Sruly Schnair

“And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

The Midrash states, “Woe to us on the Day of Judgment, and woe to us on the Day of Reproof. Yosef was the youngest of the tribes, but when he said, “I am Yosef,” the brothers were overcome with shame at their misdeeds. When Hashem will reveal Himself to each one of us, announcing, “I am Hashem,” we will certainly be unable to respond because of humiliation.” The commentators, each in his own inimitable manner, have interpreted the powerful words of this Midrash. Let us focus on the words “to each one of us,” or — in the vernacular of…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Mikeitz

“And the goblet was found in Binyamin’s pouch.” (44:12)

We can derive a number of noteworthy lessons from a Midrash regarding this pasuk. The Midrash comments that when the goblet was found in Binyamin’s pouch, his brothers struck him on the shoulders and berated him, “Thief, son of a thieving mother, you have shamed us, just as your mother shamed your father when she stole Lavan’s terafim, idols.” We understand from this Midrash how quickly suspicion is aroused in the hearts of men, how rapidly they jump to conclusions at the slightest pretext, to place the onus of guilt upon an individual. We also note how difficult it is…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Mikeitz

“And may G-d Almighty give you mercy before the man that he may release unto you your other brother and Binyamin.” (43:14)

The text of the pasuk is questionable. Why does Yaakov say that Hashem should give you mercy “before the man”? Why does he not simply say, “from the man”? What is the significance of having mercy “before” the man? Horav Mordechai Rogov, z.l., suggests a profound thought. Yaakov Avinu taught his sons a valuable lesson. If they sense that the “man” has no mercy on them, it is because they are being punished for their own lack of rachmanus, mercy. If they have mercy “before” the man, if they are sensitive to the needs of others, Hashem will reward them…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Mikeitz

“And Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.” (42:8)

The nature of Yosef’s encounter with his brothers for the first time after many years of estrangement is truly enigmatic. True, it had been many years since they had last seen one another. In addition, the circumstances by which they had been separated were unpleasant to recall. The fact that ten brothers who were exemplary in wisdom and perception did not recognize their lost brother seems difficult to accept. Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, cites Horav Yecheskel Levinstein, z.l., who explains their meeting. Man has the ability to see and perceive, recognize and remember, only by virtue of siyata d’shmaya, Heavenly…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Mikeitz

“Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.” (41:33)

After successfully interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Yosef offered his unsolicited advice. He counseled Pharaoh to appoint a unique individual who possessed an acute mind and an uncanny ability to organize the entire country during the seven years of plenty. Horav Eliyahu Lopian, z.l., questions the need to appoint someone who is unusually perceptive. This is an undertaking for an individual who is endowed with excellent organizational and administrative skills, not someone who is astute. He responds that it takes one who is especially gifted to “see” the years of hunger at the very moment that he and everyone else are enjoying…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And the chief butler did not remember Yosef, but he forgot him.” (40:23)

Rashi comments that Hashem increased Yosef’s prison sentence by an extra two years. This was because he had placed his trust in the Sar Ha’Mashkim, by asking him twice to remember him before Pharaoh. What would have happened if Yosef had asked him only once? Would he have been punished with only a single year? This question was posed by Horav Shimon Shkop, z.l., to a group of his students during a session devoted to reproving them for behavior unbecoming a ben Torah. The economic conditions in the yeshivah of Grodno, in which Horav Shkop was Rosh Ha’Yeshivah left much…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And the keeper of the prison put in Yosef’s hand all the prisoners… and whatever they did there he was the doer of it.” (39:22)

The pasuk implies that Yosef initiated everything that was accomplished by the prisoners. The redundancy of the text begs explanation. Obviously, everything they did he would do. Horav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, z.l., interprets this pasuk homiletically. Yosef was teaching us a profound lesson in avodas Hashem, serving the Almighty. Yosef was not satisfied with the fact that he upheld all of the mitzvos. He was not complacent with his own mitzvah observance. He was driven to do more, to correct and complete what others had either denigrated or discarded. Yosef was not content simply to abstain from transgressing any aveiros,…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“But Er, Yehudah’s firstborn was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die.” (38:7)

The Matriarchs of the Jewish people were by nature barren. It is perplexing that the Jewish nation, which maintains a singular purpose in Creation should descend from women who by the laws of “nature” could not possibly bear a child. This phenomenon extends to Malchus Bais David, the monarchy of David Ha’melech, who is the sovereign of the Jewish nation. The individual from whom Moshiach will descend also had his roots in the most unnatural setting. Yehudah was the chosen monarch over the tribes. His position was to transfer this role to his eldest son, Er, who was not suitable…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And a certain man found him and behold he was wandering in the field and the man asked him, saying, ‘What are you seeking?'” (37:15)

As Yosef was searching for his brothers, he was met by a man who questioned his purpose in the field. Simply, the man wondered for what or for whom Yosef was looking. The Kotzker Rebbe, z.l., interpreted this question in a novel manner, assigning to these words a new meaning, as they teach us (and Yosef) a profound lesson. One must have clear goals. He must continually be prepared to redefine and reaffirm these goals as he is confronted with changing life situations. While he was at home, Yosef was involved in Torah scholarship. His environment was a spiritual utopia,…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeishev

“And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his sons, since he was a child of his old age.” (37:3)

Chazal offer a number of interpretations for the phrase, “ben zekunim,” child of his old age. Some of the commentators define “ben zekunim” as “bar chakim,” wise son, referring to Yosef’s remarkable Torah scholarship. Rashi cites the Midrash which comments, “All that he (Yaakov) learned in the yeshivah of Shem and Ever during his fourteen years there, he transmitted to Yosef.” This statement is ambiguous. Did Yaakov teach Torah only to Yosef and not to his other sons? Yaakov provided a Torah education for each of his twelve sons, emphatically raising them all to become tzaddikim. The Midrash in Shemos…

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“And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

“And the goblet was found in Binyamin’s pouch.” (44:12)

“And may G-d Almighty give you mercy before the man that he may release unto you your other brother and Binyamin.” (43:14)

“And Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.” (42:8)

“Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.” (41:33)

“And the chief butler did not remember Yosef, but he forgot him.” (40:23)

“And the keeper of the prison put in Yosef’s hand all the prisoners… and whatever they did there he was the doer of it.” (39:22)

“But Er, Yehudah’s firstborn was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die.” (38:7)

“And a certain man found him and behold he was wandering in the field and the man asked him, saying, ‘What are you seeking?'” (37:15)

“And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his sons, since he was a child of his old age.” (37:3)

YEARS

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