Sruly Schnair – Page 24 – Peninim on the Torah

ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים ופרעה חלם והנה עמד על היאור

It happened at the end of two years to the day: Pharaoh was dreaming that behold! He was standing over the river. (41:1)

Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 69:3) distinguish between: the wicked who stand over their gods, such as Pharaoh, who dreamt that he was standing over the Nile River, which is the Egyptian godhead; and tzaddikim, the righteous, such as Yaakov Avinu, over whom we see that Hashem stood protectively. Horav Simchah Wasserman, zl, explains that idol worshippers seek a god that will fit into their comfort zone, who will serve them without making any undue demands on them. The Egyptians viewed the Nile River as their god, because it provided for their needs. Pharaoh stood over the river, because this is their…

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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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אתה תהיה על ביתי ועל פיך ישק כל עמי

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Mikeitz

You shall be in charge of my palace and, by your command, shall all my people be sustained. (41:40)

How often do we attempt all avenues to resolve an issue that is plaguing us — economic, health, shidduchim — and everything that we do leads to a solid, impenetrable wall? All of a sudden, out of the blue, the issue is resolved in a manner that we least expected, or even thought possible. When we take the time to relax and introspect throughout the journey from travail to deliverance, we must ask ourselves: Was this Hashem’s plan from the very onset, that nothing we attempt works, so that we ultimately recognize, realize and acknowledge that: Hashem has a plan;…

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חי פרעה כי מרגלים אתם

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Mikeitz

By Pharaoh’s life – surely you are spies. (42:16)

Why of all accusations that Yosef could have leveled against his brothers, did he choose calling them spies? Furthermore, the responses they gave to confirm the veracity of their mission to Egypt misses the mark. How does it explain why they are not spies? “All of us are sons of one man.” “Your servants have never been spies.” “The youngest son is now with our father, and one is gone.” Last, what did they mean when they said, “We have never been spies”? Who ever mentioned the past? Horav Elyakim Schlesinger, Shlita, explains this based upon a Midrash that relates…

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וימאן להתנחם

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Vayeishev

But he refused to be comforted. (37:35)

Refusing to be comforted is understandable. When a person sustains a tragedy (regardless of the circumstances, the age, or the well-being of the deceased, it is still a tragedy – to someone) it is personal; it is painful; the loss feels like an endless void which cannot be filled with words alone. This is especially true when the mourner had been especially close with the deceased. Accepting comfort may feel like a step towards moving on or letting go – something the mourner refuses to entertain. Others may feel guilt over the death of a loved one, wondering if they…

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ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Vayeishev

Yehudah recognized; and he said, “She is right; it is from me.” (38:26)

In the brachos, blessings, which Moshe Rabbeinu conferred upon the various shevatim, tribes of Klal Yisrael, Reuven’s blessing is juxtaposed upon Yehudah’s blessing. Chazal (Bava Kamma 91A) explain that, during all the forty years that the Jews journeyed in the wilderness, the bones of Yehudah, which the nation took with them to be interred in the Holy Land, were rolling around in the coffin. Moshe came and asked Hashem for mercy on Yehudah’s behalf. He said, “Yehudah was the impetus for Reuven to confess to his sin/error concerning his tampering with his father’s bed.” When Reuven saw that Yehudah made…

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וימאן

Sruly Schnair In 5785, Vayeishev

But he (Yosef) adamantly refused. (39:8)

Chazal (Yoma 35:13) teach that, if a wicked person (his neshamah, soul) comes before the Heavenly Tribunal and is asked, “Why did you not engage in Torah study?” and he replies, “I was handsome and preoccupied with my evil inclination,” we reply to him, “Were you any more handsome than Yosef who did not neglect Torah, despite his beauty?” Chazal go on to describe Potifar’s wife’s various machinations to entice Yosef to be with her. He rejected it all because of his abiding devotion to Hashem. This may be good and well, but Chazal (Sotah 36B) add something to the…

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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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וירא יעקב מאד ויצר לו

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5785

Yaakov became very frightened and it distressed him. (32:8)

Rashi explains that Yaakov was frightened that he would be killed, and he was distressed that, in his efforts to protect his family, he might kill acheirim, others. What did Yaakov fear? He had every reason to defend himself against Eisav. The Melei HaOmer explains that Yaakov purchased the firstborn birthright from Eisav for the express purpose that the avodah, service, in the Bais HaMikdash would be conducted by bechorim, firstborn, and he would be a b’chor. However, if he would kill Eisav – even by right – he could no longer serve. A Kohen that kills someone, even b’shogeig,…

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ויותר יעקב לבדו ויאבק איש עמו

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5785

Yaakov was left alone, and a man wrestled with him. (32:25)

Yaakov Avinu sent everyone away, until he was left alone to wrestle with Eisav’s angel. Concerning our Patriarch’s isolated state, Chazal (Midrash Rabbah) cite a pasuk in Yeshayah 2:17, V’nisgav Hashem levado, “And Hashem alone will be exalted on that day.” The Navi addresses the day of retribution, when the great nations of the world will be humbled in Hashem’s Presence. He alone will be exalted, as all those who thought they were high and mighty will be compelled to confront the stark truth: they are not. We must endeavor to understand the parallel between the two levados: Yaakov isolated…

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ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים ופרעה חלם והנה עמד על היאור

It happened at the end of two years to the day: Pharaoh was dreaming that behold! He was standing over the river. (41:1)

וישלח פרעה ויקרא את יוסף ויריצהו מן הבור

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

אתה תהיה על ביתי ועל פיך ישק כל עמי

You shall be in charge of my palace and, by your command, shall all my people be sustained. (41:40)

חי פרעה כי מרגלים אתם

By Pharaoh’s life – surely you are spies. (42:16)

וימאן להתנחם

But he refused to be comforted. (37:35)

ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Yehudah recognized; and he said, “She is right; it is from me.” (38:26)

וימאן

But he (Yosef) adamantly refused. (39:8)

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

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

וירא יעקב מאד ויצר לו

Yaakov became very frightened and it distressed him. (32:8)

ויותר יעקב לבדו ויאבק איש עמו

Yaakov was left alone, and a man wrestled with him. (32:25)

YEARS

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