Sruly Schnair – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

ויאסוף אותם אל משמר שלשת ימים

Then he herded them into a ward for a three-day period. (42:17)

Was it really necessary to herd all the brothers into the lock-up? He could have taken one, and it would have sufficed to send a message. The Brisker Rav, zl, cites the Yerushalmi in Terumos (12), “A group/caravan of men were traveling and were accosted by a gang of non-Jews demanding that they give up one of their own. They said, ‘We want one Jew whom we will kill. Otherwise, we will kill all of you!’ The halachah is clear that we may not give up a Jew under any circumstances –even if it means that everyone will die. Therefore,…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5786

למה הרעתם לי להגיד לאיש העוד לכם אח

Sruly Schnair In 5786, Mikeitz

“Why did you treat me so ill by telling him (the viceroy) that you had another brother? (43:6)

Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 91:10) comment: “Hashem said, ‘Yaakov thinks that he is being harmed and does not realize that I am in the process of making his son viceroy of Egypt.” In other words, Hashem has a Master Plan. He orchestrates events to fit the goals of His plan. To us mere mortals, our cognitive appreciation coincides for the most part with appearances, with what we see before us. We do not see the before and after – the entire global picture. Be patient, and it will all come together. The Veitzener Rav, zl, Horav Tzvi Hirsch Meisels, applied this…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5786

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו בארץ כנען

Sruly Schnair In 5786, Vayeishev

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings in the land of Canaan. (37:1)

Chazal teach that Yaakov Avinu sought to settle, to relax from the many struggles that had heretofore been a part of his life. Hashem responded with the mechiras Yosef. The message is clear: Tzaddikim are not on this world for a tranquil walk in the park. Their tranquility will be their reward in Olam Habba, which they earn in this world. Clearly, Yaakov’s idea of shalvah, serenity, was on a spiritual plane, during which he could spend every waking moment immersed in Torah. Life is about overcoming and living with challenge. Everything that we receive from Hashem comes with a…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5786

וישראל אהב את יוסף מכל בניו כי בן זקנים הוא לו

Sruly Schnair In 5786, Vayeishev

Yisrael loved Yosef best of all his sons, he was a child of his old age. (37:3)

The Torah teaches us that Yaakov Avinu’s love for Yosef exceeded his love for his other sons. On the surface, this favoritism seems to have been the precursor of the tragic strife that ultimately led to mechiras Yosef. One wonders why Yaakov, who personally knew the pitfalls of partiality and the resulting discord that can reign between siblings, not have taken a different route upon raising his children. The simple, straightforward explanation is that Yaakov’s love for Yosef was not about Yosef, but about his mother, Rachel Imeinu. We all remember the story well. Yaakov came to Charan, met Rachel…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5786

וישמע ראובן ויצילהו מידם

Sruly Schnair In 5786, Vayeishev

Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (36:21)

Mechiras Yosef is one of the greatest tragedies recorded in the Torah. It was not merely a family quarrel or a dysfunction in the Patriarchal family (as those lacking in Torah and yiraas Shomayim would contend); it was the near dissolution of the future Shivtei Kah, the very foundation stones of Klal Yisrael. What makes the episode (for which we are still paying in the present) more painful is that it was rooted in misconception and misjudgment. The brothers were all noble and devoted to Hashem; yet, they misread Yosef’s character. They saw what they saw, or perhaps what they…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayishlach

עם לבן גרתי

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5786

I have sojourned with Lavan. (32:5)

Yaakov Avinu’s message to Eisav, Im Lavan garti, is the focus of much commentary. After all, does Eisav really care about Yaakov’s past lodging? He is interested in only one thing: exacting revenge against his brother for cheating him out of his rightful blessings. This was Eisav’s perception. Yaakov’s message does not seem to align with Eisav’s complaint and mission focused on revenge. Rashi cites Chazal who render garti, I sojourned/lodged, in two different ways: “I have not become the great prince which you perceive was the intent of the blessings. I am still Yaakov, merely a ger, alien. You…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayishlach

ויאמר שלחני כי עלה השחר. ואמר לא אשלחך כי אם ברכתני

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5786

Then he said, “Let me go for dawn has broken.” And he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (32:27)

The dialogue between Yaakov Avinu and Eisav’s angel begs elucidation. It appears that Yaakov sought to secure the angel’s approval to validate his receipt of the blessings. This would teach us that consent and approval carry weight; they can elevate or diminish the value of one’s deeds. Since when does Eisav’s or his angels’ approval determine the appropriateness of Yaakov’s actions? Who cares if they scream “foul”? Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, explains that man is often misled by certain actions and activities, because externally they bespeak compassion, mercy and observance. Appearances, however, are deceiving. It may look good; it may…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayishlach

ויאמר לא יעקב יאמר עוד שמך כי אם ישראל כי שרית עם אלקים ועם אנשים ותוכל

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5786

He said, “Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, because you have commanding power with the Divine and with men, and you have prevailed.” (32:29)

The Kedushas Levi offers an interesting explanation for Yaakov Avinu’s name change. We can identify two types of people or, rather, two forms of avodah, service/relationship with Hashem. Some (this too is not easy) direct their hearts solely to Hashem when they are engaged in avodas ha’kodesh, sacred service, such as, tefillah, Torah study and mitzvah observance. At these times, they are completely immersed in Hashem’s Presence. Once davening is over, or they close their seforim and enter the marketplace, however, they bid Hashem “goodbye,” and their focus shifts radically. They have departed from their relationship with the Heavenly sphere….

Home -> 5786 -> Vayishlach

וירץ עשו לקראתו ... וישקהו ויבכו

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5786

Eisav ran towards him (Yaakov) … and kissed him, then they wept. (33:4)

Eisav’s actions were atypical of a man who harbored an implacable hatred for Yaakov. Rashi quotes Chazal that, indeed, Eisav sonei l’Yaakov, his hatred is immutable and without rationale. It is part of his DNA. It is just that, at that moment, his feelings of compassion were aroused. We seem to have a problem accepting the verity that Eisav sonei l’Yaakov. Does this apply to all eino Yehudim, or just those who fall under the rubric of Eisav/Amalek? Obviously, this is a discussion that goes beyond the scope of this d’var Torah. Horav Yosef Shur was appointed chief district judge…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeitzei

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Sruly Schnair In Vayeitzei, 5786

Yaakov left Be’er Sheva and went toward Charan. (28:10)

Obviously, we are well aware of Yaakov Avinu’s origin, his home from which he was leaving. What is really important for the reader is his destination. Why does the Torah underscore his leaving Be’er Sheva? Quoting Chazal, Rashi says, “When a righteous person departs from a city, its glory departs.” For while the tzadik is in the city, he is its glory, splendor and beauty. The commentators, each in his own inimitable manner, offer their understanding and analysis of these terms. I would like to make one observation concerning the emphasis on Yaakov leaving Be’er Sheva. Yaakov left Be’er Sheva;…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5786 ->

ויאסוף אותם אל משמר שלשת ימים

Then he herded them into a ward for a three-day period. (42:17)

למה הרעתם לי להגיד לאיש העוד לכם אח

“Why did you treat me so ill by telling him (the viceroy) that you had another brother? (43:6)

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו בארץ כנען

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings in the land of Canaan. (37:1)

וישראל אהב את יוסף מכל בניו כי בן זקנים הוא לו

Yisrael loved Yosef best of all his sons, he was a child of his old age. (37:3)

וישמע ראובן ויצילהו מידם

Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (36:21)

עם לבן גרתי

I have sojourned with Lavan. (32:5)

ויאמר שלחני כי עלה השחר. ואמר לא אשלחך כי אם ברכתני

Then he said, “Let me go for dawn has broken.” And he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (32:27)

ויאמר לא יעקב יאמר עוד שמך כי אם ישראל כי שרית עם אלקים ועם אנשים ותוכל

He said, “Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, because you have commanding power with the Divine and with men, and you have prevailed.” (32:29)

וירץ עשו לקראתו ... וישקהו ויבכו

Eisav ran towards him (Yaakov) … and kissed him, then they wept. (33:4)

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Yaakov left Be’er Sheva and went toward Charan. (28:10)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!