Vayeishev – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

Four words! Yosef turned to the dejected, deposed courtiers of Pharaoh, noticing their downcast appearance, he asked them, “Why are you so downcast? What is the cause of your depression?” Yosef’s sensitivity catalyzed circumstances that changed his entire life and the history of Klal Yisrael. Our course of history was altered because Yosef asked a simple question. He noticed–he cared–he took action. First and foremost, however, he noticed. This caring for another human being ultimately led to Yosef’s salvation from imprisonment and elevation to the position of viceroy. Thus, his father, Yaakov, was able to come down to Egypt…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

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

The text begins with the word, “Vayeshev,” settle, and ends with “migurei,” sojourn. Chazal infer from this seeming ambiguity that Yaakov finally sought to settle down, to rest from the tzaros, afflictions, that were an integral part of his life. He was not, however, destined to rest. The righteous enjoy no rest in this world. Their ultimate rest and reward await them in the World to Come. Chazal do not mean that Yaakov is about to “retire,” to cease his work in this world. They simply teach us that the tzaddik’s work is never completed. Yaakov thought that he had…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

Meilitz Yosher infers a striking lesson from this pasuk. One can have an abundance of “heteirim,” reasons for eating a certain food that is not kosher. He can find a number of reasons to justify his actions. Yet, when all is said and done, his action is simply not justifiable. This is similar to the lazy person who comes up with a multitude of excuses for not participating in a given endeavor. Indeed, all of the stated reasons may be true, but – the main reason that he is not involved in this endeavor is his indolence! The Torah tells…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

Chazal derive from the redundancy of the text that, although there was no water in the pit, dangerous creatures, such as serpents and scorpians, abounded. We may question the Torah‘s style in expressing its point. If the pit contained serpents and scorpions, why did the Torah not clearly state that fact? What purpose does the Torah serve with this back-handed approach? This question is posed by every serious reader of the text. The commentators offer a number of explanations. Horav David Shneuer, Shlita, takes a novel approach which teaches us an important lesson. The Torah asserts, “The pit was empty,…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

From where was Reuven “returning”? Chazal teach us that he was engaged in fasting and praying for the sin of exchanging the beds. In accepting his teshuvah, Hashem said to him, “Never from the beginning of Creation has there been an individual who has sinned and expiated his sin via the medium of teshuvah. You began by performing teshuvah first. By your life, your grandson will also stand before Klal Yisrael and admonish them to perform teshuvah first.” This refers to Hoshe’a Ha’Navi whose words, “Shuvah Yisrael,” serve as the clarion call for teshuvah. The commentators ask the obvious question:…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5759 ->

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)

And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

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

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!