Dear Friends:
Concerning the pasuk in (Devarim 7:14), Lo yiheyeh becha akar v’akarah, “There will be no infertile male or infertile female among you,” the Baal HaTurim writes: The gematria, numerical equivalent, of Lo yiheyeh becha akar v’akarah is the same as b’divrei HaTorah (834). This alludes to the idea that there will never be a person who will not give birth in words of Torah, who will not be mechadeish chiddushim, innovate original Torah thoughts. Horav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, derives from here that we should view chiddushei Torah as the author’s progeny. This idea is underscored in the Reishis Chochmah (Shaar HaKedushah 4) that one should do everything within his ability to be fruitful and multiply in spirituality by challenging his mind to mechadesh chiddushim.
Horav Shlomo Kluger, zl, quotes Chazal (Yevamos 63), Ein ben David ba ad she’yichleh kol ha’neshamos she’b’guf: “Ben David (Moshiach Tziddkeinu) will not come until all the souls of the body (all the souls that are destined to inhabit physical bodies) have been finished.” He explains that, just as a specific number of neshamos are to descend to this world, likewise, a specific amount of chiddushei Torah must be disseminated before Moshiach arrives. Thus, everyone who innovates, redacts, disseminates and encourages others to do so, compasses a link in the chain necessary to bring the Geulah, Final Redemption, closer to reality. Horav Yosef Engel, zl, writes that even if one simply explains and extrapolates upon the chiddushim of others, it is considered as if he has enhanced Torah, thus we view his work as chiddushim.
The purpose of Peninim has been and continues to be: Enhance, encourage and disseminate Torah knowledge to the largest available number of people. Toward this end and probably for this reason, Peninim enjoys, such a large, multi-faceted readership throughout the world. I pray that, with the completion of my thirty-third cycle of Peninim, the extraordinary siyata d’Shmaya that I have experienced will abide. Indeed, all that we cherish and achieve are gifts from Hashem. He employs many agents through whom He dispatches His kindness. The realisation that they are agents in no way diminishes our obligation to recognise and pay gratitude to them.
I am privileged to have had the support of the Bais Chinuch HaRav Dessler / Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, an institution which, from its very inception, has had as its guiding mission statement to reach out to all Jews, all over, all the time. Several individuals, without whose patience and devotion Peninim would not be a reality, are: Mrs. Sharon Weimer and Mrs. Tova Scheinerman who prepare the weekly manuscript with extreme patience. Their creative ingenuity in deciphering my illegible scrawl continues to amaze me. Mrs. Marilyn Berger successfully navigates my ambiguous writing and unravels what it is I mean to say. She edits Peninim, so that it is presentable – and acceptable – to the wider spectrum of the world Jewish community, transforming hopsack into velvet. Mrs. Devora Altose ensures that a state-of-the-art product is disseminated in a timely and orderly fashion.
Peninim’s network of distribution began with Baruch Berger, zl, of Brooklyn, New York, who came to me requesting that he be able to distribute Peninim in his community. He later became ill, hindering his ability to continue in his avodas ha’kodesh. As his illness progressed, Baruch was forced to halt his activities, but the z’chus is all his. Eight years ago, shortly before Rosh Hashanah, Baruch’s pure neshamah returned to its rightful place b’ginzi Meromim. May the limud HaTorah which he initiated be an eternal z’chus for him.
“Peninim on the Torah” can be obtained electronically via the Hebrew Academy’s website. A number of years ago, Eliyahu Goldberg, zl, of Yerushalayim began a “world” edition. Through his efforts, Peninim has received extensive coverage in England, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Sweden, Belgium, Malta, Italy, Thailand, Hong Kong, South America and Australia. Eliyahu went so far as to anglicise the text to make it more readable in the United Kingdom. Sadly, Eliyahu’s life came to an untimely end, leaving his many friends all over the world bereft of his friendship and support. His widow, Angela, together with Ashley Leboff, has been shouldering the responsibility of keeping Eliyahu’s legacy of harbotzas Torah alive. Rabbi Moshe Peleg, Rav of Shaarei Zedek Medical Center, prints and distributes Peninim throughout the English-speaking communities in Eretz Yisrael. Peninim is distributed through various websites. Well-meaning baalei chesed throughout the Jewish community, many of whom I do not even know by name, distribute Peninim. May the mitzvah of harbotzas Torah serve as a z’chus for them to be blessed b’chol mili d’meitav.
Last, but certainly not least, is my wife, Neny, תיח' . She has been a tower of strength and an effective, constructive critic. Throughout our marriage, she has been an anchor of stability and support amid a sea of uncertainty. Involvement in devarim she’be’kedushah is as demanding as it is satisfying. One must be devoted to – and focused on – the work that he does. At times, this can take a toll on his family. To this end, one must be blessed with the consummate eishes chayil who steps in to perform the roles of both father and mother. We are blessed with wonderful nachas due to my wife’s herculean efforts. May we be blessed to have good health and continued nachas from kol yotzei chalutzeinu.
Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum.
