Emes – Page 93 – Peninim on the Torah

לחשב מחשבות לעשות בזהב בכסף ובנחשת

To weave designs, to work with gold, silver and copper. (31:4)

The Jewish mind has throughout time proven itself to be extraordinary. While we have a reputation for being gifted with an inordinate level of acumen in proportion with the size of our own nation, it is specifically in the area of commerce, i.e. making money, that our worldly reputation seems to soar and take on a life all of its own. While the Jewish mind shines in all areas of human endeavor — from our primary vocation, Torah study, to the various disciplines of science, mathematics, medicine, law, social services, etc.– one thing all Jews have in common is the…

Home -> 5776 -> Ki Seitzei

כי יהיה לאיש בן סורר ומורה... ואמרו אל זקני עירו בננו זה סורר ומורה איננו שמע בקלנו זולל וסובא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5776

If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son… they shall say to the elders of the city, “This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not listen to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.” (21:18,20)

The ben sorer u’moreh, wayward and rebellious son, has to be one of Jewish society’s greatest tragedies. A child so evil that his parents bring him to bais din, rabbinical court, where, upon confirmation of his nefarious acts of gluttony and derogation of his parents, he will be executed, is unusual and tragic. His actions indicate a complete lack of restraint necessary to lead an observant and holy life. While this concept is quite difficult for anyone not steeped in Torah to understand, let alone accept, it is primarily due to their not being steeped in Torah that grasping the…

Home -> 5776 -> Kedoshim

מפני שיבה תקום והדרת פני זקן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5776

Before an old man you shall rise, you shall honor the presence of a sage. (19:32)

The pasuk appears to be redundant – unless a difference exists between zaken and seivah. The Talmud Kiddushin 32b, explains that a zaken is zeh she’kanah chochmah, “one who has acquired wisdom.” Wisdom and age are not necessarily synonymous. Some young people have– either due to sheer brilliance or great effort– achieved the title of zaken. They are erudite scholars who are able to hold their own with the sages of “old.” Alas, some elderly Jews — due to their advanced age– deserve the title seivah; they are not by definition, zekeinim, since they are not erudite, as they have…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5776

אשר תצוום את בניכם לשמר לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת ...כי לא דבר רק הוא מכם כי הוא חייכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Ha'azinu

With which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life. (32: 46,47)

We are commanded to instruct our children to observe the Torah and perform its mitzvos, because it is our life. Simply, this refers to the Torah which is the source of our life, for without it one does not truly live. He exists in the physical sense, but if the meaning of life eludes him, can he be considered truly alive? Alternatively, “it” refers to our children whom we have instructed in the ways of Hashem and who carry on the legacy of our instruction. In the Talmud Taanis 5B, Chazal state, Mah zaru b’chaim, af hu b’chaim; “Just as…

Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5776

הרנינו גוים עמו כי דם עבדיו יקום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Ha'azinu

O’ nations – sing the praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants. (32:43)

Shiras Haazinu ends with the promise that with the advent of the Final Redemption, the world will see Klal Yisrael restored to its original glory, its enemies punished for the suffering that they caused for us. The nations of the world will recognize our greatness and will venerate us as G-d’s People. Ramban views Shiras Haazinu as a historical perspective for us to follow, from which we should learn how to live. It depicts the truth about how we were quick to take Hashem’s favors, but –when we had enough– we rebelled. Our lack of fidelity incurred Heavenly punishment in…

Home -> 5776 -> Emor

בחדש הראשון בארבעה עשר לחדש בין הערבים פסח... ובחמשה עשר יום לחדש הזה חג המצות לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5776

In the first month, on the fourteenth of the month in the afternoon, is the time of the Pesach offering to Hashem. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Matzos to Hashem. (23:5, 6)

Rashi explains that although the Festival actually begins in the evening (of the fifteenth day of Nissan), the Pesach-offering is slaughtered during the afternoon of the fourteenth. In the Torah, the word Pesach is used to describe the offering, while matzos – Chag HaMatzos, defines the Festival. Haamek Davar considers the time of Bein Ha’Arbayim, in the afternoon, to be part of the holy convocation of the Festival, so that labor is forbidden at that time. Why is there a separation between the time of slaughtering the sacrifice and the time that it is eaten – during the actual Festival?…

Home -> 5776 -> Eikev

ללכת בכל דרכיו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5776

To walk in all His ways. (11:22)

How does one “walk” in the ways of Hashem? Furthermore, should it not have said to walk in Hashem’s footsteps? One walks in someone’s footsteps; one follows in his path. Perhaps, we may suggest that “footsteps” and “ways/path” are variants only when one follows in a path that was ready-made by others. When one forges a path, his footsteps are the path. In other words, Hashem makes the path, creates the derech. Wherever Hashem “walks,” He is teaching us what should be the standards of living, what should be the derech of a Yid. Hashem’s halichah, walking, creates the derech,…

Home -> Devarim -> 5776

ואשלח מלאכים ממדבר קדמות אל סיחון מלך חשבון דברי שלום לאמר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Devarim

I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedmas To Sichon King of Cheshbon words of peace saying: (2:26)

Rashi quotes the thought that went through Moshe Rabbeinu’s mind. “Although Hashem did not command me to reach out to Sichon, I nonetheless derived a lesson from Hashem Himself when He prepared to give the Torah to Klal Yisrael.” He first approached Eisav and Yishmael and gave them the right of first refusal. Hashem was clear that they would not accept the Torah, but, for the sake of peace, He offered it to them. Thus, I did the same by offering Sichon a peaceful resolution to allow us through. Sichon, of course, acted in the manner that was expected of…

Home -> Devarim -> 5776

אלה הדברים אשר דבר משה אל כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Devarim

These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Yisrael. (1:1)

Rashi explains that the term “these words,” applies to the words of rebuke which Moshe Rabbeinu spoke to the Jewish people shortly before he took leave of them. Because the Torah here lists many of the places in which the nation angered Hashem, Moshe put his words vaguely, mentioning the places through intimation, out of respect for the honor of the nation. Administering rebuke, regardless of its nature, is often a double-edged sword. Rebuke expressed in the wrong manner hurts a person, often causing him irreparable shame. One of the most difficult aspects of rebuke is demonstrating to the subject…

Home -> 5776 -> Chukas

ויראו כל העדה כי גוע אהרן ויבכו את אהרן שלשים יום כל בית ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chukas, 5776

When the entire assembly saw that Aharon had perished, they wept for Aharon thirty days, the entire House of Yisrael. (20:29)

Chazal teach that following Aharon HaKohen’s passing, all male children were given the name “Aharon” after the holy man whose life was devoted to promoting peace among Jews and marital harmony among husband and wife. Many a family was acutely aware of the role that Aharon played in sustaining their marriage. Out of respect and appreciation — and probably as a sort of remembrance of the fragility of relationships and how this man saved theirs — they named their sons Aharon. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, relates that he was once approached by a young couple who had undergone marital issues…

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לחשב מחשבות לעשות בזהב בכסף ובנחשת

To weave designs, to work with gold, silver and copper. (31:4)

כי יהיה לאיש בן סורר ומורה... ואמרו אל זקני עירו בננו זה סורר ומורה איננו שמע בקלנו זולל וסובא

If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son… they shall say to the elders of the city, “This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not listen to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.” (21:18,20)

מפני שיבה תקום והדרת פני זקן

Before an old man you shall rise, you shall honor the presence of a sage. (19:32)

אשר תצוום את בניכם לשמר לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת ...כי לא דבר רק הוא מכם כי הוא חייכם

With which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life. (32: 46,47)

הרנינו גוים עמו כי דם עבדיו יקום

O’ nations – sing the praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants. (32:43)

בחדש הראשון בארבעה עשר לחדש בין הערבים פסח... ובחמשה עשר יום לחדש הזה חג המצות לד'

In the first month, on the fourteenth of the month in the afternoon, is the time of the Pesach offering to Hashem. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Matzos to Hashem. (23:5, 6)

ללכת בכל דרכיו

To walk in all His ways. (11:22)

ואשלח מלאכים ממדבר קדמות אל סיחון מלך חשבון דברי שלום לאמר

I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedmas To Sichon King of Cheshbon words of peace saying: (2:26)

אלה הדברים אשר דבר משה אל כל ישראל

These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Yisrael. (1:1)

ויראו כל העדה כי גוע אהרן ויבכו את אהרן שלשים יום כל בית ישראל

When the entire assembly saw that Aharon had perished, they wept for Aharon thirty days, the entire House of Yisrael. (20:29)

YEARS

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