Vayeitzei – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

“Then Yaakov took a vow, saying, ‘If Hashem will be with me, and guard me on this path…'” (28:20)

Yaakov seems to be asking Hashem for something that Hashem had already granted him. Hashem had previously told Yaakov, “I will not forsake you.” What compelled Yaakov to question his future relationship with Hashem? Horav Nissan Ha’Meiri, Shlita, suggests that Yaakov was asking that Hashem grant him and his descendents the resolve to maintain perspective of the true source of blessing. Regrettably, when one falls on “tough” times, he tends to blame his lamentable state upon Hashem. When the situation changes and he is blessed with success, he attributes this newfound good fortune to his own wisdom and capabilities. In…

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“She said, ‘Here is my maid Bilhah, live with her, so that she may bear upon my knees and I too may be built up through her.” (30:3)

The precedent for Rochel giving her maidservant, Bilhah, to Yaakov for the specific purpose of having a child was set by Sarah Imeinu, who gave Hagar to Avraham. We must endeavor to understand what there is about transferring one’s maidservant to her husband for the purpose of childbearing that increases one’s “chances” of being blessed with a child. Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, responds by first citing a Midrash, which recounts the dialogue between Michal bas Shaul and David Ha’melech. Michal criticized David Ha’melech for the manner in which he expressed his joy when the Aron Ha’Kodesh was brought through the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

Rashi states that it was not necessary for the Torah to mention Yaakov’s departure. It would have been quite sufficient to state his intended destination. The Torah is emphasizing an important point – that the departure of a tzaddik, righteous person, makes an impression upon the entire community. During the time that a tzaddik resides in a city/community, he constitutes its glory, its splendor and its crown. When he departs, however, these noble attributes are sorely lacking in the community. Consequently, his departure creates a significant void in the community. Many lessons can be derived from Rashi regarding the character…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

Rashi notes the Torah‘s emphasis upon Yaakov’s departure. He explains that a tzaddik’s departure from a community creates a noticeable impact, for he is the glory, splendor and crown of a community. We may wonder why the Torah chooses to emphasize the tzaddik’s positive influence upon a community only after he has left. Doesn’t his stay within the community also create its glory and splendor? Responding to this question, Horav Elchanan Sorotzkin z.l. opines that the Torah is regrettably alluding to the obvious; it is only when a tzaddik leaves the community that people appreciate his contribution. On the contrary,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

Yaakov Avinu’s dream contains profound implications which express the Torah’s perspective on life. The ladder serves an important purpose. The angels either ascend to Heaven or descend to the earth. Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l., suggests that this is the nature of Am Yisrael. The Talmud in Megillah 16a states, “This nation (Am Yisrael) is compared to dust and also to stars. When they descend (spiritually) they descend to the dust, and when they ascend, they can reach the stars.” Moreover, the Midrash states concerning this ladder, “Hashem showed Yaakov the meaning of “a ladder set up on the earth” as…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

Yaakov did what few people ever do. He literally slaved for fourteen years to acquire his wives and, ultimately, his children. He never broke down in desperation or depression. He kept on going, resolutely warding off the temptations of his environment. He never deferred to deep-seated anger at his father-in-law for cheating him. He raised a decent family and infused in them a nobility of spirit and pride in being the sons of Yaakov, the future progenitors of Am Yisrael. The interesting point to note is that when it was all over and Yaakov was preparing to leave, with what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, notes that immediately upon seeing that Lavan was chasing him, Yaakov sought to blame no one but his own spiritual failing. This is the hallmark of a tzaddik. When circumstances change for the bad tzaddikim instantly introspect, seeking to find fault in their own inadequacies. The simple way out is the one employed by most of us – rationalize and justify, but by all means blame it on something or someone other than yourself. This is not the Torah way. Every situation we are confronted with is a response to something we have done. Subsequently when…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And he took from the stones of the place and placed them at his head, and he lay down to sleep there” (28:11)

Rashi cites the Talmud in Chullin 91a which states that the twelve stones began arguing with each other, each urging Yaakov to rest his head upon it. Hashem immediately merged them all into one large stone. The Gerer Rebbe (R.’A.M.), z.l., questions this consolidation. Yaakov could rest his head upon only one area of the stone. He insightfully suggests that when the stones merged, they blended into one stone with such harmony that they were no longer distinguishable from one another. Every aspect of the consolidated stone was a fusion of all the stones together. This is the essence of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

After a long journey, Yaakov Avinu finally arrived in Padan Aram and encountered his future wife, Rachel. One would expect Yaakov to have expressed profound joy at the momentous occasion of this first meeting. Instead of rejoicing, however, Yaakov cried. Rashi explains that Yaakov cried because he was grieved that he came to Rachel empty-handed. In contrast, his father, Yitzchak, had been sent with jewelry to meet his future wife, Rivkah. Yaakov’s sudden poverty is attributed to an unusual altercation between Yaakov and Elifaz, Eisav’s son. When Yaakov ran from his parents’ home, he narrowly escaped the venomous wrath of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And he saw a well in a field… and a great stone was on the mouth (top) of the well… and he rolled the stone from the top of the well.” (29:2-10)

The Torah emphasizes Yaakov’s superhuman physical strength by relating that he was able to roll the stone off the top of the well. Rashi elaborates on this theme by stating that the Torah notes Yaakov’s physical strength. It seems peculiar that the Torah would find it necessary to stress such a mundane trait. Is Yaakov a secular hero that his physical strength must be exalted? Is one’s personality and character to be measured by his physical prowess? Siach Mordechai answers that obviously, characterizing someone according to his physical ability is both inaccurate and inappropriate. The importance of one’s physical ability…

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“Then Yaakov took a vow, saying, ‘If Hashem will be with me, and guard me on this path…'” (28:20)

“She said, ‘Here is my maid Bilhah, live with her, so that she may bear upon my knees and I too may be built up through her.” (30:3)

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

“And he took from the stones of the place and placed them at his head, and he lay down to sleep there” (28:11)

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

“And he saw a well in a field… and a great stone was on the mouth (top) of the well… and he rolled the stone from the top of the well.” (29:2-10)

YEARS

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