Vayeitzei – Page 10 – Peninim on the Torah

“Hashem saw that Leah was unloved…but Rachel remained barren.” (29:31)

What relationship exists between the fact that Hashem saw that Leah was not loved and Rachel’s infertility? The Alter, z.l., m’Kelm explains that it was specifically Leah’s feeling of being hated that catalyzed Rachel’s barrenness. Leah did so much – she should not have had to feel that her entrance into the Patriarchal home was under question. Rachel should have done everything within her power to assuage her feelings of guilt. This is enigmatic. We are referring here to Rachel Imeinu who relinquished her right to marry Yaakov first, just so that her sister would not be humiliated. She suffered in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5762

“This time I will gratefully praise Hashem”; therefore she called his name Yehudah.” (29:35)

Leah gave birth to her fourth son, an event that evoked a tremendous sense of gratitude within her. She understood that Hashem was giving her more than her share. As Rashi explains, Leah saw b’Ruach HaKodesh, with Divine Inspiration, that Yaakov Avinu would father twelve sons. Since he had four wives, she conjectured that each would be blessed with three sons. Upon giving birth to her fourth son, she was overjoyed with the realization that she had received more than her share. In the Talmud Berachos 7b, Chazal declare that, “From the time of Creation, there was no one who praised…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5760

“Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and went toward Charan.” (28:10)

In the previous parsha, Parashas Toldos, the Torah records Yitzchak’s and Rivkah’s instructions to Yaakov to leave Beer Sheva in search of a wife. Yaakov Avinu listened to his parents and proceeded to leave. The last pasuk in the parsha tells us about Eisav’s quest for a wife, a search that led him to Yishmael, whose daughter he married. The Torah now reverts to telling us about Yaakov’s journey, his initial encounter with Rachel and the travail that ensued prior to and during their eventual marriage. The commentators wonder why Eisav’s marriage is placed in the midst of the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5760

“And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward.” (28:12)

It is interesting to note that the vision of a ladder whose legs are on the ground, while the top reaches the heavens, occurred only to Yaakov and not to the preceding Patriarchs, Avraham and Yitzchak. Horav Shlomo Margolis, Shlita, attributes this phenomenon to the different lives that they lived. Avraham initiated Tefillas Shacharis, the morning prayer. He understood that life has its challenges, its trials and travail. The sun shone for him. He succeeded in life, overcoming whatever challenges may have stood in his way. He was accepted by those around him. Indeed, he was recognized as G-d’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5761

“And it was in the morning, and behold- it was Leah!” (29:25)

Lavan lived up to his reputation as a corrupt, duplicitous miscreant. Yaakov and Rachel were prepared for Lavan’s certain deception. They, therefore, arranged a secret signal between them. Upon seeing that her sister, Leah, was about to be substituted for her, Rachel decided to give Leah the pre-determined sign, in order not to cause her embarrassment. Horav Aharon Kotler, z.l., observes that had it not been Hashem’s will that Leah marry Yaakov, then all of Lavan’s “shtick,” contrivances, would have been futile. One should not think that it was Lavan’s dishonesty, and Rachel’s magnanimous gesture, that brought about the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5761

“Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and went toward Charan.” (28:10)

In the previous parsha, Parashas Toldos, the Torah records Yitzchak’s and Rivkah’s instructions to Yaakov to leave Beer Sheva in search of a wife. Yaakov Avinu listened to his parents and proceeded to leave. The last pasuk in the parsha tells us about Eisav’s quest for a wife, a search that led him to Yishmael, whose daughter he married. The Torah now reverts to telling us about Yaakov’s journey, his initial encounter with Rachel and the travail that ensued prior to and during their eventual marriage. The commentators wonder why Eisav’s marriage is placed in the midst of the…

Home -> 5761 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5761

“And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward.” (28:12)

It is interesting to note that the vision of a ladder whose legs are on the ground, while the top reaches the heavens, occurred only to Yaakov and not to the preceding Patriarchs, Avraham and Yitzchak. Horav Shlomo Margolis, Shlita, attributes this phenomenon to the different lives that they lived. Avraham initiated Tefillas Shacharis, the morning prayer. He understood that life has its challenges, its trials and travail. The sun shone for him. He succeeded in life, overcoming whatever challenges may have stood in his way. He was accepted by those around him. Indeed, he was recognized as G-d’s…

Home -> 5760 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5760

“And it was in the morning, and behold- it was Leah!” (29:25)

Lavan lived up to his reputation as a corrupt, duplicitous miscreant. Yaakov and Rachel were prepared for Lavan’s certain deception. They, therefore, arranged a secret signal between them. Upon seeing that her sister, Leah, was about to be substituted for her, Rachel decided to give Leah the pre-determined sign, in order not to cause her embarrassment. Horav Aharon Kotler, z.l., observes that had it not been Hashem’s will that Leah marry Yaakov, then all of Lavan’s “shtick,” contrivances, would have been futile. One should not think that it was Lavan’s dishonesty, and Rachel’s magnanimous gesture, that brought about the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5759

He encountered the place and spent the night there because the sun had set. (28:11)

Chazal credit Yaakov Avinu with introducing Tefillas Arvis. Thus, the word “vayifga,” which is usually translated as “he encountered,” means, “and he prayed.” Prayer is, in essence, an encounter with the Almighty. The Patriarchs initiated each of the daily tefillos. Regarding Avraham Avinu, who originated Tefillas Shacharis, the Torah says, “Avraham rose early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Hashem” (Bereishis 19:27). The Torah uses the word, “amidah,” standing, regarding Avraham. In contrast, pegiah, encounter, is used in regard to Yaakov. Finally, the word, “sichah,” – “Yitzchak went out to supplicate (lasuach) in the field,”…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5759

He took from the stones of the place, which he arranged around his head. (28:11)

In the Midrash, Chazal render this pasuk to mean that Yaakov Avinu took several stones, which began “quarrelling,” each one vying for the tzaddik to rest his head on it. “Alai yaniach tzaddik es rosho,” “Upon me shall this tzaddik rest his head.” Noticing this arguement, Hashem combined them all into one stone upon which Yaakov would rest. Horav Zaidel Epstein, Shlita, derives a profound lesson from here. Jewish tradition disapproves of machlokes, conflict, regardless of its goal, even if the dispute is about upon which stone the tzaddik should rest his head. As long as the “alai“, “me”, is…

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“Hashem saw that Leah was unloved…but Rachel remained barren.” (29:31)

“This time I will gratefully praise Hashem”; therefore she called his name Yehudah.” (29:35)

“Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and went toward Charan.” (28:10)

“And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward.” (28:12)

“And it was in the morning, and behold- it was Leah!” (29:25)

“Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and went toward Charan.” (28:10)

“And he dreamt, and behold! A ladder was set earthward and its top reached heavenward.” (28:12)

“And it was in the morning, and behold- it was Leah!” (29:25)

He encountered the place and spent the night there because the sun had set. (28:11)

He took from the stones of the place, which he arranged around his head. (28:11)

YEARS

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