Ibn Ezra – Page 4 – Peninim on the Torah

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

In recognizing the contributions towards the Mishkan of the dor ha’midbar, generation of the wilderness, the Torah uses the phrase nedivus ha’lev, donations of the heart. What is a donation of the heart? Ibn Ezra notes two variances in the Torah’s idiom regarding Klal Yisrael’s contribution. Hashem commanded them, “Kechu me’itchem,” “Take from yourselves.” To “take” is the opposite of to “give.” Placing the prefix “mem” (meitchem) before a word changes its meaning. Thus, “Kechu me’itchem” has the same meaning as “Tenu,” give. Why did the Torah express this idea in such an awkward manner? Second, what is the meaning…

Home -> Ki Sisa -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Ki Sisa

And now if You would but forgive their sin! But if not, erase me now from this book that You have written. (32:32)

Rashi explains that the word, “misifrecha“, “from Your book,” applies to the entire Torah. Rashi suggests a reason for Moshe’s well-known reaction to Hashem’s desire to punish Klal Yisrael with annihilation: “That they should not say about me that I was not worthy to implore mercy for them.” This is mind-boggling! We are referring here to Moshe Rabbeinu, the “anav mikol adam,” the most humble of all men. He is prepared to have his name erased from the nitzchiyus, eternity, of Torah, simply because of what they may say, asserting that he was not capable/worthy of achieving clemency for Klal…

Home -> 5759 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5759

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak, son of Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

This pasuk seems redundant. Obviously, if Yitzchak is Avraham’s son, Avraham must have begotten Yitzchak. The commentators respond with various explanations. Ibn Ezra interprets “Avraham begot Yitzchak” as a reference to the fact that Avraham raised and educated Yitzchak. Educating a child is equivalent to begetting that child, since one “creates” a human being through the process of education. Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, suggests that by using this apparent redundancy the Torah addresses a question that plagues students of the historical narrative of the Patriarchs. How would two brothers, Yaakov and Eisav, who were raised by the same parents, who…

Home -> 5773 -> Naso

איש או אשה כי יפליא לנדר נדר נזיר להזיר לד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Naso, 5773

A man or woman who shall disassociate himself by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

The translation of yafli, “shall disassociate,” follows Rashi, who views the Nazir as someone who breaks with society’s norms, seeking to separate himself from the temptations of his environment. It is a noble position to take, one to which not all of us can aspire. Ibn Ezra takes it a step further. He defines yafli as wonderment. The nazir is doing something astonishing. It is truly out of the ordinary to undertake a vow that will sever oneself from the taavos, physical desires, which others find so “life-sustaining.” Ibn Ezra is teaching us a powerful lesson. To overcome one’s habits;…

Home -> 5751 -> Tetzaveh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tetzaveh, 5751

“And bring near Aharon your brother.” (28:1)

The Ibn Ezra explains that Aharon was chosen to carry the mantle of priesthood since he was married to Elisheva, the sister of the famous Nachshon Ben Aminadav, who was the first one to enter the Red Sea. Rather than delve into the significance of being Nachshon’s sister, we may suggest another insight to be derived from the Ibn Ezra. It is the basic understanding that children are the products of their parents. Their character development is greatly influenced by the distinct character traits they individually inherit from their parents. The Ibn Ezra is teaching us that even the parents…

Home -> 5751 -> Beha'alosecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5751

“On the day the Mishkan was erected, the cloud covered the Mishkan. Then in the evening, there appeared something like a fire on the Mishkan and remained there until morning. This is the way it remained… (9:15-16)

As stated in the posuk, this is the way it has remained throughout our history, a cloud hovering during the day, and a firelike apparition by night. When man is at the pinnacle of success, and the rays of the sun shine upon him with bright light, he must be aware that he is not immune forever. Life is a big circle which goes around bringing with it moments of great joy as well as moments of sadness and distress. Shlomo Hamelech says in Koheles (7:14) “On a day of goodness be good and on a bad day reflect”. The…

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

There is no question that the yetzer hora, evil inclination, maintains a powerful hold on man. As much as we try to extricate ourselves from its grip, it is very difficult. It is a never-ending battle from which we often do not emerge triumphant. Is there a strategy for overcoming the blandishments offered up by the yetzer hora with which it ensnares us? Why do some fall prey, while others survive the battle, often unscathed? In Mayanei HaChaim, Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, shares with us his secret for success. Lavan was searching for the terafim, his little idols, unaware that…

Home -> 5775 -> Va'eschanan

אנכי ד' אלקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים מבית עבדים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5775

I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt from the house of slavery. (5:6)

A well-known question was posed by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi (Kuzari 1:25): Since the first mitzvah of the Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments, is the enjoinment to believe in Hashem, why not mention that Hashem created Heaven and earth? Why does our liberation from Egypt play such a critical role in our hashkafah, philosophy/outlook. He explains that, while the creation of the world is the penultimate experience, no one was around to see it. Yetzias Mitzrayim, the Exodus, was witnessed by millions. There is no question that something witnessed is something remembered. Yetzias Mitzrayim left a lasting influence on the psyche of…

Home -> 5775 -> Terumah

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5775

They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, then I will dwell in their midst. (25:8)

Parashas Terumah, which details the construction of the Mishkan is the logical sequel to Parashas Mishpatim, which contains the principal features of the Code of Law and of the Bris, Covenant, built upon the foundations of that Law. The symbolic function of the Mishkan/Mikdash is to express the collective task upon whose fulfillment the Presence of the Shechinah in Klal Yisrael depends. The two accompany one another. If we do not uphold our end of the Covenant, the Mishkan and Hashem’s Presence within the Jewish People will not occur. The construction of the Mishkan, which is the external Temple, is…

Home -> 5775 -> Pinchas

יפקד ד' אלקי הרוחות לכל בשר איש על העדה. אשר יצא לפניהם ואשר יבא לפניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5775

“May Hashem, G-d of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly, who shall go out before them and come in before them.” (27:16,17)

Moshe Rabbeinu asked Hashem to appoint his successor, hoping that his own son would be the one to succeed him as the nation’s leader. Hashem had other plans: “Yehoshua, who has never departed from the (your) tent, deserves to be granted leadership over the nation.” As Shlomo Ha’melech says (Mishlei 27:18) Notzer t’einah yochal piryah, “He who watches over the fig tree should eat its fruit.” Rashi, who cites the above Chazal, indicates that Yehoshua was selected as a result of his devotion to the ohalah shel Torah, incredible diligence in not leaving the tent of Torah. Lo yamush mitoch…

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Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

And now if You would but forgive their sin! But if not, erase me now from this book that You have written. (32:32)

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak, son of Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

איש או אשה כי יפליא לנדר נדר נזיר להזיר לד'

A man or woman who shall disassociate himself by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

“And bring near Aharon your brother.” (28:1)

“On the day the Mishkan was erected, the cloud covered the Mishkan. Then in the evening, there appeared something like a fire on the Mishkan and remained there until morning. This is the way it remained… (9:15-16)

ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

אנכי ד' אלקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים מבית עבדים

I am Hashem, your G-d, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt from the house of slavery. (5:6)

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, then I will dwell in their midst. (25:8)

יפקד ד' אלקי הרוחות לכל בשר איש על העדה. אשר יצא לפניהם ואשר יבא לפניהם

“May Hashem, G-d of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly, who shall go out before them and come in before them.” (27:16,17)

YEARS

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