Vayeishev – Page 10 – Peninim on the Torah

These are the chronicles of Yaakov; Yosef. (37:2)

The word “toldos” is commonly translated as “offspring”. In this case, however, the Torah only mentions Yosef. Thus, it seems that the Torah is referring to Yaakov Avinu’s personal history. The Midrash suggests that since Yosef and Yaakov had so much in common, the concept of toldos, offspring, applies most to Yosef. Yaakov slaved in Lavan’s home in order to earn Rachel, Yosef’s mother, for a wife. Yosef’s physical visage was similar to that of Yaakov. Yosef experienced some of the same life events as Yaakov did. Each one had brothers – or a brother- that hated him and sought…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeishev

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

Yosef was a ben zekunim, born to Yaakov Avinu when the latter had advanced in age. Is this a reason for Yaakov to love Yosef more than Binyamin, who was the “baby” of the family? The Chizkuni responds that since Rachel died during Binyamin’s birth, Yaakov Avinu did not love him as much. While we can understand that Binyamin brought back memories of the tragic death of his beloved Rachel, one would think that the Patriarch was beyond such emotions. Indeed, one would think that the memory of the mother of his orphaned son would enhance his love towards his…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeishev

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

Simply, Yehudah interceded on Yosef’s behalf, asserting that the brothers would not benefit from killing him. Pituchei Chosam cites the pasuk in Yeshaya 1:15 wherein the Navi laments, “Even when you pray very much I (Hashem) do not listen to you because your hands are full of blood.” We infer from here that the tefillos, prayers, of one who “spills blood,” i.e., a murderer, are of no value. Ostensibly, the Shevatim, tribes, brothers, prayed three times each day since the tefillos had been introduced by the Patriarchs. The word “betza“, bais, tzaddik, ayin, is an acronym for the three tefillos…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeishev

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man. (39:2)

Horav Bunim M’Peshischa notes the Torah’s emphasis on Yosef’s “remembering” the source of his success. He realized that the success he had achieved was only because “Hashem was with Yosef.” All too often we pray to Hashem for various favors. Shortly after Hashem grants us His good will, we seem to forget the source of our beneficience. Along these same lines, the Chofetz Chaim explains that in the tefillah that we say on the Shabbos prior to Rosh Chodesh, we implore Hashem to grant us a life replete with yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, and yiraas cheit, fear of sin. …

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife, how then can I perpetrate this great evil? (39:9)

The yetzer hora, evil inclination dressed in the guise of Potifar’s wife, sought every avenue to ensnare Yosef Ha’Tzaddik in its trap. Chazal characterize Yosef’s battle with Potifar’s wife as more difficult than fighting with a large bear. Every day she attempted to coerce him through her blandishments. She tried to arouse him by changing clothes twice a day, beautifying herself constantly. She hoped that at one point his guard would be down and he would capitulate. When she saw that her cajoling did not work, she began to threaten Yosef, all to no avail. How did Yosef do it? …

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayeishev

In three days Pharaoh will lift your head from you and hang you on a tree; birds will eat your flesh from you. (40:19)

Why did Yosef interpret the bakers’ dream in this manner? What clue did he have that the baker would die? Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, responded by citing a story. Once, at an art festival, the organizers hung up a picture that was drawn by a world-famous artist. It was a picture of a man holding a basket of fruit in his hands. The illustration was so realistic that birds would fly over the picture and attempt to eat the fruit! This picture amazed everyone, to the point that a prize was offered to anyone who could find an error in…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And Yaakov settled in the land of his fathers’ sojourning. (37:1)

The words “vayeshev,” settled, and “megurei,” sojourning, contrast with one another. One implies permanence, while the latter alludes to a temporary state. Indeed, this formulation catalyzes Chazal to suggest that after a long exile and numerous struggles, Yaakov finally wished to settle down, to live peacefully. Hashem sent the anguish of Yosef to disturb his efforts. Hashem told him, “Are the righteous not satisfied with what awaits them in Olam Habah that they expect to live at ease in Olam Hazeh?” In other words, the righteous have no right to demand tranquillity in this world. We must attempt…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

Behold, a caravan of Yishmaelim was coming from Gilead, their camels bearing spices, balsam, and lotus…(37:25)

What does the composition of the Yishmaelim’s cargo mean to us? Rashi claims that Hashem intervened on Yosef’s behalf. Yishmaelim usually carry foul-smelling cargo. In order to spare Yosef from being subjected to the harsh odor, Hashem “arranged” that this caravan carry only sweet-smelling spices. This is enigmatic! Imagine being sold as a slave — with no hope for redemption. Yosef’s life was literally falling apart in front of his eyes. Should he be concerned about the odor of the cargo that was to accompany him? Horav Mordechai Pogremonsky, zl, compares this to a sick man who has undergone a…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

The Midrash questions from where did Reuven return? They respond that he was sitting in sackcloth and fasting, remorseful over his impetuous reaction to Yaakov moving his bed into Bilhah’s tent. Although Reuven did nothing more than tamper with his father’s bed, the Torah viewed his action as being a transgression. He now repented for his sin. The Midrash continues that Hashem told Reuven that previously no one had ever sinned and repented. Since he initiated teshuvah, he was to merit that his descendant, Hoshea, would petition Klal Yisrael to perform teshuvah with the clarion call of “Shuvah Yisrael.” Two…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

Sforno interprets the idea of “this evil,” to mean the performance of bad in return for good. Yosef’s prime concern was the gratitude he owed his master. He could not respond to the advances of his master’s wife because of his hakoras hatov, the appreciation he felt to Potiphar. We may infer from here a lesson regarding the significance of hakoras hatov, and how far one must go to fulfill his obligation to acknowledge gratitude. Yosef was subject to the blandishments of Potiphar’s wife on an almost constant basis. She tried to entice him in every way possible. She would…

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These are the chronicles of Yaakov; Yosef. (37:2)

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

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

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man. (39:2)

There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife, how then can I perpetrate this great evil? (39:9)

In three days Pharaoh will lift your head from you and hang you on a tree; birds will eat your flesh from you. (40:19)

And Yaakov settled in the land of his fathers’ sojourning. (37:1)

Behold, a caravan of Yishmaelim was coming from Gilead, their camels bearing spices, balsam, and lotus…(37:25)

And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

YEARS

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