Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And he (Yosef) fell on the neck of Binyamin his brother and cried, and Binyamin cried on his (Yosef’s) neck.” (45:14)

Chazal note the word hrtum, neck(s), is written in the plural. Did Binyamin have two necks? They explain that when Yosef and Binyamin met, the Ruach Ha’kodesh, Divine Inspiration, rested on both of them. This enabled Yosef to see the future destruction of the two Batei Mikdash in Binyamin’s portion. At the same time, Binyamin saw the destruction of the Mishkan in Shiloh, which was in Yosef’s portion. Chazal’s basis for scrutinizing the pasuk seems questionable. The Torah also uses the plural for neck uhrtum in regard to Yosef. There was only one destruction in Yosef’s portion. Why does the…

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וידר יעקב נדר לאמר אם יהיה אלקים עמדי... והאבן הזאת אשר שמתי מצבה יהיה בית אלקים וכל אשר תתן לי עשר אעשרנו לך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

Then Yaakov took a vow, saying if G-d will be with me… Then this stone which I set as a pillar shall become a house of G-d, and whatever You will give me, I shall surely tithe it to You. (28:20,22)

In Hilchos Arachin (6:32,33), the Rambam writes: “It appears to me that whereas one cannot consecrate something which has not yet appeared in the world (is not yet in existence); if he were, however, to state, ‘I take it upon myself to consecrate this object’ (which is not yet in existence), he must carry out his vow and consecrate the object when it appears in the world. For instance, if one were to say, ‘I will give the fruits of this field (which are not yet here) to poor people, he must give those fruits to the poor when they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayigash

“And Yosef said unto his brothers, ‘I am Yosef’…. and his brothers could not answer him for they were frightened before him.” (45:3)

Rashi says that the fear experienced by the brothers was precipitated by the intense shame that they felt. The Yalkut Shimoni cites R’ Shimon ben Elazar who says, “Woe is to us from the Yom Ha’Din, Day of Judgment. Woe is to us from the Yom Ha’Tochachah, Day of Rebuke. Yosef was the youngest of the tribes. Yet, the brothers could not face up to his rebuke. How much more so when Hashem will come and rebuke each and every one according to his deeds.” This Chazal has long been applied in many instances as the standard for Tochachah, rebuke,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“And Yosef commanded to fill their vessels (with) grain and to restore their money each one’s to his sack.” (42:25)

In an attempt to cause his brothers to return to Egypt, Yosef returned their money to them and placed it in their sacks. This seems unnecessary. Would they not have returned simply due to the famine in the land? Also, Shimon was still incarcerated in Egypt. They had to come back to redeem him! The Brisker Rav z.l. gives a simple, but striking, response. The ten brothers were Shivtei Kah, the forebears of the ten tribes of Klal Yisrael. They constituted the standard for our nation. We have no idea of the level of bitachon, trust in Hashem, which they…

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ויחלם והנה סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה. והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים וירדים בו. והנה ד' נצב עליו.

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

He dreamt, and behold! A ladder set up toward earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven, and behold! Angels of G-d ascending and descending against it. And behold! G-d stood beside him. (28:12,13)

Yaakov Avinu set the tone and established the standards for our nation. The principles by which we live as a people were set forth by the Patriarch as he journeyed from Beer-Sheva to Charan. Yaakov gives us our name and destiny, as we are called Bnei Yisrael. Avraham Avinu was instructed to “go for yourself,” lech lecha, uproot yourself and your family, and leave for a destination unknown. He did so as a successful baal ha’bayis, householder, with a wife and retinue of servants and wealth. Yaakov did not leave because he was so commanded by Hashem; rather, the Almighty…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“And unto Yosef (were) born two sons … which Asnas, the daughter of Potifera, the priest of On, bore unto him.” (41:50)

The Torah’s manner of describing the birth of Yosef’s two sons is somewhat peculiar. The Torah states that two sons were born to him, by Asnas. In addition the word skh, born, is in the singular instead of uskuh. It would seem that the birth is viewed from two aspects — that of the mother and that of the child. Horav S.R. Hirsch z.l., explains that a mother can physically bear a child to its father, but it does not necessarily mean that the child will remain connected to the father. We must first determine if the child will maintain…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“Only by the throne will I be greater than you.” (41:40)

Why does Pharaoh “warn” Yosef that he will be greater than Yosef because he occupies “the throne?” Did Pharaoh fear Yosef’s insubordination? Horav Ze’ev Weinberger, Shlita, suggests that Pharaoh was being very practical. He told Yosef that the purpose in making him Viceroy over Egypt was to enhance and glorify Pharaoh’s throne. Pharaoh fully understood that taking a Jewish slave out of prison, showering him with glory, and giving him access to the second most powerful position in the land was risky. This act might be dangerous unless a long term benefit was clearly to be derived. Pharaoh, however, was…

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ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

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

In the previous parsha, we read that Yaakov Avinu incurred the implacable wrath of his brother, Eisav, because he appropriated the blessings. Eisav was quite upset, and he swore to kill Yaakov in the proper place and time. This parsha begins with Yaakov leaving home on his way to seek a wife at his Uncle Lavan’s house. Between the time that Yaakov received instructions from his parents concerning leaving home for Charan, and the actual commencement of his journey, the Torah interrupts the story by informing us that, when Eisav saw that his father disapproved of Canaanite women, he decided…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man. ” (41:33)

Rashi interprets Pharaoh’s question literally, “If we were to seek such a unique individual, could we possibly find one such as he?” The Satmar Rebbe z.l., questions Pharaoh’s attitude. Even if Yosef appeared to be the “best man” for the job, why was Pharaoh so reticent to search for someone who might better qualify for the position? He should first have searched for a great and capable leader. Afterwards, he could have offered Yosef the position by default. The Rebbe offers a novel response. Yosef was proficient in all seventy languages. The angel Gavriel had taught them to him. If…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was anxious, and he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men, and Pharoah told them of his dream.” (41:8)

Pharaoh’s attitude towards his dream demands explanation. Does dreaming about cows and ears of corn warrant immediate interpretation by the wisest men of the country? To the average person, these dreams seem to be nothing more than the inane musings of the subconscious. What impressed Pharaoh to the extent that he was shaken by its covert message? Horav Shimon Schwab, z.l., suggests that these dreams had an underlying message which gave Pharaoh a rude awakening. Pharaoh followed the atheistic perspective that in any altercation the minority will inevitably fall into the hands of the multitude. Similarly, the weaker party will…

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“And he (Yosef) fell on the neck of Binyamin his brother and cried, and Binyamin cried on his (Yosef’s) neck.” (45:14)

וידר יעקב נדר לאמר אם יהיה אלקים עמדי... והאבן הזאת אשר שמתי מצבה יהיה בית אלקים וכל אשר תתן לי עשר אעשרנו לך

Then Yaakov took a vow, saying if G-d will be with me… Then this stone which I set as a pillar shall become a house of G-d, and whatever You will give me, I shall surely tithe it to You. (28:20,22)

“And Yosef said unto his brothers, ‘I am Yosef’…. and his brothers could not answer him for they were frightened before him.” (45:3)

“And Yosef commanded to fill their vessels (with) grain and to restore their money each one’s to his sack.” (42:25)

ויחלם והנה סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה. והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים וירדים בו. והנה ד' נצב עליו.

He dreamt, and behold! A ladder set up toward earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven, and behold! Angels of G-d ascending and descending against it. And behold! G-d stood beside him. (28:12,13)

“And unto Yosef (were) born two sons … which Asnas, the daughter of Potifera, the priest of On, bore unto him.” (41:50)

“Only by the throne will I be greater than you.” (41:40)

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

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

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man. ” (41:33)

“And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was anxious, and he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men, and Pharoah told them of his dream.” (41:8)

YEARS

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