Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Yehudah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I.” (38:26)

With his confession, Yehudah demonstrated his moral integrity, his willingness to stand behind his actions, even if they were later deemed inappropriate. He was wrong; Tamar was right. She was prepared to die, thereby shattering the very goal of becoming the progenitress of the Davidic dynasty and Moshiach Tzidkeinu. Rashi quotes a Midrash which teaches that Yehudah had no culpability whatsoever with regard to the entire incident; “Hashem said, ‘Mimeni, it is from Me.’ Yehudah did not advance toward Tamar by his own volition. Hashem orchestrated the entire scenario. He greatly approved of Tamar’s tznius, modesty, while in her father-in-law’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“And it came to pass as her soul was departing, for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Binyamin.” (35:18)

As Rachel was about to leave this world, she realized that the child she had longed for was about to be born. She named him Ben-oni. According to the most common interpretation, Ben-oni is Aramaic for, “the son of my grief.” Yaakov called the child, “Binyamin,” which in Hebrew means, “the son of my right hand.” The Ramban states that there are two contrasting views expressed by the father and mother of this child. Rachel, the dying mother, seems to have accentuated the pessimistic significance of the word iut, “a son of my sorrow”. Yaakov, on the other hand, decided…

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ויאמר יהודה אל אחיו מה בצע כי נהרג את אחינו וכסינו את דמו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayeishev

Yehudah said to his brothers, “What gain will there be if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?” (37:26)

Yehudah’s idea for preventing Yosef’s death comes across as preposterous. Once they had convened a bais din, court of law, and adjudicated Yosef’s guilt, they had no more patience for counterclaims, especially one that asserted that no monetary gain would be achieved. Is this a reason to spare someone’s life? Were they killing him for money – or because he was a rodef, pursuer, who was endangering the spiritual lives of each of them? Horav Yerachmiel Chasid, Shlita, quotes an explanation from Horav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zl, that illuminates this query, teaching us a significant principle in avodas Hashem, service to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“And he (the angel) saw that he could not prevail over him (Yaakov), and he touched the hollow of his thigh.” (32:26)

Yaakov Avinu and the angel representing Eisav were locked in battle the entire night. Perceiving that he could not prevail over Yaakov, the angel unleashed his most powerful weapon, one that would surely disrupt Yaakov’s concentration. The Sforno explains that the angel showed him an image of the future leaders of Klal Yisrael sinning. Yaakov’s resulting concern caused him to momentarily lose focus, enabling the angel to strike him in the hollow of his thigh. Since Yaakov’s strength was derived from his complete focus upon the Almighty both in thought and speech, the moment this connection was undermined he became…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“And a man wrestled with him.” (32:25)

Rashi cites Chazal who explain that the “ish” who wrestled with Yaakov was none other than Samael, the guardian angel of Eisav. Rashi says, however, that the angel who met Yosef as he searched for his brothers was Gavriel. What prompts Rashi to identify the angel who fought Yaakov as Samael and the angel who met Yosef as Gavriel? Horav Leib z.l., who was Av Beis Din in Pressburg, offers a novel response. He notes the disparity in behavior between the two angels. After Yaakov fought all night with his angel, he asked for one small favor– to be blessed….

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ועשה לו כתנת פסים... וישנאו אתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayeishev

And he made him a fine woolen tunic… so they hated him. (37:3,4)

When we recite the supplication during the Bircas Kohanim service on Yom Tov, Festivals, we say to Hashem, V’sitneinu l’ahavah, “And may You grant that we find love, favor, kindness and mercy, in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who behold us… Just as You granted Yosef, Your righteous one – at the time that his father garbed him in a fine woolen tunic.” It seems strange that we would ask for such favor, when, in fact, the kesones pasim, woolen tunic, triggered Yosef’s brother’s hatred toward him. What favor did he find as a result of this…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“I have acquired oxen and donkeys, flocks of sheep, servants and maidservants.” (32:6)

When Yaakov sent messengers to Eisav, he emphasized that all that he had earned while working for Lavan did not result from his father’s blessings. They were neither from “the dew of the heavens” nor from “the fat of the land.” What prompted Yaakov to say this? Horav Noach Orlowek, Shlita, cites the Vilna Gaon who asserts that anger first originates in the mind; the angry person feels he has a legitimate reason to be angry. It later develops into words which one expresses when he vents his anger. If uncommunicated, these “words” lead to actions which can, at times,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, notes that immediately upon seeing that Lavan was chasing him, Yaakov sought to blame no one but his own spiritual failing. This is the hallmark of a tzaddik. When circumstances change for the bad tzaddikim instantly introspect, seeking to find fault in their own inadequacies. The simple way out is the one employed by most of us – rationalize and justify, but by all means blame it on something or someone other than yourself. This is not the Torah way. Every situation we are confronted with is a response to something we have done. Subsequently when…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

Yaakov did what few people ever do. He literally slaved for fourteen years to acquire his wives and, ultimately, his children. He never broke down in desperation or depression. He kept on going, resolutely warding off the temptations of his environment. He never deferred to deep-seated anger at his father-in-law for cheating him. He raised a decent family and infused in them a nobility of spirit and pride in being the sons of Yaakov, the future progenitors of Am Yisrael. The interesting point to note is that when it was all over and Yaakov was preparing to leave, with what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

Yaakov Avinu’s dream contains profound implications which express the Torah’s perspective on life. The ladder serves an important purpose. The angels either ascend to Heaven or descend to the earth. Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l., suggests that this is the nature of Am Yisrael. The Talmud in Megillah 16a states, “This nation (Am Yisrael) is compared to dust and also to stars. When they descend (spiritually) they descend to the dust, and when they ascend, they can reach the stars.” Moreover, the Midrash states concerning this ladder, “Hashem showed Yaakov the meaning of “a ladder set up on the earth” as…

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ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Yehudah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I.” (38:26)

“And it came to pass as her soul was departing, for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Binyamin.” (35:18)

ויאמר יהודה אל אחיו מה בצע כי נהרג את אחינו וכסינו את דמו

Yehudah said to his brothers, “What gain will there be if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?” (37:26)

“And he (the angel) saw that he could not prevail over him (Yaakov), and he touched the hollow of his thigh.” (32:26)

“And a man wrestled with him.” (32:25)

ועשה לו כתנת פסים... וישנאו אתו

And he made him a fine woolen tunic… so they hated him. (37:3,4)

“I have acquired oxen and donkeys, flocks of sheep, servants and maidservants.” (32:6)

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

YEARS

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