Vayeitzei – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

In his second interpretation of this pasuk, Rashi cites the Talmud in Chullin 91, which relates that Yaakov traveled to Charan to find a wife, according to his parents’ request. After a long journey, he reached Charan. When he arrived, he realized that he had passed by Har Ha’Moriah without having stopped to pray there. He was shocked at his oversight. How could he have passed the place where his father and grandfather used to say their tefillos and not take advantage of the opportunity to do the same? He immediately turned around and began the journey all the way…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

In his commentary on this pasuk, Ibn Ezra makes a compelling statement. He interprets Leah’s “gratitude” as if she were saying, “I have had four sons. I, therefore, thank Hashem, for I want no more.” It is as if she were saying, “I have enough; Hashem has been very kind. I am now grateful for everything that He has given me.” Therefore she stopped giving birth. Horav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, infers from Ibn Ezra that Leah caused her own inability to bear additional children. She claimed that she had had enough. Thus, she stopped conceiving and giving birth. Whether…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

Rachel sat upon Lavan’s idols, which she had stolen, in an attempt to hide them. Lavan did not ask her to rise when she explained to him that the way of women was upon her. The Zohar Ha’kadosh, however, reveals to us an entirely new explanation for Rachel’s actions. She sat upon the idols because of her utter contempt for them. The teraphim were like many of the other idols which also had the ability to serve as mediums for divining the future. Rachel stole the teraphim, so that Lavan could not use them to find out where Yaakov…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And he dreamt, and behold a ladder was set earthward… and behold angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

The story of Yaakov Avinu’s dream captivates the mind of every Chumash student. Indeed, it has been the source of countless commentaries. As he flees from his brother Eisav, Yaakov stops enroute to lie down. Resting, he falls asleep and has a dream in which he sees Heavenly angels “going up and down” a ladder which stretches from Heaven to earth. At first glance, something seems wrong with this dream. One would expect Heavenly angels to first descend from Heaven and then go up again. Why do they “start” their journey on earth and go upward? Horav Moshe Swift, zl,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And I will return to my father’s home in peace; there Hashem will be my G-d.” (28:21)

Rashi interprets this pasuk in the sense that Yaakov Avinu was concerned that there should be no blemish on his descendants. Yaakov did not want to be saved from death at the hands of his brother, Eisav, only to have his offspring doomed to assimilation. The Jew has always concerned himself with his children’s future. The “future” to which Yaakov was referring was his children’s spiritual future. He certainly was anxious regarding their physical and financial security, but that was not his prime concern. The security of financial success was secondary to the Patriarch who was to build Klal Yisrael….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And in the morning, (he saw) she was Leah.” (29:25)

At night Yaakov was not aware that it was Leah with whom he had been united in marriage. Indeed, as Rashi comments, Yaakov had prearranged signals with Rachel for their wedding night. When Rachel saw, however, that Leah was being substituted for her, she told her sister the signs – out of concern for Leah’s potential humiliation. Rachel’s supreme act of abrogation is considered of such import that it serves as eternal merit for her descendants. Chazal relate that when the first Bais Ha’Mikdash was destroyed and the Jewish people were taken into captivity, the Patriarchs and Moshe intervened from…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And he (Yaakov) also loved Rachel, more than Leah.” (29:30)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, notes the significance of the fact that Klal Yisrael was uniquely formed from two mothers who differed as much in character as in appearance. Leah was the one who felt herself placed somewhat in the background. Yet, she was chosen by Hashem to be the principal ancestress of His people. Her hope was to succeed in receiving mutual love from her husband, by virtue of being the requiem wife and mother. Always happy, she calmly accepted the vicissitudes of life’s challenges. With every child, she hoped to add to the foundation of love, admiration and respect…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5757

“And she conceived again and bore a son and she said ‘This time I thank Hahsem,’ therefore she called his name Yehudah.” (29:35)

The Talmud Brachos 7b comments that from the beginning of Creation there had never been a person who thanked Hashem until Leah. Leah was the originator of the “official” sense of gratitude one should express for the good Hahsem accords us. This does not seem consistent with the text in Parashas Chayei Sarah (4:52), where we note that upon securing Rivkah as a mate for Yitzchak, Eliezer bowed down in recognition to Hashem for providing Rivkah for Yitzchak. Why do Chazal attribute the distinction to Leah of being the first to offer gratitude? Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, distinguishes between bowing…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeitzei, 5756

“And he took from the stones of the place.” (28:11)

The Midrash comments that Yaakov took twelve stones, symbolizing the nation that he would soon establish. The twelve stones represented the twelve tribes which were to coalesce into a unified nation. Yaakov said, “I knew that a great nation would be established. Avraham did not establish it and neither did my father, Yitzchak. If these twelve stones meld together to become one, then it is a sign that I will be the one who will establish this great nation.” Yaakov Avinu’s simile is enigmatic. If one person, Yaakov, were to establish a nation via the birth of twelve tribes, then…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeitzei, 5756

“And He called the name of that place Bais El.” (28:19)

The name Bais El means “the house of G-d.” It was the m’kom Ha’Mikdash, the designated place for the Bais Ha’Mikdash. The Midrash notes the disparity between the way each one of the Avos, Patriarchs, expressed themselves in regard to this special “place”. Avraham Avinu referred to it as the “Har,” mountain; Yitzchak Avinu referred to it as Sadeh, field, while Yaakov referred to it as “Bais,” house. What perspective regarding this holy center and its function is reflected by these disparate terms? Horav Mordechai Ilan, z.l., suggests two approaches towards understanding these metaphors. In his first explanation, he focuses…

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And he became frightened and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d.” (28:17)

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

“And he dreamt, and behold a ladder was set earthward… and behold angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

“And I will return to my father’s home in peace; there Hashem will be my G-d.” (28:21)

“And in the morning, (he saw) she was Leah.” (29:25)

“And he (Yaakov) also loved Rachel, more than Leah.” (29:30)

“And she conceived again and bore a son and she said ‘This time I thank Hahsem,’ therefore she called his name Yehudah.” (29:35)

“And he took from the stones of the place.” (28:11)

“And He called the name of that place Bais El.” (28:19)

YEARS

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