Emes – Page 86 – Peninim on the Torah

והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו... לבלתי רם לבבו מאחיו

It shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life… so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren. (17:19,20)

Arrogance is an indication of a defective character. Arrogant people are (often) those who failed to be recognized and respected by others who are important to them. Their solution is to lord it over others to whom they feel superior, thus receiving acknowledgment by force. Most often, the arrogant person has nothing about which to be haughty. It is like air puffed into an empty container. When it dissipates, the container returns to its original vacuous state. Having recently read a “confession” of a “once” arrogant person (the “pin” that releases the air had allowed him to finally see his…

Home -> 5776 -> Shoftim

שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך... ושפטו את העם משפט צדק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shoftim, 5776

Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities… and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. (16:18)

It is almost that time of year when Hashem makes a reckoning of our deeds of the past year and renders His decisions for the coming year. We all could use “help” in obtaining favorable judgments. The easiest and most propitious way is by doing all that is asked of us. In other words, good people will receive a good judgment. What about those who were not perfect, who made their share of mistakes, who committed sins without malice (of course), but sins nonetheless? What is the best advice for them, other than teshuvah and going through the process of…

Home -> Shemos -> 5776

וילך ויפגשהו בהר האלקים וישק לו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Shemos

And he (Aharon) went and encountered him (Moshe) at the mountain of G-d, and he kissed him. (4:27)

According to Rambam, Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen met at Har Sinai. What seems to be a simple meeting of two brothers is described by Chazal as an encounter of two individuals with complementary character traits. “This is what is written, Chesed v’emes nifgashu, tzedek v’shalom nashaku, ‘Kindness and truth met, righteous and peace kissed’” (Tehillim 85:11). Kindness” refers to Aharon, and “truth” refers to Moshe. This is what is meant by “kindness” and “truth” met – “And he (Aharon) met him (Moshe) at the mountain of G-d.” “Righteous” refers to Moshe and “peace” refers to Aharon. Thus, “kiss” corresponds…

Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אותו וזכרתם את כל מצוות ד' ועשיתם אותם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5776

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

We are to wear Tzitzis, so that when we look at them, we will remember all of the other mitzvos in the Torah. In other words, wearing Tzitzis generates mitzvah observance. “Seeing” catalyzes remembering, which engenders positive action via religious observance. Indeed, the Rambam writes that one should be diligent in his observance of Tzitzis, because of its compelling effect vis-à-vis all other mitzvos. In his commentary to the Chumash, Rashi writes: “The parsha of the mekosheish eitzim— he who had transgressed Shabbos by picking twigs and carrying them in a public place– is juxtaposed upon the parsha of avodah…

Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

וישכמו בבקר ויעלו אל ראש ההר לאמר הננו ועלינו אל המקום אשר אמר ד' כי חטאנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5776

They awoke early in the morning and ascended toward the mountain top saying, “We are ready, and we will ascend to the place of which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned. (14:40)”

The nation was chastened. They now realized that they had overreacted to the slanderous news conveyed by the meraglim, spies, and that they must do something to repair the rift created by their sins. Nonetheless, there is a time and place for everything. They had forfeited their chance to enter Eretz Yisrael. Without Hashem’s mandate and leadership they could never conquer the Land. Now was not the time. Some people simply do not understand the meaning of “no.” A group of Jews decided to prove that they were willing to move on, to wage war against the inhabitants of the…

Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

ויאמרו כל העדה לרגום אתם באבנים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5776

But the entire assembly said to pelt them with stones. (14:10)

Rashi comments: “Them” refers to Yehoshua and Calev. Is this a rational reaction? We can accept anger and even threatening bodily harm against those who would do us harm. We seek to avenge ourselves from those who have caused us pain and trouble. Yehoshua and Calev, however, had done nothing negative to the Jewish people. They posed no threat. Ten spies disputed them. What power could they hold with which to dissuade the people? Indeed, if the entire assembly was prepared to stone them, it means that everyone was against them. What threat or potential danger did these two harmless…

Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5776

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so were we in their eyes. (13:33)

The meraglim felt a sense of low esteem when they heard the Canaanites refer to them as grasshoppers. These people were giants and, to them, the Jewish spies appeared quite puny. Why is it necessary to inform us how they felt about themselves? All that is necessary for the reader to know is that the Canaanite giants perceived the Jews as tiny insects. Perhaps the lesson is that, as long as one maintains his own self-esteem, others will also respect him. Once the meraglim felt like grasshoppers, they were, in turn, viewed as grasshoppers. One cannot be put down unless…

Home -> -> V'zos HaBrachah

וימת שם משה עבד ד...' על פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In V'zos HaBrachah

“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there…by the mouth of Hashem.” (34:5)

The Torah ends with Moshe Rabbeinu’s passing from his earthly abode. Others died, but none with such ceremony, with Hashem Yisborach serving as the Chevra Kadisha, Jewish Sacred Burial Society. There are some things in life that are inevitable. Everyone must take leave of this world. When this occurs is up to Hashem. How it occurs is more or less up to us, as we decide the amount of preparation we are willing to do. We are instructed to “repent one day before you die.” Since no one knows his end of time, he should prepare his entire life with teshuvah,…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5762

זכר ימות עולם בינו שנות דר ודר שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Ha'azinu

“Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation; ask your father and he will relate it to you; your elders and they will tell you.” (32:7)

argum Yonasan interprets this pasuk as a reference to listening to daas Torah, the Torah’s perspective, as expounded by our gedolei Yisrael, Torah leaders. The answer to all of our questions is in the Torah. A talmid chacham, Torah scholar, using his acutely “Torah- developed” mind, is able to render a response to our every issue, regardless of its mundane nature. Torah encompasses every aspect of our lives. We should look to it and its disseminators for guidance. Nachlas Tzvi cites a powerful story that illustrates the incredible depth of daas Torah: The story is about a young man who…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayeilech

“At the end of seven years, in the set time of the year of Shemittah, during the Festival of Succos…You shall read this Torah before all Yisrael, in their ears.” (31:10-11)

The mitzvah of Hakheil, convening of Klal Yisrael at the beginning of the eighth year, immediately following the Shemittah year, is set at this time by design. The timing of this event, when all Jews gathered together to hear the Torah read by the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, was scheduled to impart the greatest impression. What is unique about this time? Horav Mordechai Rogov, z.l., explains that after Klal Yisrael has experienced a year of Shemittah, a year of unparalleled faith and trust in the Almighty, they are now attuned to hear and accept what the Torah has to say. They…

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והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו... לבלתי רם לבבו מאחיו

It shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life… so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren. (17:19,20)

שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך... ושפטו את העם משפט צדק

Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities… and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. (16:18)

וילך ויפגשהו בהר האלקים וישק לו

And he (Aharon) went and encountered him (Moshe) at the mountain of G-d, and he kissed him. (4:27)

והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אותו וזכרתם את כל מצוות ד' ועשיתם אותם

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

וישכמו בבקר ויעלו אל ראש ההר לאמר הננו ועלינו אל המקום אשר אמר ד' כי חטאנו

They awoke early in the morning and ascended toward the mountain top saying, “We are ready, and we will ascend to the place of which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned. (14:40)”

ויאמרו כל העדה לרגום אתם באבנים

But the entire assembly said to pelt them with stones. (14:10)

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so were we in their eyes. (13:33)

וימת שם משה עבד ד...' על פי ד'

“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there…by the mouth of Hashem.” (34:5)

זכר ימות עולם בינו שנות דר ודר שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך

“Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation; ask your father and he will relate it to you; your elders and they will tell you.” (32:7)

“At the end of seven years, in the set time of the year of Shemittah, during the Festival of Succos…You shall read this Torah before all Yisrael, in their ears.” (31:10-11)

YEARS

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