Hashgacha Pratis – Peninim on the Torah

ושמתי פדות בין עמי ובין עמך למחר יהיה האות הזה

I shall make a distinction between My people and your people – tomorrow this sign will come about. (8:19)

Simply speaking, Moshe Rabbeinu informed Pharaoh when each plague would begin. This was meant to underscore the miraculous nature of the plague. Horav Shalom Bentzion Felman, zl, explains this pasuk homiletically: “I will make a distinction between My people and your people.” What is this distinction? In which area of belief do we see a separation between Jew and non-Jew? Tomorrow, this sign will come about. It is with regard to the concept of “tomorrow” that we differ. The Jew who believes in Hashem lives with a constant awareness of “tomorrow.” Even if today appears bleak and filled with hardship,…

Home -> 5782 -> Shoftim

ועשית על פי הדבר אשר יגידו לך ... לא תסור מן הדבר אשר יגידו לך ימין ושמאל

Sruly Schnair In Shoftim, 5782

You shall do according to the word that they will tell you … You shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left. (17: 10,11)

As faithful Jews we adhere to emunas chachamim, faith in our sages – in the sages of each individual generation. Some, although observant, have difficulty accepting the interpretations of the Torah leaders concerning what they believe is fact. In a correspondence to such a misled Jew, Horav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, zl (Michtav M’Eliyahu), addresses the disputant who claimed that the Holocaust might have been at least partially averted had the Torah leaders of Eastern Europe encouraged the masses to emigrate to Eretz Yisrael. He explains that the Torah teaches us to submit in all moral judgment and outlook, even to…

Home -> Bechukosai -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bechukosai

And you behave toward me with casualness. I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness. (26:27, 28)

As Jews, we believe in Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence. This means that Hashem observes, is aware of and controls everything that occurs during our lives. Everything is totally inclusive to the point that Chazal teach us that “one does not stub his finger in this world unless it has been predecreed from Above.” To paraphrase Horav Baruch Sorotzkin, zl, there is no concept of coincidence in Jewish theology. It is sinful for one to think or say “it just happened.” Things do not “just happen.” They are preordained by the Almighty. This is the meaning of the pasuk. If one…

Home -> 5759 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5759

Three times a year all your males should appear before Hashem, your G-d, in the place that He will choose. (16:16)

The Shalosh Regalim are spiritually uplifting times, when we celebrate with Hashem. The Torah enjoins us to come to the Bais Hamikdosh during each of the festivals to experience the holiness and joy of the moment, in the city and edifice where the Shechinah reposes. The Torah mentions the mitzvah of Aliyah l’Regel, going up to Yerushalayim on Yom Tov, three times. There is an inconsistency in the text concerning the manner in which the Torah refers to Hashem in each of these three presentations. In our parsha, He is referred to as “Hashem, your G-d”. In Parshas Mishpatim (Shemos,…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5762

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayigash

Then Yisrael said to Yosef, “Now I can die, after my having seen your face, because you are still alive.” (46:30)

With these words ends the saga of Yosef’s “disappearance” from home. After many years of bitter longing, Yaakov Avinu was finally able to once again embrace his son. We read about it, but unless one has undergone the travail of almost losing a child and then finding him alive and well, it is difficult to fully grasp the overwhelming joy that both Yaakov and Yosef experienced. Baruch Hashem, this experience is something that is a rarity. There was a time, not so long ago, during World War II, when families were separated, when children were torn away from their parents, when…

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…

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ושמתי פדות בין עמי ובין עמך למחר יהיה האות הזה

I shall make a distinction between My people and your people – tomorrow this sign will come about. (8:19)

ועשית על פי הדבר אשר יגידו לך ... לא תסור מן הדבר אשר יגידו לך ימין ושמאל

You shall do according to the word that they will tell you … You shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left. (17: 10,11)

And you behave toward me with casualness. I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness. (26:27, 28)

Three times a year all your males should appear before Hashem, your G-d, in the place that He will choose. (16:16)

Then Yisrael said to Yosef, “Now I can die, after my having seen your face, because you are still alive.” (46:30)

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)

YEARS

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