דבר תורה פרשת נח

דבר תורה פרשת נח

The opening Psukim of Parshat Noach speak about how the world has become corrupt. It is filled with robbery and moral decay. Hashem tells Noach, the tzadik of the his time, that He plans to bring a flood to destroy the world. Noach is given the chance to build an ark to save himself, his family and the animals. In the the description of the corruption of the world, the Torah says that not only were the people stealing and cheating from each other, but even the animals were disgusting to Hashem.

In pasuk 6:12

• "כִּי-הִשְׁחִית כָּל-בָּשָׂר אֶת-דַּרְכּוֹ, עַל-הָאָרֶץ"

Rashi explains this pasuk to mean that animals of different  species mated with other. The immorality was so widespread that it had reached the animal kingdom.  The Beis Halevi   asked - how is this possible? Animals do not have a free will, they act on instinct. How could it be that a lion would want to mate with a bear?  The Beis Halevi answers with a Midrash quoted by Rashi and tells us that when mankind becomes so wicked or mean, we affect our surroundings. We have a negative influence on our entire world, including the animals.

Rav Avrohom Yaakov Pam points out that the Beis Halavi’s answer gives us a powerful insight into how our actions as human beings influence everything around us. When we act in ways that are contrary to the moral code of society and Torah, we bring down the people around us, our children, our friends, our co- workers, our students. When our society goes down this path, there is a feeling in the air that things are not right, a feeling that all is permitted.  

On the same note, doing good deeds and doing the right things can affect our society in a very positive way. People who do this make their community stronger and kadosh. At Yavneh, last month’s theme was “Acts of Kindness - Big or Small Kindness to All.” Over the Sukkot break, our students kept charts of the acts of chesed that they did. They were asked to do one act a day for the 10 days. Over 250 students completed the chart. These acts, big and small, are ways that we strengthen our community.

Try doing something good for someone else today and know that by doing that good deed, you are setting our community and society on the right path.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Steven Penn

דבר תורה פרשת נשא

דבר תורה פרשת נשא

Parshat Naso speaks about the korbanot that the nesiim brought. As it lists them, we see that they are each bringing identical korbanot, but each still gets listed individually. The Torah could have listed them all together to save space and time. 

Why was it important to list them all separately if they are exactly the same?

Saul Blinkoff is a Jew who animates movies for Disney. He came to Yavneh a couple weeks ago to speak about his journey getting to this point in his career. He spoke really well, and everyone enjoyed listening to him. He also spoke at my shul that Shabbos, about the exact same thing, and I went anyway. I enjoyed listening to him the second time, the same amount that I enjoyed the first time. 

There are two lessons that I was able to learn from this. First, sometimes doing the same exact thing twice has an impact in the same way it did the first time. If the first time made a big impact, usually the second time will make the same impact or an even bigger impact. 

The second thing that I learn from the Nesiim is that if every person is going the same mitzvah, or the same thing, each person individually is appreciated for his strengths. Even if it appears to be the same exact korban, each individual who brought it is important in his own right, and is important to mention. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Steven Penn

דבר תורה פרשת בהר

דבר תורה פרשת בהר

We have just come off from our fun-filled activities of Lag Baomer. Lag Baomer is all about achdut and coming together as a nation to celebrate together. Rabbi Akiva's students struggled to be a cohesive unit, and because of this, they were punished. Each of them slowly started getting affected by a plague that took them over. Lag Baomer was a day that they stopped dying. This is a day to rejoice and celebrate the end of this terrible plague. It is also a day to reflect on how we are treating each other and to assess whether there are any areas where we could improve on when it comes to watching out for our fellow Jews.

In Parshat B'har, Hashem makes a promise that if Bnei Yisrael follow the laws of shmita and do the right thing, they will have enough food for the 6th, 7th and 8th year.

How is it possible that everyone will do the right thing?

It is nearly impossible to expect each person in such a big nation to do the right thing at all times. I believe that the message here is that each of us needs to make sure that WE are doing the right thing, so that we could pick up the slack of people who might not be doing the right thing. If we work together, and each try our best to do the right thing, we can make sure that we are covered for this blessing that Hashem has given us.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Steven Penn

דבר תורה פרשת אחרי מות

In honor of this week's Teacher Appreciation Week, and Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, I took the opportunity to show the students a short video about gratitude today at Shabbat Assembly.

Click here for a link to the video.  

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Steven Penn

דבר תורה פרשת תזריע

דבר תורה פרשת תזריע

This week's parsha speaks about the punishment for someone who speaks Lashon Hara. If someone is speaking Lashon Hara, they begin to get this skin disease called Tzraat. Once this person sees that they have Tzraat they need to spend time separated from everyone else, outside of the camp. The Cohen comes to look at their condition very sporadically. He checks how they are doing and then comes back 7 days later.

Why does the Cohen wait 7 days to check their skin again? Why can't he come every day to look and see how their disease is healing?

There is an important lesson to be learned from here. If a person looks at the same thing every day it will always look similar to him. It is very hard to see change if he is constantly looking and evaluating it. The best way to evaluate change is by taking a step back and reviewing it at a later time.

While we try to grow and develop into better and more aware people, it is important for us not to get discouraged if we don't see instant change. Change takes time, and the best way to evaluate the changes that we make is by giving ourselves the time and not getting impatient when we do not see the results right away. After time, it is exciting to look back and realize how much we have accomplished.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Penn

דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

Parshat Vayikra teaches us about the Oleh offering. There are many reasons to bring the Korban Olah. It could be brought by someone who has committed a sin, someone who has not done Mitzvah, someone going to Yerushalayim for the Shalosh Regalim, orjust by someone who wants to connect with Hashem. It is a korben that is completely burnt on the mizbe'ach to Hashem. 

The Torah lists that the Korban Oleh can be from an Ox, a Sheep/Goat, or a bird. These are mentioned in order of expense and the best one. The ox is the most expensive and the most ideal, and bird least expensive.  Interestingly the "Torah list the three in separate paragraphs which are separated completely. Why would the Torah spend the time to separate these animals if they are for the same Korban?

According to the Abarbenal, the Torah is showing us that each Oleh is important, no matter it is made of. The important part is that the person is serving Hashem within his means, and the offering is obviously appreciated.  

In a few days we will celebrate Purim and we have mitzvot of Megilah, Mishloach Manot, Matanot Levyinim, and the Meal. We have such a great opportunity to perform these mitzvot. Each mitzvah should be done within our means, however we are able to do them, and if we try and do what we can, Hashem will be happy with the mitzvot that we do. 

דבר תורה פרשת פקודי

דבר תורה פרשת פקודי

וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל משֶׁה אֶת הָאֹהֶל וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו קְרָסָיו קְרָשָׁיו בְּרִיחָיו וְעַמֻּדָיו וַאֲדָנָיו

 (שמות לט:לג)

Now they brought the Mishkan to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings its clasps, its planks, its bars, its pillars and its sockets.

After all the parts of the Mishkan were completed, Bnei Yisrael brought those parts to Moshe so that he could assemble the Mishkan himself. Why couldn't they build it on their own? Why did they need Moshe's help in assembling the Mishkan?

Rashi asks these questions above - Bnei Yisrael could not build the Mishkan themselves? 

He gives an amazing answer from which we could a valuable lesson. Bnei Yisrael could not build the Mishkan because the parts were so incredibly heavy. Since Moshe had not done any work for the Mishkan, Hashem had told Bnei Yisrael to bring the parts to Moshe so that he could build it, and therefor take part in the Mishkan. 

After receiving the parts, Moshe asks Hashem, "How am I going to be able to build this Mishkan if it is not able to be built by the hands of a human being? (since it is too heavy)"

Hashem replys, "Keep your hands busy - make it look like you are building it - and it will get built." 

And, as Hashem had said, the Mishkan rose up and was built. This is why a few psukim later it says "הוקם המשכן" - "The Mishkan was erected."  It uses a passive voice - to say that Moshe tried to build it and make it stand - but it stood up by itself, miraculously. 

In our lives we all have areas that we work hard in - our jobs, our hobbies, our families, and our friends. We must continue to try our best in those areas, but it is also important to know that Hashem is there every step of the way. He gives us the illusion that we are doing all of this work, so that we feel we are playing our part, but He is carrying us through these difficult times, we just have to notice Him.