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Home -> Vayigash -> 5785

ואת יהודה שלח לפניו אל יוסף להורת לפניו גשנה

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayigash

He sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen (46:28)

Yaakov Avinu sent Yehudah ahead of the family to make the proper arrangements for their transition to Egypt. Yehudah was the definitive leader of the brothers, having proven himself in his confrontation with the Egyptian “viceroy.” Rashi quotes Chazal, who delve into the word l’horos, to teach, that Yehudah was actually destined to establish a yeshivah, so that when they arrived they could immediately continue their Torah study. It also shows the Patriarch’s profound insight into Jewish values. Without Torah as the foundation and lodestar for navigating life, the journey is untenable. The Torah is our inspiration and guide, especially…

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Home -> Vayigash -> 5785

ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו.....וירא אליו

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayigash

And he (Yosef) went up to meet his father…..He appeared before him. (46:29)

Yaakov Avinu could not wait to see his long-lost son, Yosef. Yosef had left home a boy, and now he was viceroy over the people of Egypt. He went from challenge to travail and emerged as righteous as when he left home. The image of his father had kept him holy. Now, after all this time, after all the tzaros, troubles, that Yosef had endured, he was finally going to embrace his father. This would be the script as presented by a secular author, a playwright who seeks to capture the drama of this face-to-face interaction between father and son….

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Home -> Mikeitz -> 5785

וישלח פרעה ויקרא את יוסף ויריצהו מן הבור

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Mikeitz

So Pharaoh sent and summoned Yosef, and they rushed him from the dungeon. (41:14)

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding one’s eis tzarah, period of trouble, when the designated time for geulah, redemption/deliverance, arrives, he will not spend one extra moment in travail.    Yosef was incarcerated with no immediate hope for release, but, when the Heavenly-appointed time for his liberation was reached, he was rushed out of prison.  Likewise, explains the Chafetz Chaim, when the time for Klal Yisrael’s redemption from exile arrives, we will immediately be freed.  Nothing will impede our release. Two types of redemption exist: collective redemption; and personal redemption.  We must remember that, however bleak things may appear, this darkness will…

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Home -> 5785 -> Vayishlach

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

Sruly Schnair
In Vayishlach, 5785

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

The numerical value of garti equals taryag, 613.  Chazal teach that Yaakov Avinu implied to Eisav, “Although I was with Lavan for some time, I remained loyal to Hashem and observed all 613 mitzvos.  I have not changed one iota.  I am as committed today as I was when I left home.”  Eisav should not have thought that he could prevail over Yaakov.  The Patriarch’s merits will still protect him. Yaakov then added, Va’yehi li shor v’chamor; “I have an ox and a donkey.” Understandably, Yaakov was not informing Eisav of his material assets; rather, as the commentators explain, shor…

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Home -> 5785 -> Vayeitzei

ותאמר הפעם אודה את ד' על כן קראה שמו יהודה

Sruly Schnair
In Vayeitzei, 5785

And she (Leah) declared, “This time let me greatly praise Hashem.” (29:35)

Now, as a mother of one-third of Yaakov Avinu’s twelve sons, Leah paid gratitude to Hashem, because He granted her more than her rightful share. Much has been written about gratitude per se, specifically in interpreting and explaining Leah Imeinu’s gratitude. This is especially critical in light of Chazal’s statement (Berachos 7B), “From the day the world was created, there was no one who paid gratitude to Hashem, until Leah came and thanked Him.” The questions are obvious: How can Chazal suggest that the Avos Hakedoshim, holy Patriarchs, did not thank Hashem? This question is especially pressing when we take…

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Home -> 5785 -> Toldos

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Sruly Schnair
In Toldos, 5785

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

Both Yitzchak Avinu and RIvkah Imeinu prayed fervently for a child.  The Kaf HaChaim (281:8) cites the Sefer Chesed LaAlafim who states: “We have a kabbalah, tradition, handed down from Rav Yehudah HaChasid who taught that when one is confronted with a difficult challenge, committing to recite the Nishmas prayer (we recite Nishmas on Shabbos and Yom Tov at the end of Pesukei D’Zimra.  We also recite it at the end of the Pesach seder) in the presence of a minyan is a segulah for deliverance.  The tefillah is attributed to Rav Elazar Azkari, who lived in Tzfas during the…

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Home -> 5785 -> Toldos

וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו

Sruly Schnair
In Toldos, 5785

With his hand grasping on to the heel of Eisav. (25:26)

Horav Yaakov Moshe Charlop, zl, explains the imagery of Yaakov Avinu holding onto Eisav’s heel as a metaphor that underscores the concept of limitation and restraint. A vicious dog chained to a stationary place cannot go beyond the pull of his chain.  He can bark and growl and attack anything that comes within the parameter of his chain, but that is it.  He is locked in place.  Veritably, it often appears that Eisav is on top; he is first.  Despite Eisav’s precedence in birth order, which grants him certain parameters of strength, Yaakov continues to hold on to his heel. …

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Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5785

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

In his hesped, eulogy, of Horav Meir Chadash zl, Horav Elazar M. Shach, zl, quoted the words of the Midrash, Va’yavo, And Avraham came- Where did he come from? Rabbi Levi said, ‘He came from the grave of his father, Terach, (He had attended to his father’s burial) Rabbi Yosi asks “But Terach died two years before Sarah? (How could you say that he came from Terach’s funeral?) Thus, we must say that he came from Har Ha’Moriah (from Akeidas Yitzchak)”. On the surface there is no way to reconcile these two diverse opinions. Two years is a time difference that cannot…

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Home -> 5785 -> Vayeira

והאלקים נסה את אברהם

Sruly Schnair
In Vayeira, 5785

And G-d tested Avraham (22:1)

Avraham Avinu withstood the ten nisyonos, trials, with which Hashem tested him.  What is so special about these trials that the Torah makes note to elaborate on them?  Just about every one of them is recorded in the Torah, with the nisayon of the Akeidas Yitzchak achieving special prominence.  Our Torah is neither a history book, nor does it relate stories needlessly.  Every letter in the Torah is present for a profound reason.  What is the Torah’s message with the redacting of these trials?  Furthermore, why is it only with regard to Avraham Avinu that the Torah calls attention to…

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Home -> 5785 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך

Sruly Schnair
In Lech Lecha, 5785

Go for yourself, from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house. (12:1)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:4) teach that Avraham Avinu earned his distinction by successfully passing ten trials.  The first trial which the Torah elaborates, tested his ability to pick himself up, bid farewell to family and friends, and journey to a new land. Hashem was requiring him to start over and set up a new infrastructure for his outreach work.  No one will suggest that moving is not difficult, especially if one has spent his entire life in a particular place.  Leaving family and friends is equally challenging – for some more than others.  Nonetheless, why does the Torah make such…

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