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וירא מנחה כי טוב... ויט שכמו לסבל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5775, Vayechi

He saw that serenity is good… He bowed his shoulder to bear. (49:15)

When one peruses the brachah, blessing, given to Yissachar, it appears as a lesson in contradiction. Yissachar symbolizes the ben Torah who devotes himself to Torah study under all circumstances. One would think that, if he is confronted with peace and serenity, it would be an opportunity for relaxation and rejuvenation; rather, the Torah tells us that the peaceful repose is not Yissachar’s reaction to serenity. Instead of rest, Yissachar girds himself for hard work. Is this not counterproductive? Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, explains that, if one wants to raise a healthy, content and happy child, showering him with material…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

ויחי יעקב בארץ מצרים... ויהי ימי יעקב שני חייו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Vayechi

Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt… and the days of Yaakov – the years of his life. (47:28)

The popular adage, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” rings true in the ears of the committed who are acutely aware of the meaning of every moment of G-d-given life. We have no guarantees. Life is short, and it is up to each and every one of us to make the most of every minute. This is unlike the attitude of some who believe that everything belongs to them. Parashas Vayechi deals primarily with the last mortal days of Yaakov Avinu: how he prepared for death, and the blessings he gave his children before he…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

יהודה אתה יודוך אחיך... בן פורת יוסף

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Vayechi

Yehudah – you, your brothers shall acknowledge. (49:8) A charming son is Yosef. (49:22)

In Yaakov Avinu’s blessings to his sons, we see the Patriarch delineate the specific area of avodas Hashem, service to Hashem, of each individual tribe. Together, their service coalesces and the purpose of Creation is realized. Each tribe’s personality was different. This variation reflected a different approach to avodas Hashem. Yaakov’s blessing ensured that the shefa, spiritual flow from Above, would be endemic to the requirements of each individual shevet, tribe. The blessings of the Patriarch singled out two tribes for monarchy: Yehudah and Yosef. Each was uniquely suited for his role of leadership, based upon his individual character traits….

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

אפרים ומנשה כראובן ושמעון יהיו לי... ומולדתך אשר הולדת אחריהם לך יהיו על שם אחיהם יקראו בנחלתם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Vayechi

Efraim and Menashe shall be mine like Reuven and Shimon… but progeny born to you after them shall be yours; they will be included under the name of the brothers with regard to their inheritance. (48:5,6)

According to Rashi, Efraim and Menashe are considered among the total of the other sons, thus receiving an equal portion in Eretz Yisrael in the same manner as their counterparts among the actual sons of Yaakov Avinu. In the Talmud Bava Basra 121b, Chazal debate whether the new status of Shevet, Tribe, accorded to Efraim and Menashe had any bearing on the amount of land they received in Eretz Yisrael. Rashi and Ramban continue this debate. Rashi is of the opinion that, while Eretz Yisrael would be divided into twelve parts, these portions would not be equal in size. The…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5774

יששכר חמור גרם רובץ בין המשפתים וירא מנוחה כי טוב... ויט שכמו לסבל ויהי למס עובד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5774, Vayechi

Issachar is a strong-boned donkey; he rests between the boundaries. He saw tranquility that it was good… yet, he bent his shoulder to bear and he became and indentured laborer. (49:14,15)

The Torah’s characterization of the talmid chacham, Torah scholar, using the simile of a strong-boned donkey, implies Yissachar/the Torah scholar’s spiritual role as the bearer of the yoke of Torah and the cultivator of the nation’s spiritual treasures. As the donkey toils day and night without resting its weary body, so, too, does the Torah scholar incessantly apply himself to his books. The Chafetz Chaim explains that the donkey never tires to the point that it lay down in such a manner that it must have its load removed. It sleeps standing, with its bags still on it. Likewise, the…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5773

ועשית עמדי חסד ואמת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Vayechi

And do kindness and truth with me. (47:29)

Rashi teaches that the kindness one performs for the deceased is chesed shel emes, kindness of truth. Under such conditions, one executes his duties for the express purpose of performing an act of chesed. There are no thanks, no accolades, no payment whatsoever. It is all l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven. When it comes to acting on behalf of one who is deceased, the reward is unusual. I think the reason is simple. When we act kindly to a fellow Jew, the individual, for the most part, is acutely aware that he is the recipient of a favor…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5773

וירא ישראל את בני יוסף ויאמר מי אלה ויאמר יוסף אל אביו בני הם אשר נתן לי אלקים בזה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Vayechi

Yisrael saw the sons of Yosef, and he said, “Who are these?” Yosef said to his father, “They are my sons, who Hashem gave me with this” (48:8,9)

Most of Parashas Vayechi is occupied with Yaakov Avinu’s final moments on earth, his last will and testament to his children, and the various messages implied by his choice of words. The parsha opens with Yaakov’s becoming ill and calling for Yosef to come to his bedside. Yosef did not come alone. He brought with him his two sons, Menasheh and Efraim. When Yaakov saw them, he asked, “Who are these?” Yosef replied, “They are my sons, whom G-d gave me with this…” Rashi presents an in-depth explanation of their conversation. Yaakov was about to bless Yosef’s sons when, suddenly,…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5773

ויברכם ביום ההוא לאמר בך יברך ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Vayechi

So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Yisrael bless.” (48:20)

And so it has become the case throughout the generations. Parents bless their children; Menasheh and Efraim serve as the paradigms of blessing. Does bayom ha’hu, “that day,” refer to a specific time? That day means that any day on which parents bless their children, Menasheh and Efraim will be their example. Horav Asher, zl, m’Karlin, interprets bayom ha’hu homiletically. Yaakov Avinu blessed his grandchildren that they should focus their endeavors on “that day.” Never push off until tomorrow what can be done today. The idea of pushing things off l’machar, tomorrow, is Amalek’s way of acting. By tomorrow, one…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5773

ואני נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך אשר לקחתי מיד האמרי בחרבי ובקשתי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Vayechi

And as for me, I have given you Shechem – one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Emori with my sword and with my bow. (48:22)

Rashi offers two interpretations of Yaakov Avinu’s conquest of Shechem. The first interpretation is that Shechem is a reference to the city of Shechem, which Yaakov conquered through the agency of Shimon and Levi. After the two brothers slew the inhabitants of Shechem, the surrounding nations rose up against Yaakov, who returned their warfare and miraculously emerged victorious. Therefore, charbi u’b’kashti, sword and bow, are realistic weapons which enabled the Patriarch to best his enemies. The second interpretation maintains that Yaakov refers to the birthright, the double portion, he wrested away from Eisav, who is here referred to as the…

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Home -> Vayechi -> 5773

ויקרא יעקב אל בניו ויאמר האספו ואגידה לכם את אשר יקרא אתכם באחרית הימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5773, Vayechi

Yaakov called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves, and I will tell you what will befall you in the End of Days. (49:1)

Rashi teaches that Yaakov Avinu was about to reveal the keitz, end of galus, exile, to his sons, but, at that moment, the Shechinah, Divine Presence, departed from him. The Shlah HaKadosh explains that Yaakov intimated to his sons the key to ending the exile. He told them Heiasfu! “Gather together; assemble yourselves as one!” v’agidah lachem, “and group yourselves together in one congregation; one assembly, all focused on Hashem. As long as there is pirud, separation, divisiveness, among the brothers, the Shechinah will remove itself from you, and the Geulah, Final Redemption, for which you are all yearning, will…

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