5786 – Peninim on the Torah

ויהיו חיי שרה ... ותמת שרה בקרית ארבע הוא חברון בארץ כנען

Sarah’s lifetime was… Sarah died in Kiryas Arba which is Chevron in the land of Canaan. (23:1,2)

It is safe to say that Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu were the first great Jewish parents. As such, the manner in which they raised Yitzchak (Avinu) should serve as a guiding light for us. Every detail of their parenting was rooted in emunah and imbuing that faith into their only son. The discipline and love were real. They were not trying to impress anyone. Their efforts were foundational for setting up the principles upon which we – their descendants—live. Their sacrifices were unique in that they were the first people of whom Hashem demanded sacrifice. Thus, they set the…

Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספוד לשרה ולבכותה

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

The passing of a great Torah giant is a tragedy that reverberates across time. It is a loss not only for the present generation, but also weighs heavily on future inspiration: what would have been; who could have grown; the many students who could have been guided and are now lost in his passing. His teachings, however, his manuscripts and lessons transcribed by his students, keep him alive, as his voice resonates in their ears. Future generations will benefit. Indeed, the rebbe lives on in the students he created and in the ones who, through his sifsosav dov’evos be’kever, lips…

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ברוך ד' אלוקי אדוני אברהם אשר לא עזב חסדו ואמתו מעם אדוני

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of my master, Avraham, who did not abandon His kindness and truth with my master. (24:27)

Eliezer’s declaration of gratitude concerning the chesed, kindness, he received is understandable. He arrived in Aram Naharaim for the purpose of finding a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, and he immediately met Rivkah, the perfect candidate. Where does emes, truth, enter into the equation? Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, zl, explains that, indeed, the concept of chesed is complex. It is possible that a person who offers assistance possesses a kind and generous heart. It is also possible, however, that this person, despite all his kindness, does not. For example, a person may demonstrate kindness which actually stems from egotism. This type…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeira

ויעש אברהם משתה גדול ביום הגמל יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Avraham made a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned. (21:18)

Tosfos (Shabbos 130A) teach that the Hebrew word, higamel, translated as “weaned,” can be broken up to read “was circumcised on the eighth day.” Higamel is comprised of four letters: hay, gimmel, mem, lamed. The first two letters – hay, gimmel – are read separately, and their gematriya, numerical equivalent, which is eight,is duly noted. The second two letters – mem, lamed – spell mal, which means circumcise. Thus, this pasuk can be read as, “On the eighth day, when Avraham Avinu circumcised Yitzchak, he made a festive celebration.” Tosfos derive from here that on the eighth day of his…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeira

קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

Akeidas Yitzchak, binding of Yitzchak, is considered Avraham Avinu’s tenth and most challenging trial. This test was to catapult our Patriarch to the apex of avodas ha’Borei, service to the Creator. We wonder if the tenth trial was that difficult, after he had already passed nine earlier trials, with each success refining and enhancing Avraham’s level of mesiras nefesh. For instance, if a person must scale a large mountain, with the last one hundred feet fraught with danger, can we say that it is the same as the fellow who stands at the foot of the mountain prepared to climb? …

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אל ירע בעיניך על הנער

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Be not distressed over the youth. (21:12)

Avraham Avinu experienced ten trials which he successfully passed, elevating himself to Patriarchal status. While focus is placed primarily on the first and tenth, the ninth, which meant sending Yishmael from his home, is glossed over. This is enigmatic, since the nature of the nisyonos, trials, becomes more challenging as they increase in sequence. Sarah Imeinu felt that YIshmael would have an adverse effect on Yitzchak (Avinu), so she demanded that Avraham send him and his mother from their home. Understandably, this was a difficult demand that she placed on Avraham. Hashem agreed with Sarah, and our Patriarch set about…

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קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

Much has been written concerning Akeidas Yitzchak, the Binding of Yitzchak. It was Avraham Avinu’s final test, yet it is called Akeidas Yitzchak. Undoubtedly, Avraham Avinu telling his son that he had to relinquish his life for Hashem was an extremely demanding and challenging request. Yitzchak’s submission to his father’s request represents what I would call turbulent submission. This is especially true, considering that it was a father talking to a son, unlike concerning Avraham, when it was Hashem talking to a father. Can we imagine the heart-wrenching conflict that Avraham, the Amud HaChesed, Pillar of Kindness and compassion, experienced…

Home -> 5786 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך מארצך ....ויבא הפליט ויגד לאברהם העברי

Sruly Schnair In Lech Lecha, 5786

Go for yourself from your land. (12:1)….Then there came (the fugitive) and told Avram, the Ivri. (14:13)

When the Torah introduces Noach, it adds the word b’dorosav, in his generations. Chazal teach that this implies something special/specific about Noach’s righteousness is in comparison to the others in regard to his generation. Some sages view this in his praise, i.e. he was a tzadik in such a morally profligate generation. Had he lived in Avraham Avinu’s time, he would have been even more pious. Others contend that Noach’s ability to rise above his generation was specifically because the society was so corrupt. Indeed, had he lived in Avraham’s generation, he would not have risen to such spiritual stature. …

Home -> 5786 -> Lech Lecha

ואנשי סדם רעים וחטאים לד' מאד

Sruly Schnair In Lech Lecha, 5786

Now the people of Sodom were wicked and sinful toward Hashem exceedingly. (13:13)

The sins of the people of Sodom serve as the paradigm of evil and iniquity. Theirs was the only city that was totally obliterated, indicating that their evil was not only reprehensible, it was unpardonable. What was their primary sin? I emphasize “primary,” because, once they fell into the clutches of sin, everything fell apart. Their entire moral compass was no longer pointed in the right direction. One would think that, in addition to their sinful behavior vis-à-vis Hashem (they were rai’im v’chataim l’Hashem me’od – exceedingly wicked and sinful toward Hashem), they needed no added sins. The Navi (Yechezkel…

Home -> 5786 -> Lech Lecha

ותעניה שרי ותברח מפניה

Sruly Schnair In Lech Lecha, 5786

And Sarai dealt harshly with her. (16:6)

Horav Mordechai Gifter, zl, cites Targum Yonasan who teaches that Sarah Imeinu dealt harshly with Hagar after Avraham Avinu freed her as a slave. She was a giyores, convert, who was betrothed to our Patriarch. How was Sarah permitted to treat her in such a manner? Targum Yonasan himself explains our Matriarch’s rationale. Hagar was the daughter of Pharaoh who was the son of Nimrod, the cruel idolator who viciously sentenced Avraham to death in the fiery furnace of Uhr Kasdim. Hagar herself had acted disrespectfully toward Sarah, which was an indication that the impure character traits handed down to…

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ויהיו חיי שרה ... ותמת שרה בקרית ארבע הוא חברון בארץ כנען

Sarah’s lifetime was… Sarah died in Kiryas Arba which is Chevron in the land of Canaan. (23:1,2)

ויבא אברהם לספוד לשרה ולבכותה

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

ברוך ד' אלוקי אדוני אברהם אשר לא עזב חסדו ואמתו מעם אדוני

Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of my master, Avraham, who did not abandon His kindness and truth with my master. (24:27)

ויעש אברהם משתה גדול ביום הגמל יצחק

Avraham made a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned. (21:18)

קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

אל ירע בעיניך על הנער

Be not distressed over the youth. (21:12)

קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

לך לך מארצך ....ויבא הפליט ויגד לאברהם העברי

Go for yourself from your land. (12:1)….Then there came (the fugitive) and told Avram, the Ivri. (14:13)

ואנשי סדם רעים וחטאים לד' מאד

Now the people of Sodom were wicked and sinful toward Hashem exceedingly. (13:13)

ותעניה שרי ותברח מפניה

And Sarai dealt harshly with her. (16:6)

YEARS

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