His Name – Peninim on the Torah

ולקחת מראשית פרי האדמה... והלכת אל המקום אשר יבחר ד' אלקיך שמו שם

And you shall take the first of every fruit of the ground… and go to the place that Hashem, your G-d, will choose to make His Name rest there. (26:2)

The mitzvah of Bikkurim, offering the first fruits, is a mitzvah which teaches us the importance of hakoras hatov, recognizing and paying gratitude to Hashem, and, by extension, to everyone and anyone from whom we have benefited. Parashas Ki Savo, which commences with the laws of Bikkurim, begins with the concept of gratitude to Hashem for the wonderful crop we have been fortunate to yield. We most often read this parshah on the Shabbos preceding the last week of the year, as a portent that Tichleh shanah v’kilelosehah v’tacheil shanah u’birkosehah, “Let the past year with its curses come to…

Home -> 5756 -> Yisro

Sruly Schnair In Yisro, 5756

“You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain.” (20:7)

The Torah admonishes us not to swear falsely or in vain. Horav Reuven Katz, z.l., interprets this pasuk homiletically. Do not “raise up/attach Hashem’s Name to that which is false. Do not misguide people by placing Hashem’s endorsement on your illicit behavior. Regrettably, some individuals resort to the most cruel forms of character assassination in order to undermine, and even destroy, communal Torah-oriented endeavors. They present their deeds under the guise of l’shem shomayim, in the Name of Heaven. Their negative propaganda thinly veils an apparent disdain for the individual or organization they seek to defame. These individuals publicly proclaim…

Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Re'eh, 5756

“You shall deliver the blessing on Har Gerizim…. Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, far in the direction of the sunset…. across from Gilgal, near the plain of Moreh. Only at the place that Hashem… shall choose …. to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there.” (11:29,30 – 12:5)

The Torah describes in detail the exact location of Har Gerizim. The Torah leaves no room for error, designating the simplest and most direct course to the mountain of blessing. In contrast, in regard to the Bais Ha’Mikdash, the Torah offers no “directions.” The Torah demands that we “seek it out.” We are to search for the Bais Ha’Mikdash. No map, no “trip tik” eases our search. Search and you will find -but no directions are offered. Why? Would it not make sense that the Bais Ha’Mikdash, the spiritual center of our People, the holy place where the Shechinah reposes,…

Home -> 5758 -> Re'eh

Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5758

You shall not do this to Hashem your G-d. Rather, only at the place that Hashem, your G-d chose…to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there. And there shall you bring your elevation offerings. (12:4,5,6)

The commentators, each in his own initimable style, explain what it is that we “shall not do” to Hashem. Horav Itzile M’Volozhin, zl, offers a practical interpretation of this pasuk. We find that in order to facilitate the unintentional murderer’s “escape” to the Arei Miklat, Cities of Refuge, the people erected signs at various crossroads to indicate the most efficient way to reach his destination. They did this in order to ensure that the rotzeach b’shogeg, unintentional murderer, would not have to ask people for directions as he sought his destination. We may wonder why this helpful idea was…

Home -> 5752 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5752

“And none of your children shall you give to pass through to Molech, and you shall not profane the name of Hashem.” (18:21)

Horav Shamson Raphael Hirsch Zt”l remarks that after careful consideration of the various laws connected with the abominable service of the Molech, we may come to the conclusion that we are not dealing with an ordinary form of idol-worship. This is not merely a defection from Hashem to idolatry, but rather an aberration which introduces idolatrous ideas and concepts into the sphere of worshipping Hashem. Thus, this act profanes His Name. One who worships idols leaves Hashem and His Sanctuary and turns to others. The Molech worshipper foolishly thinks that he remains within the sphere of Hashem and His Sanctuary….

Home -> 5776 -> Naso

ובאו המים המאררים האלה במעיך לצבות בטן ולנפול ירך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5776

“These waters that cause curse shall enter your innards to cause stomach to distend and thigh to collapse!”(5:22)

The parsha of Sotah, the wayward wife, is certainly tragic. Whenever a marriage is broken up due to moral turpitude, it is a stain on the very fiber of our nation’s moral compass. We will not address the sin, but, rather, the punishment. Under normal circumstances, the testimony of a single witness has little to no efficacy. Yet, concerning the sotah’s infidelity, one witness prohibits her from returning to her husband, since there are raglayim l’davar, credible reasons, to believe that the charge against her is true. If we were to put her through the process of the bitter waters, it…

Home -> 5762 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5762

“The Kohen shall inscribe these curses on a scroll and erase it into the bitter waters.” (5:23)

Although it is forbidden to erase Hashem’s Sacred Name, and one who does so is punished with malkos, lashes, Hashem commanded that His Name be erased in order to engender peace and harmony between man and his wife. Domestic tranquility is the anchor of the Jewish family unit, so that one must go to all lengths to enhance the unity of the marriage bond. Throughout history, we find that this was a priority of many of our gedolim, Torah leaders. Most recently, an individual of the calibre of Horav Moshe Aharon Stern, z.l., invested endless time and energy to assure that…

Home -> 5762 -> Emor

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Emor, 5762

“You shall not desecrate My holy Name, rather I should be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael.” (22:32)

The entire chapter preceding the commandment regarding sanctifying Hashem’s Name deals completely with the Festivals – the sacrifices that are offered during the Festivals and the halachos that pertain to the sacrifices as a result of the Festivals. It is, therefore, puzzling that the chapter closes with the Torah’s enjoinment not to desecrate Hashem’s Name and to be sure to sanctify His Name. Is there a connection between chillul Hashem and the Festivals? The Netziv, z.l., gives a response that is both compelling and timely. For the most part, the mitzvos of the Torah are not similar to religious practice and…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5762

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד' מן הבהמה מן הבקר ומן הצאן תקריבו את קרבנכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayikra

“When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering.” (1:2)

If Reuven slaps Shimon across the face for no reason, Shimon’s physical pain will not be as great as his emotional pain. Being slapped for no apparent reason is truly an emotional trauma. On the other hand, if Shimon had first struck Reuven with a powerful blow, and then Reuven reciprocated – Shimon would not be that upset. He would understand that he deserves what he has received. Horav Baruch, z.l., m’Kosov applies this analogy towards explaining the concept of mesiras nefesh al Kiddush Hashem, dedication to the point of self-sacrifice for the purpose of sanctifying Hashem’s Name. If a person…

Home -> 5762 -> Yisro

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5762

“Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.” (20:8)

The Torah introduces the institution of Shabbos in the Fourth Commandment of the Aseres HaDibros, the Ten Commandments. The first three commandments focus on our acceptance of Hashem as supreme Ruler and Creator, forbid us from worshipping other deities, and forbid us from showing Hashem disrespect by taking His Name lightly. Shabbos attests to Hashem being the Creator of the world, for it is a constant reminder that He created for six days and rested on the Seventh Day. When we observe Shabbos, we bear testimony to this fact. Therefore, the commandment of Shabbos should follow in the natural progression after…

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ולקחת מראשית פרי האדמה... והלכת אל המקום אשר יבחר ד' אלקיך שמו שם

And you shall take the first of every fruit of the ground… and go to the place that Hashem, your G-d, will choose to make His Name rest there. (26:2)

“You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain.” (20:7)

You shall not do this to Hashem your G-d. Rather, only at the place that Hashem, your G-d chose…to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there. And there shall you bring your elevation offerings. (12:4,5,6)

“And none of your children shall you give to pass through to Molech, and you shall not profane the name of Hashem.” (18:21)

ובאו המים המאררים האלה במעיך לצבות בטן ולנפול ירך

“These waters that cause curse shall enter your innards to cause stomach to distend and thigh to collapse!”(5:22)

“The Kohen shall inscribe these curses on a scroll and erase it into the bitter waters.” (5:23)

“You shall not desecrate My holy Name, rather I should be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael.” (22:32)

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לד' מן הבהמה מן הבקר ומן הצאן תקריבו את קרבנכם

“When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering.” (1:2)

“Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.” (20:8)

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