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Home -> 5785 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך

Sruly Schnair
In Lech Lecha, 5785

Go for yourself, from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house. (12:1)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:4) teach that Avraham Avinu earned his distinction by successfully passing ten trials.  The first trial which the Torah elaborates, tested his ability to pick himself up, bid farewell to family and friends, and journey to a new land. Hashem was requiring him to start over and set up a new infrastructure for his outreach work.  No one will suggest that moving is not difficult, especially if one has spent his entire life in a particular place.  Leaving family and friends is equally challenging – for some more than others.  Nonetheless, why does the Torah make such…

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Home -> 5785 -> Lech Lecha

ואעשך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שמך והיה ברכה

Sruly Schnair
In Lech Lecha, 5785

And I will make you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. (12:2)

In an alternative explanation of these three terms, Rashi writes: “I will make you into a great nation.” This is a reference to what we say (in the Shemoneh Esrai), Elokei Avraham; ‘and I will bless you,’ this is a reference to that which we say, Elokai Yitzchak; ‘and I will make your name great.’ This is a reference to that which we say, Elokai Yaakov.  Since all three Avos, Patriarchs, are mentioned in the first b’racha of Shemoneh Esrai, one might think that the chasimas ha’brachah, conclusion of the blessing, should include all of them. Ve’heyei b’rachah, ‘and you…

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Home -> 5785 -> Lech Lecha

ויגד לאברם העברי ויבא הפליט

Sruly Schnair
In Lech Lecha, 5785

Then there came the fugitive and told Avram, the Ivri. (14:13)

Avraham Avinu is given the appellation Ivri, which Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 42:8) explain that because the entire world was mei’ever echad, on one side, and he (stood his ground) on the other side.  Ivri is derived from ever, side.  Our Patriarch’s essence and greatness are based upon his readiness to stand apart from the rest of the world.  The entire world population served idols.  He refused to fall in line with popular thinking.  He did not care what the surrounding culture viewed as vogue.  He was prepared to suffer isolation, if necessary, in order to adhere to his beliefs.  The…

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Home -> 5785 -> Noach

בחדש השני בשבעה עשר יום לחדש ... נבקעו כל מעינות תהום רבה וארבות השמים נפתחו

Sruly Schnair
In Noach, 5785

In the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month… all the fountains of the great deep burst forth; and the windows of the heavens were opened. (7:11)

Someone who does not know (or refuses to know) the truth could read about the commencement of the Flood as if it were a natural phenomenon that went awry and destroyed the world’s population.  Nowhere does the Torah mention that Hashem choreographed everything that occurred.  Indeed, during the destruction of Sodom and Amorah, the Torah writes that Hashem rained fire on the city.  Why is Hashem’s Name not mentioned in connection with the Flood? It was the greatest and most devastating punishment in the history of mankind; everything was obliterated.  Yet, we do not see Hashem’s hand. The Nesivos Shalom…

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Home -> 5785 -> Bereishis

ויאמר אלקים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו

Sruly Schnair
In Bereishis, 5785

And Hashem said, “Let us make man in our Image in our likeness. (1:26)

Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 8:5) teach that, when Hashem set out to create man, the angels organized themselves into groups – pro and con.  Chesed, Kindness, “advised” Hashem to create man, because he would behave kindly and benevolently to others.  Emes, Truth, disagreed, claiming that man would be filled with lies; thus, his presence in this world would be harmful.  Hashem listened to their positions and then proceeded to fling Truth to the ground.  This is alluded to in Daniel (8:12), V’sashleich emes artzah, “He threw Truth earthward” (and created Man). This Midrash begs elucidation. If, in fact, man is full…

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Home -> 5785 -> Bereishis

ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו

Sruly Schnair
In Bereishis, 5785

But of the Tree of Knowledge, of Good and Bad, you must not eat thereof. (2:17)

Adam Ha’Rishon was the yetzir kapav shel HaKadosh Baruch Hu, formed and created by Hashem.  Yet, he sinned.  He had one single mitzvah – not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. He could not withstand the temptation, however, and he sinned.  We have 613 mitzvos and are commanded to observe them all.  Obviously, a disparity exists between us and Adam.  Adam did not have a yetzer hora, evil inclination – nothing to provoke him to commit anything negative; yet, he sinned. In his Moreh Nevuchim, Rambam posits that by sinning, Adam gained his greatest glory: the faculty of bechirah…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5785

ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

According to one exposition of Rashi, the Torah alludes to the idea that Moshe Rabbenu buried himself. Nothing is above Hashem and His relationship with Moshe. Indeed, we have no manner of fathoming our leader’s greatness. Thus, burying himself, although certainly possible, is a concept that eludes us. Perhaps, the following story might shed some light on this idea. While no mortal can possibly bury himself, he could perform acts of kindness that earn him a place of burial which, for all intents and purposes, would have otherwise probably not have occurred, as was the case in the following story….

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5784

הצור תמים פעלו

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, Ha'azinu

The deeds of the Rock are perfect. (32:4)

We are unable to fathom Hashem’s ways. It is impossible to come to grips with sadness and tragedy unless one has perfect faith that incorporates all of Hashem’s actions under the rubric of one harmonious whole. All actions are good – even if the “good” eludes us. All come from Hashem Who is the essence of good. He is perfect. We, however, as mortals, are imperfect; thus we are unable to grasp Hashem’s perfection. We can only believe with consummate faith in everything that he does. Chazal (Koheles Rabbah 20:15) teach that the word tzur, rock, a term which connotes…

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Home -> 5784 -> Nitzavim

הנסתרות לד' אלקינו

Sruly Schnair
In Nitzavim, 5784

The hidden things are for Hashem, our G-d. (29:28)

People sin. This is a fact of life.  Some sin publicly, such as the fellow who has the temerity to show his disregard for the Torah and mitzvos. Some sin privately, often the result of spiritual lapses, personal and internal conflict. Public sins affect society, creating a chillul Hashem, desecration of Hashem’s Name. Such sin requires public repentance in order to expiate the assault on the spiritual, moral compass of the community. Private acts of spiritual betrayal are no different than societal betrayal. We have an obligation to serve Hashem by upholding His mitzvos. To violate our Heavenly trust indicates…

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Home -> 5784 -> Ki Savo

ברוך אתה בבואך וברוך אתה בצאתך

Sruly Schnair
In Ki Savo, 5784

Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out. (28:6)

Chazal (Devarim Rabbah 7:5) interpret this pasuk as a guide to Jewish living. One should strive to leave this world (after 120) as pure and free of sin as when he entered this world as an infant. It is seemingly a tall order. Life is filled with challenges which can be viewed as impenetrable obstacles or as speedbumps which only slow us down. In any event, if one works at it, he can maintain the spiritual integrity of his life, thereby giving it meaning. The Ksav Sofer explains that this pasuk is based upon a well-known debate among the Tannaim,…

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