Vayeishev – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

The Midrash questions from where did Reuven return? They respond that he was sitting in sackcloth and fasting, remorseful over his impetuous reaction to Yaakov moving his bed into Bilhah’s tent. Although Reuven did nothing more than tamper with his father’s bed, the Torah viewed his action as being a transgression. He now repented for his sin. The Midrash continues that Hashem told Reuven that previously no one had ever sinned and repented. Since he initiated teshuvah, he was to merit that his descendant, Hoshea, would petition Klal Yisrael to perform teshuvah with the clarion call of “Shuvah Yisrael.” Two…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

Sforno interprets the idea of “this evil,” to mean the performance of bad in return for good. Yosef’s prime concern was the gratitude he owed his master. He could not respond to the advances of his master’s wife because of his hakoras hatov, the appreciation he felt to Potiphar. We may infer from here a lesson regarding the significance of hakoras hatov, and how far one must go to fulfill his obligation to acknowledge gratitude. Yosef was subject to the blandishments of Potiphar’s wife on an almost constant basis. She tried to entice him in every way possible. She would…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

Four words! Yosef turned to the dejected, deposed courtiers of Pharaoh, noticing their downcast appearance, he asked them, “Why are you so downcast? What is the cause of your depression?” Yosef’s sensitivity catalyzed circumstances that changed his entire life and the history of Klal Yisrael. Our course of history was altered because Yosef asked a simple question. He noticed–he cared–he took action. First and foremost, however, he noticed. This caring for another human being ultimately led to Yosef’s salvation from imprisonment and elevation to the position of viceroy. Thus, his father, Yaakov, was able to come down to Egypt…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings.” (37:1)

The text begins with the word, “Vayeshev,” settle, and ends with “migurei,” sojourn. Chazal infer from this seeming ambiguity that Yaakov finally sought to settle down, to rest from the tzaros, afflictions, that were an integral part of his life. He was not, however, destined to rest. The righteous enjoy no rest in this world. Their ultimate rest and reward await them in the World to Come. Chazal do not mean that Yaakov is about to “retire,” to cease his work in this world. They simply teach us that the tzaddik’s work is never completed. Yaakov thought that he had…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

Meilitz Yosher infers a striking lesson from this pasuk. One can have an abundance of “heteirim,” reasons for eating a certain food that is not kosher. He can find a number of reasons to justify his actions. Yet, when all is said and done, his action is simply not justifiable. This is similar to the lazy person who comes up with a multitude of excuses for not participating in a given endeavor. Indeed, all of the stated reasons may be true, but – the main reason that he is not involved in this endeavor is his indolence! The Torah tells…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

Chazal derive from the redundancy of the text that, although there was no water in the pit, dangerous creatures, such as serpents and scorpians, abounded. We may question the Torah‘s style in expressing its point. If the pit contained serpents and scorpions, why did the Torah not clearly state that fact? What purpose does the Torah serve with this back-handed approach? This question is posed by every serious reader of the text. The commentators offer a number of explanations. Horav David Shneuer, Shlita, takes a novel approach which teaches us an important lesson. The Torah asserts, “The pit was empty,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

From where was Reuven “returning”? Chazal teach us that he was engaged in fasting and praying for the sin of exchanging the beds. In accepting his teshuvah, Hashem said to him, “Never from the beginning of Creation has there been an individual who has sinned and expiated his sin via the medium of teshuvah. You began by performing teshuvah first. By your life, your grandson will also stand before Klal Yisrael and admonish them to perform teshuvah first.” This refers to Hoshe’a Ha’Navi whose words, “Shuvah Yisrael,” serve as the clarion call for teshuvah. The commentators ask the obvious question:…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And the chief wine steward did not remember Yosef and he forgot him.” (40:23)

Chazal teach us that Yosef was forgotten because he was wrong in placing his trust in a mere human being. Did Yosef really behave inappropriately? What about the concept of hishtadlus, endeavor? Is one to sit back with folded hands doing nothing whatsoever, expecting the blessing to descend from Hashem? Horav Elyakim Shlesinger, Shlita, surmises from here a significant principle regarding the idea of hishtadlus. He cites the Midrash which quotes Hashem’s statement to Yosef, “The Sar Ha’Mashkim, wine steward, forgot you. I will not forget you. Who waited for Avraham and Sarah to attain old age before they had…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his sons, since he was a child of his old age.” (37:3)

Chazal offer a number of interpretations for the phrase, “ben zekunim,” child of his old age. Some of the commentators define “ben zekunim” as “bar chakim,” wise son, referring to Yosef’s remarkable Torah scholarship. Rashi cites the Midrash which comments, “All that he (Yaakov) learned in the yeshivah of Shem and Ever during his fourteen years there, he transmitted to Yosef.” This statement is ambiguous. Did Yaakov teach Torah only to Yosef and not to his other sons? Yaakov provided a Torah education for each of his twelve sons, emphatically raising them all to become tzaddikim. The Midrash in Shemos…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And a certain man found him and behold he was wandering in the field and the man asked him, saying, ‘What are you seeking?'” (37:15)

As Yosef was searching for his brothers, he was met by a man who questioned his purpose in the field. Simply, the man wondered for what or for whom Yosef was looking. The Kotzker Rebbe, z.l., interpreted this question in a novel manner, assigning to these words a new meaning, as they teach us (and Yosef) a profound lesson. One must have clear goals. He must continually be prepared to redefine and reaffirm these goals as he is confronted with changing life situations. While he was at home, Yosef was involved in Torah scholarship. His environment was a spiritual utopia,…

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And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

“And Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings.” (37:1)

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

“And the chief wine steward did not remember Yosef and he forgot him.” (40:23)

“And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his sons, since he was a child of his old age.” (37:3)

“And a certain man found him and behold he was wandering in the field and the man asked him, saying, ‘What are you seeking?'” (37:15)

YEARS

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