Vayeishev – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

“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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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“But Er, Yehudah’s firstborn was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die.” (38:7)

The Matriarchs of the Jewish people were by nature barren. It is perplexing that the Jewish nation, which maintains a singular purpose in Creation should descend from women who by the laws of “nature” could not possibly bear a child. This phenomenon extends to Malchus Bais David, the monarchy of David Ha’melech, who is the sovereign of the Jewish nation. The individual from whom Moshiach will descend also had his roots in the most unnatural setting. Yehudah was the chosen monarch over the tribes. His position was to transfer this role to his eldest son, Er, who was not suitable…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And the keeper of the prison put in Yosef’s hand all the prisoners… and whatever they did there he was the doer of it.” (39:22)

The pasuk implies that Yosef initiated everything that was accomplished by the prisoners. The redundancy of the text begs explanation. Obviously, everything they did he would do. Horav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, z.l., interprets this pasuk homiletically. Yosef was teaching us a profound lesson in avodas Hashem, serving the Almighty. Yosef was not satisfied with the fact that he upheld all of the mitzvos. He was not complacent with his own mitzvah observance. He was driven to do more, to correct and complete what others had either denigrated or discarded. Yosef was not content simply to abstain from transgressing any aveiros,…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And the chief butler did not remember Yosef, but he forgot him.” (40:23)

Rashi comments that Hashem increased Yosef’s prison sentence by an extra two years. This was because he had placed his trust in the Sar Ha’Mashkim, by asking him twice to remember him before Pharaoh. What would have happened if Yosef had asked him only once? Would he have been punished with only a single year? This question was posed by Horav Shimon Shkop, z.l., to a group of his students during a session devoted to reproving them for behavior unbecoming a ben Torah. The economic conditions in the yeshivah of Grodno, in which Horav Shkop was Rosh Ha’Yeshivah left much…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeishev

“Yosef was seventeen years old … and he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah … and Yosef would bring evil reports about them to their father.” (37:2)

A number of questions regarding the text of this pasuk demand clarification. First, what is the meaning of “he was a youth,” and what purpose does it serve in the narrative? Second, the word “tchu,” “And he would bring,” doesn’t seem appropriate. One does not bring reports; rather, one relates them to others. Third, why does the Torah refer to Yaakov as “their father”? Was he not also Yosef’s father? Horav Yechiel Michel Rabinovitz z.l., the author of the Afikei Yam, derives the following important lesson from this pasuk. One who sees his friend acting inappropriately may hope to prevent…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeishev

“And Yehudah said unto his brothers, ‘what profit (is it) if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?'” (37:26) –

Chazal cite the above two pesukim as presenting two of the instances which merited Yehudah the role of monarch over his brothers and — eventually — over Klal Yisrael. In both cases Yehudah asserted himself, either by taking command of an ambiguous situation or by accepting blame for his own actions. Are these sufficient reasons for transferring the mantle of malchus, kingship, to Yehudah? Horav Chaim Shmuelevitz z.l., asserts that the greatness of a man is commensurate to the degree that he is inclined to assume and accept responsibility. One who shuns responsibility for his actions is not considered a…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeishev

“And Yaakov rent his garments … and (he) mourned for his son many days … and he refused to be comforted.” (37:34,35)

Yaakov Avinu’s behavior seems to defy Chazal’s dictum concerning mourning. Chazal state that Hashem enables human beings to cope with death and that the image of the deceased will fade from the mind of the mourners after a period of twelve months. Yaakov refused to be consoled over Yosef’s disappearance. He continued to mourn him for many years. Furthermore, we are taught that one should not overindulge in mourning. Why then did Yaakov continue to mourn Yosef, refusing to be consoled by his family? Horav Moshe Mordechai Epstein z.l., differentiates between personal loss and communal misfortune. When a person dies,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeishev

“And it happened that as she gave birth one put out a hand, the midwife took a crimson thread and tied it on his hand … And it was as he drew back his hand that behold his brother emerged: … Afterwards his brother on whose the hand was the crimson thread emerged.” (38:28 – 30)

Zerach tried to emerge first, but Peretz pushed ahead and was born first, fulfilling the Divine plan. Rashi notes that the Torah’s mentions the word sh, hand, four times. He cites the Midrash which interprets this apparent redundancy as an allusion to Zerach’s descendant, Achan, who committed four sacrileges. Other commentators say it refers to the four things which Achan took from the spoils of Yericho. This action on the part of Achan was prohibited. Thus, it greatly angered Hashem. This statement is enigmatic! What relationship is there between the unsuccessful action of an unborn infant and his descendant four…

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“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)

“But Er, Yehudah’s firstborn was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die.” (38:7)

“And the keeper of the prison put in Yosef’s hand all the prisoners… and whatever they did there he was the doer of it.” (39:22)

“And the chief butler did not remember Yosef, but he forgot him.” (40:23)

“Yosef was seventeen years old … and he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah … and Yosef would bring evil reports about them to their father.” (37:2)

“And Yehudah said unto his brothers, ‘what profit (is it) if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?'” (37:26) –

“And Yaakov rent his garments … and (he) mourned for his son many days … and he refused to be comforted.” (37:34,35)

“And it happened that as she gave birth one put out a hand, the midwife took a crimson thread and tied it on his hand … And it was as he drew back his hand that behold his brother emerged: … Afterwards his brother on whose the hand was the crimson thread emerged.” (38:28 – 30)

YEARS

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