Germany – Page 2 – Peninim on the Torah

כי לא תשכח מפי זרעו

For it will not be forgotten from the mouth of its children. (31:21)

What is the secret of our continued survival? It is not as if we have acted perfectly as children of Hashem. Yet, we continue to survive, to endure the vicissitudes of life, until that day when we have completed our mission. Regardless how distant we have allowed ourselves to move away, how far we have fallen, how low we have sunken as a result of our collective sins, we still have one redeeming value, one merit, one blessing that accompanies us through the abyss of darkness that resonates through our life: the Torah. As soon as we return to the…

Home -> -> Vayeilech

ומצאוהו רעות רבות וצרות ואמר ביום ההוא הלא על כי אין אלקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות האלה... ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeilech

And many evils and distresses will encounter it, it will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” But I will surely conceal My face on that day. (31:17,18)

Our nation has suffered immensely throughout the millennia. Hounded and persecuted, physically and emotionally, no words can describe the travail that has often been our lot. The secular streams stick to their usual reneging by denouncing these “isolated occurrences” as an anti-Semitic reaction to the Jews’ refusal to assimilate into their host country’s way of life, religion, etc. They posit that, if we would be more like goyim, then they would treat us like goyim – not Jews. Any person with a modicum of intelligence understands the futility of this argument. We, who study Torah as our primer of faith,…

Home -> 5777 -> Terumah

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5777

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them. (25:8)

The Alshich HaKadosh, zl, notes the use of the word, b’socham, in them, rather than b’socho, in it. This teaches that every Jew must serve as a veritable Mishkan, Sanctuary, for Hashem. Every Jew is a mikdash me’at, miniature sanctuary. This should be our self-view, and likewise, the way we look at others. While one can accept this idea concerning gedolei Yisrael, individuals who truly represent Kavod Shomayim, the glory of Heaven, what about the ordinary person? Is the ordinary person also a mikdash me’at? First, the term “ordinary” is too general a term. I refer rather to someone who…

Home -> 5777 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבאה יצחק האהלה שרה אמו... וינחם יצחק אחרי אמו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5777

And Yitzchak brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother… and thus was Yitzchak consoled after his mother. (24:67)

Rashi teaches that the arrival of Rivkah Imeinu in the tent of her late mother-in-law, Sarah Imeinu, reestablished the practices of the first Matriarch, to the point that Yitzchak Avinu was finally consoled over his mother’s passing. The spiritual void left by Sarah’s demise seemed to be filled with the presence of Rivkah. Rashi focuses on three miracles that were regular occurrences in Sarah’s home. First, Ner daluk mei’erev Shabbos l’erev Shabbos, the candle which she lit on erev Shabbos (to usher in the Shabbos) did not burn out. It remained lit the entire week. Second, Brachah metzuyah b’issah, there…

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כי לא תשכח מפי זרעו

For it will not be forgotten from the mouth of its children. (31:21)

ומצאוהו רעות רבות וצרות ואמר ביום ההוא הלא על כי אין אלקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות האלה... ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא

And many evils and distresses will encounter it, it will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” But I will surely conceal My face on that day. (31:17,18)

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them. (25:8)

ויבאה יצחק האהלה שרה אמו... וינחם יצחק אחרי אמו

And Yitzchak brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother… and thus was Yitzchak consoled after his mother. (24:67)

YEARS

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