rashi explains that the word udshu originates from the word ds (fish). Thus, the blessing was that Efraim and Menashe should multiply and grow just as fish multiply and grow without the evil eye affecting them. This part of the blessing was so basic that the fish symbol served as the emblem on the banner of the tribe of Efraim. Even today the fish emblem serves as a talisman against the effect of the evil eye. This effect stems from the occult power of the jealousy, hatred, and envy of others. The Sefas Emes states that if Yosef and his…

Home -> 5752 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5752

“And Yaakov was left alone, and there wrestled a (man) with him… and he touched the hollow of his thigh… Therefore the Bnei Yisrael do not eat the sinew of the thigh vein.” (32:25-33)

This narrative raises many questions. First, why was Yaakov alone, without his wives and children who had already crossed the river? Chazal respond that he had forgotten small jars and returned to retrieve them. Secondly, who was this “man” that wrestled with Yaakov? Chazal respond that this was Eisav’s “guardian angel”. We may also question the significance of the damage inflicted upon the thigh muscle. As a remembrance of this physical damage, we are forbidden to eat the sinew of an animal’s thigh muscle. We may suggest that the Torah is illustrating the effect of Am Yisrael’s exile upon…

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“And they wept for Aharon thirty days, all the house of Israel.” (20:29)

“Princes of the congregation, appointed to the assembly, men of renown.” (16:2)

“And Onn, the son of Peles.” (16:1)

“This was the offering of Nachson the son of Aminadav” (7:17) “This was the offering of Nesanel the son of Tzuar.” (7:23)

“Any man whose wife deviates from the right path and commits an act of disloyalty towards him.” (5:12)

“When there is a plague of leprosy on a man, he shall be brought to the Kohen.” (13:9)

“And all the people answered… all that Hashem has spoken we will do.” (19:8)

“He that feared the word of Hashem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” (9:20)

“And like fish they shall multiply in the midst of the earth.” (48:16)

“And Yaakov was left alone, and there wrestled a (man) with him… and he touched the hollow of his thigh… Therefore the Bnei Yisrael do not eat the sinew of the thigh vein.” (32:25-33)

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