Vayeishev – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

It is sad that those who – either by choice or by upbringing – live a life totally estranged from Torah have no clue how distant they are from the verities of the Torah, its values and proposed lifestyle. Many of them are well-meaning, good people, who simply do not know. They are clueless concerning what a Torah Jew believes and the lifestyle to which he adheres. I recently had occasion to have a conversation with a respected member of the secular Jewish clergy – which taught me how distant two minds can be from another. Yet, one of them…

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וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

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

Rashi teaches that, after enduring the many trials of his life – Eisav, Lavan, the premature passing of Rachel Imeinu, and the violation of Dinah – Yaakov Avinu sought tranquility, leisheiv b’shalvah. Immediately, Kofatz alav rogzu shel Yosef, “The trial of Yosef tumbled suddenly upon him.” This world is one of continual striving. Although the Patriarch was near perfect, his work was not complete. The question that confronts us is simple: Does it have to be this way? Does life have to be a constant struggle? Would it have been so bad if Yaakov could spend his twilight years in…

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וימכרו יוסף לישמעאלים בעשרים כסף

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

And they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim for twenty pieces of silver. (37:28)

Twenty silver pieces amounts to five shekalim, the same amount we use to redeem our firstborn sons. Chazal teach us that this amount of money atones for the brothers’ sin of selling Yosef. Additionally, since each brother’s share of the “take” amounted to two dinarim, the equivalent of a half-shekel, Jews annually give a half-shekel for the upkeep of the Bais Hamikdash. Since we no longer have the Bais Hamikdash, the Machatzis hashekel, half shekel, is contributed annually on Purim to charity. The Shivtei Kah, brothers who sold Yosef, represent Klal Yisrael. Thus, the onus of their guilt is on…

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ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

Rashi teaches that yamim rabim, many days, amounts to a period of twenty-two years. This time frame coincides with the twenty-two years that Yaakov Avinu was away from home, thereby preventing him from properly carrying out the mitzvah of kibud av v’eim, honoring one’s father and mother. While we certainly are not in a position to understand the underlying reason for Yaakov’s behavior, there is clearly a powerful lesson to be derived from here. This is despite the fact that Yaakov’s decision to leave home was originally suggested, encouraged and approved by his mother, Rivkah Imeinu. Yet, Yaakov is held…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Vayeishev

“Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojourning …These are the offspring of Yaakov, Yosef”… (37:1-2)

Rashi cites a parable to explain why the Torah mentions that Yaakov settled immediately after mentioning Eisav’s chiefs. He compares this to “a certain flax merchant whose camels entered a town laden with flax. The blacksmith wondered, ‘Where can all this flax be stored?’ A clever man who was standing nearby answered him, ‘One spark can go forth from your bellows which will burn it all up.’ Similarly, when Yaakov saw all the powerful chiefs of Eisav (whose names are written above), he wondered, ‘Who would conquer all of them?’ The Torah responds, ‘These are the offspring of Yaakov, Yosef,’…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Vayeishev

“The boy is gone! And I – where can I go?” (37:30)

Reuven returned to the pit only to find that Yosef was no longer present. He expressed his sorrow at his father’s grief, lamenting, “Where can I flee from father’s grief?” When he would come across this pasuk, Horav Eliyahu Lopian, z.l., would sigh heavily and cry out, “Ha’yeled einenu,” the boy is gone – my youth has gone by – how will I face my Father in Heaven?” He was bemoaning the fact that he had let his youth slip by “unaccomplished,” and now in his advanced years when the time to meet his Maker was drawing near, he…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Vayeishev

“Yosef was handsome of form and handsome of appearance.” (39:6)

Yosef’s physical appearance was certainly to the yetzer hara’s, evil inclination’s, advantage. Undoubtedly, one who is blessed with the gift of extremely “good looks” is left wide open to contend with the pitfalls which the yetzer hara is so skilled at placing before him. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, cites a story that occurred concerning Horav Yitzchak Bender, z.l., when he was Rosh HaYeshivah in Makov. It was the summer of 1913, when a young student by the name of Yitzchak Krakowsky from the city of Lodz, Poland, registered in the yeshivah. He was known as “Reb Yitzchakel Otvozker,” because of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeishev

A man discovered him, and behold! – he was blundering in the field; the man asked him, saying, “What do you seek?” (37:15)

Yosef’s father sent him to seek out his brothers and report back to him concerning their welfare. Chazal teach that Hashem sent the Malach, angel, Gavriel, in the likeness of a man, to lead Yosef to his brothers. This was all part of the Divine master plan that would eventually lead the entire family of Yaakov Avinu to descend to Egypt, as part of fulfilling the prophecy to Avraham Avinu. The Kotzker Rebbe, zl, interprets the “man’s” question to Yosef homiletically. The man/angel was telling Yosef that when he – or any man – is lost, confused with life, its…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeishev

Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (37:21)

Reuven slowed the process, ultimately convincing his brothers not to be guilty of cold-blooded murder. Chazal teach that Reuven acted nonchalantly concerning his act of saving Yosef, not giving it the importance that it deserved. They say that had Reuven been aware that Hashem would write in His Torah that Reuven was to be credited with saving Yosef, he would have taken Yosef right then and there and carried him on his shoulders back home to Yaakov Avinu. Reuven acted properly, but did not give his actions much thought. A similar statement is made concerning Boaz, who gave Rus some…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeishev

As she was taken out, she sent [word] to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong I am with child.” (38:25)

Interweaved within the narrative of Yosef’s sale as a slave and eventual arrival in Egypt, is the story of Yehudah. At first, it seems misplaced, since it does not appear to have any relationship to the Yosef narrative. Chazal, however, explain that Yehudah was deposed from his position as leader over them, because he was not forceful enough to prevent the sale. Had he demanded that Yosef be released, he would have prevailed. Yehudah only saved him from death. For not completing his task, he was punished by Hashem with the eventual passing of his sons, Er and Onan. In the…

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ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

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

וימכרו יוסף לישמעאלים בעשרים כסף

And they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim for twenty pieces of silver. (37:28)

ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

“Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojourning …These are the offspring of Yaakov, Yosef”… (37:1-2)

“The boy is gone! And I – where can I go?” (37:30)

“Yosef was handsome of form and handsome of appearance.” (39:6)

A man discovered him, and behold! – he was blundering in the field; the man asked him, saying, “What do you seek?” (37:15)

Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand. (37:21)

As she was taken out, she sent [word] to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong I am with child.” (38:25)

YEARS

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