Divrei Mav

Parshas Nitzavim In this week’s parsha there is a passuk that says, “You are standing today, all of you…. The heads of your tribes….” (29:9) The literal translation of the words “Rashaychem Shivtaychem” is, “your heads”, “your tribes.” Reb Moshe Feinstein asks what is the explanation for this unusual sequence of words? Answers Rabbi Moshe a geshmaka (delicious) answer, he says that the Torah teaches in a few places (including here) not to make small himself in his eyes, meaning that one should not make himself believe or even think that he can’t become a great leader. For this behavior of belittling oneself is, as Reb Moshe says, “actually the counsel of the Evil Inclination.” Not only should one not belittle himself in his eyes, but he is encouraged in this week’s Parsha by Hashem Himself to build up a self-esteem and tell himself that he can become a great leader and great in Torah. Hashem will assist the person who strives, believes, and really internalizes that h...

This Week's D'var Torah Should Give The Nishamah of Yisroel Sender Ben Avrahom In this week’s Parsha there are more then fifty Mitzvos. We are going to learn about some of them. The commonly known mitzvah of Tzedakah is a great mitzvah. While it is a staple in the Jewish community there are still many who push off this mitzvah with the belief that giving Tzedakah is a smaller scale mitzvah, but those people are wrong, this mitzvah has tremendous power; it can bring wealth, remove judgments against us, and many more immense rewards. We learn about the mitzvah for the B’nai Yisroel to destroy the Avodah Zarah (idols) in the land of Israel when they entered, whether the Avodah Zarah was a tree like the Ashairh, or a carved figure it was to be completely destroyed. Next, we learn the commandment involving the Navi Sheker (false profit). Hashem issues warning that a person will stand up and claim that G-d spoke to him, even if he brings predictions that come true or miracles...

Hashem taught the B’nai Yisroel that if they keep the Mitzvos properly, He would remove common illness from amongst the nation, deliver their enemies into their hands, and punish their enemies with uncommon illnesses (like He afflicted Egypt). Hashem told them that when He would conquer their enemies for them, allowing the B’nai Yisroel to dwell in Eretz Yisroel, He would conquer them in a slower manner. This was because if Hashem went ahead and conquered their enemies quickly, by the time the B’nai Yisroel settled down there would be wild animals inhabiting the land creating a new, unpleasant dilemma for them. So Hashem (as an expression of loving kindness) would conquer the enemy in a delayed or unhurried manner so as they took over each area no other problems would develop. Hashem also told them that they would be forbidden to covet their enemy’s silver and gold. Rabbi Ovadiah Ben Yaakov (a.k.a. the Sforno) explains, if the B’nai Yisroel would take the riches from their idol worshi...

The Torah tells us in this week’s Parsha that Pinchas lead the war against Midyan. The Ramban explains, this is because since Pinchas started this whole thing with killing Zimri and Kozbi (last week) he should have the honors to finish the job. In this week’s Parsha the B’nai Yisroel are faced with a dilemma. After defeating the Midyanim in the previous battle the B’nai Yisroel took the spoils and riches. Moshe informed them that they were not permitted to cook in those pots and pans they took until they Kasher (make kosher) them. To do this they would take those cooking utensils and immerse them in a Mikveh. This was necessary because the Midyanim cooked non-kosher foods in those pots consequently making them unfit for the Jewish people to cook and eat out of them. Nowadays, we also required to Toivel (dip) our new dishes. What we do is go to the public dish mikveh and immerse our new dishes seven times while reciting a B’racha (blessing). A mikveh is an area with a certain amount ...

In the opening pasukim (passages) of Parshas Shelach Hashem tells Moshe (Moses) to send miraglim (spies) to Eretz Canaan (Israel) because they wanted to make sure the land was a good land for the B‘nai Yisroel. In truth, the B’nai Yisroel were intensely frightened of entering the land of Canaan because of the widespread rumors about the land’s inhabitants. They pleaded with Moshe and insisted upon sending spies to see if the land is okay and safe. Hashem was not “supporting” this because how could His chosen people not trust in Hashem who has guarded and guided His people from the very start? Hashem basically said, go and do want you want. So Moshe selected men from each shevet (tribe). When the miraglim went into the land they encountered people of enormous size (giants) living in the land. Not only were the people abnormally large but so was their food. So when the miraglim returned, ten out of the twelve spoke Lashon Harah about the Promised Land. The other two were tremendous tzad...

In Parshas Beha’alosecha unfortunately the B’nai Yisroel complain many times in the desert, about the ma’an (heavenly food), and many other things. Because of their complaints Hashem saw fit that instead of making their journey through the desert three days He made it forty years. One might ask, why would Hashem punish them so severely? A possible answer could be that Hashem judges them according to their connection to Him. In other words, Hashem has higher expectations for them. As was with the B’nai Yisroel, they had just experienced the splitting of the sea, the revealing of none other then G-d Himself at Har Sinai (Mt. Sinai), and were given the Torah - Never in the history of the world had a people been so close to Hashem. So now we could understand a little better how they would be dealt with so sternly. Also in this Parsha Ahron is instructed by Hashem (G-d) to light the menorah (candelabra) in the Mishkan (tabernacle). There were many different nisim (miracles) that involved ...

Parshas Nasso discusses the case of a Sotah. A Sotah is a woman that was seemingly having suspicious forbidden relationships with other men (besides her husband). Her husband warns her about this matter and she was again seemingly having forbidden relationships with someone other than her husband - he then takes her to the Kohain (priest) and the Kohain brings a korban (offering) to Hashem on her behalf. The kohain also makes a Torah commanded drink or “potion”, so to speak. The Kohain erases Hashem’s name and put’s it into the “potion”. It is then given to the accused woman to drink. If she was innocent then she will be blessed with a child, but if she was guilty then her insides would in essence explode. Right after discussing the halachos of a Sotah, the Torah talks about a Nazir. Someone who is a nazir can’t cut their hair/shave, eat or come in contact with grapes, and *some cannot come in contact with a deceased. One becomes a nazir either by the word of Hashem or if ...

There is a passuk in Parshas Bamidbar that says, “Si’u Es Rosh Kol Adas B’nai Yisroel…” “Count the heads” of the congregation of the children of Israel. Harav Ephraim Nisenbaum explains that this commandment to count was directed toward the B’nai Yisroel (Children of Israel). Meaning, Hashem made it the responsibility of the B’nai Yisroel to be counted by Moshe and Arhon. Later, we find a similar command with a subtle change in the loshon (wording) when Hashem commands Moshe to count, “Nasuh Es Rosh” “Count the heads“, of the Levi’im Levites. Back by the passuk of “Si’u” the commandment was given to Klal Yisroel (the congregation of Israel). Why did Hashem wanted the B’nai Yisroel counted? I believe we can understand it through a mushul or parable. There was once a shepherd who dearly loved his sheep. He was constantly caring for each and every sheep, making sure that each one was healthy and strong and so on. One night there was a terrible storm that caused much damage in the area...

Parshas Bechukosai discusses the different b’rachos and k’lallos (blessings and curses) that were given by Hashem to the B’nai Yisroel (Jewish people) for keeping mitzvos (commandments) and not keeping them. The passuk (passage) says, “they will confess their sin and the sin of their ancestors for the treachery that they committed against Me (Hashem)… I will also walk contrary to them…” (26:40-41) Rabbi Ovadiah Figu (a.k.a. the Binah L’Ittim) asks, if the B’nai Yisroel confess their sin then why are they still going to be punished? He answers that the sages explain that even if a person confesses to his avairah (sin) as long as he repents he will be forgiven but he won’t be forgiven for just his confession. We have learned that there is a three/four step process of Tishuva (repentance). 1. Acknowledge the sin committed, 2. Regret the fact that the sin was committed, 3. Ask for forgiveness, and last 4. Try to avoid the sin in the future. Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman compares avairos (si...

At the beginning of Parshas Behar Hashem addresses us with the mitzvah of Shmittah. The passuk (passage) states, “V’Shavsah HaAretz Shabbos” And the land shall observe a Sabbath rest. Every 7th year is called the Shmittah. It is a time when the Jews in Eretz Yisroel (Israel) must completely refrain from working in their fields. One of the many reasons for Shmittah is to strengthen one’s emuna (faith) in Hashem. The fruit that grows during the Shmittah year is unlike the other fruit of the year, these fruits must be handled carefully and in strict accordance with the Halacha regarding Shmittah and it’s produce. The commandment of Shmittah in the Torah is for one to treat his land as a “Sabbath rest” this means that Hashem wants us to give our land a rest for Him as the passuk concludes by saying “LaHashem” for Hashem. Rashi asks, why does the first passuk in Parshas Behar say “Hashem spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai saying” and then goes on to discuss the mitzvah of Shmittah, why Shmitt...