Vayeishev – Page 9 – Peninim on the Torah

“His brothers saw that it was he whom their father loved most of all his brothers, and so they hated him; and they could not speak to him peaceably.” (37:4)

How often do we clash with someone and matters get out of hand to the point that it blossoms into a full-blown dispute? Suddenly, friends are not speaking to one another, and enmity creeps in. The first step towards any form of resolution is a meeting: sit down at the table, face each other and talk it out. Air out your differences and, before long, it becomes apparent that it really is not an important conflict. As long as people are willing to meet and talk it out, to attempt to solve their problems, to seek a reconciliation – there is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayeishev

“And so it was, when Yosef came to his brothers they stripped Yosef of his tunic, the fine woolen tunic that was on him.” (37:23)

Was it really necessary to remove Yosef’s unique tunic? Was their hatred toward him that implacable? Horav Sholom Shwadron, z.l., explains that, indeed, it had nothing to do with animosity. On the contrary, everything which they did was to ensure a “fair trial” for Yosef. The eye can be deceiving. Since the genesis of their animus toward Yosef was the multicolored tunic that was a special gift from their father, it was only right that it not “stare” at them while they judged Yosef. Seeing it might arouse their anger and cause them to adjudicate an incorrect verdict. This exposition is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5762, Vayeishev

As she (Tamar) was taken out she sent [word] to her father-in-law… “Recognize, if you please, whose are this signet, this wrap and this staff.”

Chazal say that Tamar did not want to humiliate Yehudah by saying, “I am pregnant by you.” Rather, she sent him the three items which he had left with her, saying to herself, “If he will admit on his own – let him admit. If not, let them burn me. I will not be the one to embarrass him.” Chazal derive from here that it is preferable for a person to throw himself into a fiery furnace in order to prevent shaming his friend in public. This is a powerful statement – one that is not understood outside its context in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, 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 5761, 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 5761, 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 5760, 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 5760, 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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, 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 5759, Vayeishev

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

The Rokeach makes an incredible statement which begs elucidation. He says that every pasuk in Parashas Vayeshev, with the exception of eight pesukim, begins with the letter “vav.” The eight exceptions correspond to the mitzvah of Bris Milah which is performed on the eighth day of the boy’s life . Horav Zeev Weinberger,Shlita, gives the following explanation: If one were to follow the narrative throughout Parashas Vayeshev, it would seem to be one long story in which everything fits into place naturally. This is implied by the “vav” which is the connecting letter meaning “and.” This is the picture perceived…

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“His brothers saw that it was he whom their father loved most of all his brothers, and so they hated him; and they could not speak to him peaceably.” (37:4)

“And so it was, when Yosef came to his brothers they stripped Yosef of his tunic, the fine woolen tunic that was on him.” (37:23)

As she (Tamar) was taken out she sent [word] to her father-in-law… “Recognize, if you please, whose are this signet, this wrap and this staff.”

“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)

“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)

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

YEARS

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