Vayishlach – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758, Vayeilech

I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

Considering Moshe Rabbeinu’s advanced age, one would expect that his inability to execute the demands of his office physically would impede him from fulfilling his leadership role. But Moshe, however, asserted that “Hashem has said to me, You shall not cross this Yarden.” According to human nature, one undertakes to perform an endeavor, and “afterwards” he waits to see if Hashem is pleased with his plans. This approach is confirmed by the actions of tzaddikim who are mishtadel, endeavor, to do they can, rather than to wait passively for Divine intervention to solve every problem. Yaakov Avinu indicated to his…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758

I sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

The numerical equivalent of “h,rd“, “garti” is 613, or dhr,, taryag, which is the number of mitzvos the Jew is commanded to observe. Thus, the Midrash interprets Yaakov’s words to mean, “Although I have sojourned with Lavan, I have observed the 613 mitzvos, and I have not learned from his evil ways.” Yaakov was affirming his righteousness, despite his exposure to Eisav’s evil environment. We can derive an important lesson from this pasuk. Yaakov Avinu stated emphatically that he had observed all 613 mitzvos. Yet, he also asserts that he had not been influenced by Lavan’s evil ways. Is it…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758

And Yaakov was greatly afraid and was distressed. (32:8)

When Yaakov heard that Eisav was coming towards him with an army of four hundred men, he was filled with anxiety and fear. Why? What caused Yaakov to be overcome with fear? Did not Hashem assure him that He would be with him and protect him? Did Yaakov not have faith in the Almighty? Rashi explains that Yaakov’s fear resulted from an overriding concern that he had sinned, thereby causing Hashem to rescind His favor. Twenty two years in the evil environment of Lavan affected him. While it did not influence Yaakov, he still feared that he was no…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758

Their flocks, their cattle, their donkeys, whatever was in the town and whatever was in the field, they took. (34:28)

The behavior of Bnei Yaakov begs explanation. Why did they take the cattle and sheep? Let us conjecture that they were justified in killing Shechem and Chamor for their immoral treatment of Dinah. Perhaps they were compelled to kill the men of Shechem for fear that they would seek vengeance. What, however, would justify pillaging their livestock? This act would cause people to think that their motivation for killing was really not sincere. Horav Elchanan Sorotzkin, zl, feels that Bnei Yaakov’s actions regarding the livestock communicates a significant message regarding the underlying reason for Shechem and Chamor’s original offer to…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayishlach, 5758

And Timna was a concubine to Elifaz, son of Eisav, and she bore Amalek to Elifaz. (36:12)

Rashi cites the Talmud Sanhedrin 99b which explains the Torah’s emphasis on Timna. Avraham Avinu was held in such esteem that people were eager to associate in any way with his descendants. Timna was the daughter of nobility; yet when she came to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov to convert, she was not accepted. Since she was so anxious to marry a descendent of Avraham, she said to Elifaz, Eisav’s son, “If I may not become your wife, at least let me be your concubine.” This union produced our archenemy–Amalek. The commentators are all troubled by the Patriarchs’ reaction to Timna’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

The Zohar Ha’Kadosh interprets the “kaf yerech” as “tamchin do’oraisa,” referring to those who support Torah. The Chafetz Chaim explains that Eisav’s angel disputed Yaakov’s claim to the blessings, offering the argument that Eisav had as much right to the blessings as Yaakov did. Yaakov retorted that his descendants would one day receive the Torah to study. Although Eisav’s angel could not impugn this rationale, he nevertheless attempted to hurt Yaakov. He succeeded in weakening the financial support for Torah. In the “Ikvasa d’Meshicha,” the period of time close to the advent of Moshiach, Torah supporters will seek excuses to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“Therefore the Bnei Yisrael are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip socket… because he (the angel) struck Yaakov’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew.” (32:33)

Rashi attributes the name given by the Torah to the sciatic nerve, Gid Hanashe, to the fact that the nerve was “nash’e,” “jumped” out of its place. When the angel struck Yaakov, he dislocated the sciatic nerve. Accordingly, the word nashe is defined as being removed from its original or usual place. Another meaning can be applied to the word “nash’e,” which sheds light upon the actual damage that resulted when the angel struck Yaakov. Horav Avigdor Tzvi Nebentzhal, Shlita, cites the pasuk in Parashas Mikeitz (Bereishis 41:51) in which Yosef, upon naming his son Menashe, says, ki nashani elokim…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And he (Yaakov) built himself a house and for his livestock he made shelter; he therefore called the name of the place Succos.” (33:17)

One would think that when Yaakov assigned a name to a place, he would use a reason more meaningful than the fact that it had served as a shelter for livestock. The Ohr Ha’Chaim suggests that this was probably the first time anyone had cared for animals to the point that shelter was provided for them. This public display of compassion for animals was viewed as sufficient reason for naming the place Succos. Hence, people would take note and themselves show concern for animals. Horav Simcha Zissel Broide, Shlita, takes a novel approach towards understanding Yaakov’s reasoning. The pasuk states…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5757

“And Eisav took his wives… and all the members of his household… and went to a land because of Yaakov his brother.” (36:6)

The commentators suggest a number of reasons that Eisav suddenly decided to separate from Yaakov. Some of them posit that pure greed motivated this decision. He felt the land could not support him in the style to which he had become accustomed. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, contends that Eisav’s decision was a pragmatic one; he could not tolerate Yaakov’s presence. Despite their newfound relationship, the moral gulf that existed between them was loathsome for Eisav. He simply could not cope with his brother’s lifestyle. These various explanations notwithstanding, we still must address the reason that Eisav left. Why could he…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5756

“So you shall say unto my master Eisav, ‘So says your servant Yaakov, I have sojourned with Lavan and stayed until now.” (32:5)

Rashi explains that the numerical equivalent of the word h,rd is 613, which corresponds to the number of mitzvos in the Torah. Yaakov was proudly relating to Eisav that during his stay with Lavan he kept the entire Torah. His sojourn in the harmful environment of the crooked Lavan had no adverse spiritual effect upon him. A number of issues regarding Yaakov’s dialogue with Eisav should be addressed. First, what did Yaakov imply with his assertion, “And (I) stayed until now”? Did he owe Eisav an excuse for returning so late? Is Eisav his “brother’s keeper” that he must be…

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I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, “You shall not cross this Yarden.” (31:1)

I sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

And Yaakov was greatly afraid and was distressed. (32:8)

Their flocks, their cattle, their donkeys, whatever was in the town and whatever was in the field, they took. (34:28)

And Timna was a concubine to Elifaz, son of Eisav, and she bore Amalek to Elifaz. (36:12)

“And he struck the socket of his hip, and Yaakov’s hip socket was dislocated.” (32:27)

“Therefore the Bnei Yisrael are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip socket… because he (the angel) struck Yaakov’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew.” (32:33)

“And he (Yaakov) built himself a house and for his livestock he made shelter; he therefore called the name of the place Succos.” (33:17)

“And Eisav took his wives… and all the members of his household… and went to a land because of Yaakov his brother.” (36:6)

“So you shall say unto my master Eisav, ‘So says your servant Yaakov, I have sojourned with Lavan and stayed until now.” (32:5)

YEARS

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