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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Vayigash

And he saw the wagons that Yosef had sent to transport him, then the spirit of Yaakov, their father was revived. (45:27)

In the previous pesukim, whenever Yaakov Avinu’s name is mentioned, his relationship to  his  sons  is  not indicated.  Here,  in  denoting  his  “revival,”  the  Torah  insists o underscoring that Yaakov avihem, “their father” became revived. What is the connection and significance of his being their forebear to his revival? Horav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Shlita, explains this based upon a principle quoted from his father Horav Shneuer Kotler, zl. The Rosh Yeshivah focuses on the opening Mishnah of Pirkei Avos, in which the Tanna commences his treatise on ethics by first introducing the Mesorah, transmission, of Torah from Hashem to Moshe and…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5771, Vayigash

“The days of the years of my sojourns have been a hundred and thirty years. Few and bad have been the days of the years of my life.” (47:9)

Daas Zekeinim m’Baalei HaTosfos quotes the Mishnah that says Yaakov Avinu was punished for making the above statement, condemning the years of his life as being “few and bad.” As a result of the Patriarch’s “complaint,” his life was shortened thirty-three years, which coincides with the thirty-three words (Pesukim 8-9) expressing this. The question is obvious and glaring: How could Yaakov have made such a statement? The Patriarch was an individual who served the Almighty with all of his heart and soul. How could he declare that his years were “few and bad”? Furthermore, to have made such a statement…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, Vayigash

And Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?” (45:3)

  Yosef was revealing his true identity to his brothers. The first question that he asked after he identified himself was, “Ha’ode avi chai?”, “Is my father still alive?” One wonders at the timing of this question. During the time that Yosef’s brothers appeared before him, they mentioned their elderly father several times. Why did Yosef suddenly ask a question whose answer was obvious? Each in his own way, the commentators suggest an interpretation of Yosef’s question. In his popular “Maggid” series, Rabbi Paysach Krohn relates a poignant story that offers a new meaning to the question, “Is my father…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, Vayigash

“And Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef” … But his brothers could not answer him because they felt disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

In addressing the concept of tochachah, rebuke, the Midrash states, “Woe to each one of us on the Day of Judgment, woe to each one of us on the Day of Reproof.” Yosef was the youngest of the tribes, but when he said, “I am Yosef,” the brothers were overcome with shame at their misdeeds. When Hashem reveals Himself to each one of us announcing, “I am Hashem,” we will certainly be unable to respond as a result of our humiliation. The words, “to each one of us,” which in the vernacular of the Midrash is rendered, “l’fi mah shehu”…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, Vayigash

“So Yisrael set out with all he had and he came to Beer-Sheva.” (46:1)

Yaakov Avinu was on his way to Egypt to finally be reunited with his long lost son, Yosef. Why did he stop in Beer- Sheva?  It  should not normally have been a part of  his itinerary. The Midrash replies that Yaakov stopped to cut down cedar trees that had originally been planted by Avraham Avinu. Yaakov knew that one day Klal Yisrael would be liberated from Egypt, and they would build a Mishkan, Sanctuary, in the desert. These cedar trees would serve as the lumber for the Mishkan. What is the significance of these cedar trees and why was it…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5770

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5770, Vayigash

“All the souls coming with Yaakov to Egypt.” (46:26)

Rashi observes that although Yaakov had seventy family members, the Torah nonetheless refers to them as “nefesh,” soul, in the singular. He attributes this to the fact that they all worshipped one G-d. Thus, they collectively became one unit. Horav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Shlita, asks why in the brachah of “Borei Nefashos” do we begin with the plural, “Nefashos rabos, v’chesronan,” “Who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies,” and close with “l’hachayos bahem nefesh kol chai,” “with which to maintain the life of every being,” in the singular? He explains that Klal Yisrael remains one – united under Hashem Yisborach. Each…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5769, Vayigash

And Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?” (45:3)

  Yosef was revealing his true identity to his brothers. The first question that he asked after he identified himself was, “Ha’ode avi chai?”, “Is my father still alive?” One wonders at the timing of this question. During the time that Yosef’s brothers appeared before him, they mentioned their elderly father several times. Why did Yosef suddenly ask a question whose answer was obvious? Each in his own way, the commentators suggest an interpretation of Yosef’s question. In his popular “Maggid” series, Rabbi Paysach Krohn relates a poignant story that offers a new meaning to the question, “Is my father…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayigash -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5769, Vayigash

“And Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef” … But his brothers could not answer him because they felt disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

In addressing the concept of tochachah, rebuke, the Midrash states, “Woe to each one of us on the Day of Judgment, woe to each one of us on the Day of Reproof.” Yosef was the youngest of the tribes, but when he said, “I am Yosef,” the brothers were overcome with shame at their misdeeds. When Hashem reveals Himself to each one of us announcing, “I am Hashem,” we will certainly be unable to respond as a result of our humiliation. The words, “to each one of us,” which in the vernacular of the Midrash is rendered, “l’fi mah shehu”…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayigash -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5769, Vayigash

“So Yisrael set out with all he had and he came to Beer-Sheva.” (46:1)

Yaakov Avinu was on his way to Egypt to finally be reunited with his long lost son, Yosef. Why did he stop in Beer- Sheva?  It  should not normally have been a part of  his itinerary. The Midrash replies that Yaakov stopped to cut down cedar trees that had originally been planted by Avraham Avinu. Yaakov knew that one day Klal Yisrael would be liberated from Egypt, and they would build a Mishkan, Sanctuary, in the desert. These cedar trees would serve as the lumber for the Mishkan. What is the significance of these cedar trees and why was it…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayigash -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5769, Vayigash

“All the souls coming with Yaakov to Egypt.” (46:26)

Rashi observes that although Yaakov had seventy family members, the Torah nonetheless refers to them as “nefesh,” soul, in the singular. He attributes this to the fact that they all worshipped one G-d. Thus, they collectively became one unit. Horav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Shlita, asks why in the brachah of “Borei Nefashos” do we begin with the plural, “Nefashos rabos, v’chesronan,” “Who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies,” and close with “l’hachayos bahem nefesh kol chai,” “with which to maintain the life of every being,” in the singular? He explains that Klal Yisrael remains one – united under Hashem Yisborach. Each…

Continue Reading

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