Emes – Page 76 – Peninim on the Torah

אמור אל הכהנים בני אהרן

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon. (21:1)

The Kohanim represent our nation’s spiritual elite. Their greatness is hereditary; thus, their responsibility to convey the compelling nature of their lineage and station in life to the next generation, is consequential. It is, therefore, noteworthy that they were excluded from the monarchy, as was the rest of the nation. On his deathbed, Yaakov Avinu, blessed each of his sons. He turned to Yehudah and said, Lo yasur shevet miYehudah, “The scepter shall not depart from Yehudah” (Bereishis 49:10). While this blessing did not take effect immediately, since Shaul Hamelech, our nation’s first monarch, heralded from the tribe of Binyamin…

Home -> 5773 -> Chukas

ונפשנו קצה בלחם הקלקל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5773

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. These, however, were different Jews….

Home -> 5773 -> Chukas

וכל כלי פתוח אשר אין צמיד פתיל עליו טמא הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5773

Any open vessel that has no cover fastened to it is contaminated. (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 chitzonius, externals, and ignore the “real” Jew, the pnimius, 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 -> 5773 -> Chayei Sarah

ויקברו אתו יצחק וישמעאל בניו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5773

His sons Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him. (25:9)

Rashi quotes Chazal in the Talmud Bava Basra 16b, who derive from the above pasuk which places Yitzchak before Yishmael that Yishmael repented his ways. The errant son told Yitzchak to precede him. This display of respect is an indicator of Yishmael’s spiritual well-being, resulting from his repentance. Apparently, the fact that Yishmael had come from a distance to attend the funeral was not a strong enough indication that he had changed. It was the fact that he allowed his younger brother, the one who “replaced” him as Avraham Avinu’s “son,” to precede him that serves as a proof of…

Home -> 5773 -> Chayei Sarah

ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5773

Now Avraham was old, well on in his years, and Hashem had blessed him with everything. (24:1)

Avraham Avinu was the mechanech, educator, par-excellence. He taught a pagan world the truth of monotheism. He inspired as he taught, thus serving as the vehicle for promulgating belief in the Creator. As the first educator, he set the standard for excellence in education. His goal was not simply to teach his generation, but to set the parameters and lay down the rules for the most appropriate manner in which to inculcate one’s beliefs in his students. When we study the educational approach of the first Patriarch, we are confronted with two questions which are pointed out by Horav Arye…

Home -> Behar -> 5773

וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך או קנה מיד עמיתך אל תונו איש את אחיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Behar

If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from your neighbor, you should not defraud one another. (25:14)

The Talmud Bava Basra 87b details a number of fraudulent practices which were employed by less-than-honest businessmen who would cheat their customers. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai hesitated publicizing these practices, explaining that he was confronted with a moral dilemma. If he would lecture, it was quite possible that some of the listeners who were themselves dishonest might learn new methods for defrauding others. On the other hand, if he did not lecture, the cheaters would posit that the scholars were naïve to the ways of the world and unaware of the various ploys for cheating others. One wonders why it…

Home -> 5773 -> Beha'alosecha

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5773

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…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Each tribe received a designated spot around the Mishkan. At first, Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned that a dispute might arise between the tribes. Quite possibly, each individual tribe had its own idea concerning its placement. Hashem told Moshe that he need not worry. The tribes knew their place, understanding that the configuration determined by their Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, would apply now as well. The tribes accepted their grandfather’s decision; what he had decided hundreds of years earlier was still applicable today. How are we to understand this? The tribe that might question Moshe’s decision could just as well question Yaakov’s…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

The Kli Yakar sees a redundancy in this pasuk: “One man from each tribe; a leader of his father’s household.” Being the appointed one of each tribe is quite a distinctive position. Why is it necessary to add that he be a leader of his father’s household? In his Toras Chaim, Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, explains this in his inimitable manner – with two stories. It is related that when the venerable Kotzker Rebbe, Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, was a young boy, a fire broke out in his hometown. In those days, houses were made of wood; thus, they were…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Each tribe received a designated spot around the Mishkan. At first, Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned that a dispute might arise between the tribes. Quite possibly, each individual tribe had its own idea concerning its placement. Hashem told Moshe that he need not worry. The tribes knew their place, understanding that the configuration determined by their Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, would apply now as well. The tribes accepted their grandfather’s decision; what he had decided hundreds of years earlier was still applicable today. How are we to understand this? The tribe that might question Moshe’s decision could just as well question Yaakov’s…

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אמור אל הכהנים בני אהרן

Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon. (21:1)

ונפשנו קצה בלחם הקלקל

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

וכל כלי פתוח אשר אין צמיד פתיל עליו טמא הוא

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

ויקברו אתו יצחק וישמעאל בניו

His sons Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him. (25:9)

ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל

Now Avraham was old, well on in his years, and Hashem had blessed him with everything. (24:1)

וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך או קנה מיד עמיתך אל תונו איש את אחיו

If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from your neighbor, you should not defraud one another. (25:14)

והאיש משה ענו מאד

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

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

YEARS

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