Peninim on the Torah – Page 166 – Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

ויברך יעקב את פרעה

And Yaakov blessed Pharaoh. (47:7)

The blessing that Yaakov Avinu gave to Pharaoh had an enormous effect on Egypt’s agricultural bounty. Indeed, Rashi explains that, following Yaakov’s blessing, the Nile River rose up to “greet” Pharaoh and then irrigated the land. The Satmar Rav, zl, related that, in the twilight of the life of his grandfather, the Yismach Moshe, the heads of the community approached him with a complaint. Apparently, the sage davened privately in a room off of the main bais medrash. This bothered them. They added a few more foolish critiques, which they felt granted them permission to refuse him his meager salary…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5775

ויסע ישראל וכל אשר לו ויבא בארה שבע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayigash

So Yaakov set out with all that he had and he came to Beer-Sheva. (46:1)

The Midrash asks where Yaakov Avinu went. Chazal respond, Lakutz arazim, “To cut down the cedar trees which his grandfather, Avraham Avinu, planted in Beer Sheva.” I have referred to this 0Midrash a number of times, but upon perusing it again, I am struck with two questions. Yaakov is on his way to greet his long-lost son, Yosef, for whom he had mourned for twenty-two years. Can one ever begin to imagine the excitement that coursed through the Patriarch at this time? His son that he had given up for dead was not only alive, but had achieved the epitome…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5775

ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayigash

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

The casual reader of Biblical text, who refuses to look beyond the simple translation and delve into the profundities of the Torah’s interpretation, sees an emotional meeting between two brothers who had been separated for twenty-two years. This might be the case if this were a secular novel and the two heroes were simple people. When an encounter is recorded in the Torah for posterity and the players are Yosef and Binyamin, two members of Shivtei Kah, one must be obtuse to view this meeting superficially. Chazal illuminate the scenario when they tell us that this was no simple emotional…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5775

ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayigash

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

Rashi quotes Chazal (Megillah 16b) who indicate that Yosef and Binyamin wept over the destruction of the Sanctuaries which would be built in their respective portions of Eretz Yisrael. Yosef cried over the two Batei Mikdash which were to be situated in Binyamin’s territory, while Binyamin mourned the Mishkan Shiloh which was to be in Yosef’s portion of Eretz Yisrael. Clearly, the weeping generated by these destructions could have occurred at a different time. Yosef and Binyamin had been separated for twenty-two years. The joy in meeting one another must have been overwhelming. Just talking about the missing years and…

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

There is no question that the yetzer hora, evil inclination, maintains a powerful hold on man. As much as we try to extricate ourselves from its grip, it is very difficult. It is a never-ending battle from which we often do not emerge triumphant. Is there a strategy for overcoming the blandishments offered up by the yetzer hora with which it ensnares us? Why do some fall prey, while others survive the battle, often unscathed? In Mayanei HaChaim, Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, shares with us his secret for success. Lavan was searching for the terafim, his little idols, unaware that…

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

עם אשר תמצא את אלהיך לא יחיה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. (31:32)

Yaakov Avinu made a statement, ascribing a premature demise to the one who had taken Lavan’s terafim, idols. He was unaware that Rachel Imeinu had taken them. As a result of our Patriarch’s words – albeit without malice and unwittingly – he catalyzed a tragic impact on his beloved wife. The Chafetz Chaim derives from here a compelling lesson concerning the gravity of one’s words. Yaakov certainly did not want to harm Rachel, but words, once they exit the mouth, cannot be recanted. They are gone, and, sadly, in this situation, they left an indelible mark. Yaakov was very careful…

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

וישג לבן את יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

Lavan overtook Yaakov. (31:25)

Imagine how Yaakov Avinu must have felt when Lavan caught up with him. He made an attempt to escape. He knew that if Lavan overtook him, he had little chance to remain alive. No one could best Lavan. So Yaakov kept on running, while Lavan continued his pursuit. The Midrash teaches us that, while Yaakov was running from Lavan, unbeknownst to him, another enemy, his brother Eisav, was also in pursuit. Armed to the teeth with four hundred trusted soldiers, Eisav was finally free to rid himself of Yaakov. His brother would pay a hefty price for appropriating the blessings….

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

ויקח מאבני המקום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

He took from the stones of the place. (28:11)

The Midrash disputes how many stones Yaakov Avinu took. Rabbi Yehudah posits that the Patriarch took twelve stones. Rabbi Nechemiah contends that he took three stones. The Rabbanan say that he took only two stones. Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, offers a homiletic understanding of Rabbi Nechemiah’s position that there were three stones. He suggests that “stones” are a metaphor which alludes to the three Patriarchs, who are the foundation stones upon which the world is built. Each Patriarch represents his individual approach towards serving the Divine. Avraham Avinu represents the middah, attribute, of chesed, kindness. Yitzchak Avinu characterizes avodah, service…

Home -> 5775 -> Vayeitzei

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

And Yaakov departed from Beer-Sheva and went to Charan. (28:10)

The Torah underscores Yaakov Avinu’s departure from Beer-Sheva. This emphasis begs elucidation, because we know that Yaakov left Beer-Sheva. It is the place in which he was living. Obviously, when one leaves – he leaves from home. Rashi explains that when a tzaddik, righteous person, leaves a community, it is no ordinary departure. It is a major event, because the community will never be the same. The departure of a tzaddik creates a stir and leaves an impression. When a tzaddik is in a city, he is its glory, its splendor, and its beauty. When he departs, these qualities leave…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5775

וימאן... הן אדני לא ידע אתי מה בבית

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

But he adamantly refused… Look – with me here, my master concerns himself about nothing in the house. (39:8)

The word va’yimaein, “And he (Yosef), adamantly refused,” has above it a shalsheles, which is one of the tamei ha’mikra, cantillation marks, rarely used in the Torah. The few times it is used, it is for the purpose of underscoring something specific. In this case, it notes the degree of refusal manifest by Yosef – adamant. The word shalsheles means chain, which lends itself to an inspirational story that adds commentary to this unique cantillation mark. Our story takes place during the dread Spanish Inquisition, when Jewish life in Spain and Portugal became meaningless, and Jewish blood flowed like water….

You have Successfully Subscribed!

ויברך יעקב את פרעה

And Yaakov blessed Pharaoh. (47:7)

ויסע ישראל וכל אשר לו ויבא בארה שבע

So Yaakov set out with all that he had and he came to Beer-Sheva. (46:1)

ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

עם אשר תמצא את אלהיך לא יחיה

With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. (31:32)

וישג לבן את יעקב

Lavan overtook Yaakov. (31:25)

ויקח מאבני המקום

He took from the stones of the place. (28:11)

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

And Yaakov departed from Beer-Sheva and went to Charan. (28:10)

וימאן... הן אדני לא ידע אתי מה בבית

But he adamantly refused… Look – with me here, my master concerns himself about nothing in the house. (39:8)

BOOK OF BEREISHIS

BOOK OF SHEMOS

BOOK OF VAYIKRA

BOOK OF BAMIDBAR

BOOK OF DEVARIM

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!