Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

Category

Back to Home -> Vayeitzei ->


“And of all that you will give me I will give a tenth of it to you.” (28:22)

Yaakov vows that from everything that he will receive  from Hashem,  he will  give  one tenth to charity. It may  be noted from this verse that the  mitzvah of charity does not apply only to monetary  matters, but the  mitzvah  applies to anything one receives as Hashem’s gift. If one is  blessed  with   wisdom and knowledge,  it is imperative  for him to share this  gift with  others who are not as fortunate as he. Rabbi Shimon Shkopf Zt”l remarked that just like  one who is generous with his money merits that  his possessions  will   increase, so too,  if one is…

Continue Reading

“And Yaakov kissed Rachel, and he raised his voice and wept.” (29:11)

  Rashi explains  the reason Yaakov cried was  because he had not brought any gifts for Rachel, since Elifaz, Eisav’s son, had waylaid him along the  way and had taken all his possessions. Eisav had instructed Elifaz to kill Yaakov. But having  grown up under Yitzchok’s guidance,  Elifaz was  in a dilemma. Should  he follow his father’s  orders or go against everything he had been taught by Yitzchok? It was Yaakov who helped him solve  this  problem  by advising  him  to  rob him of his possessions thereby impoverishing him. This would be considered as carrying out his father’s command since…

Continue Reading

“Are we not considered by him as strangers for he has sold us, and he has been using up the money given for us.” (31:15)

This conversation between Yaakov, Rachel and Leah seems rather strange and requires close study. When Yaakov informs his wives of Hashem’s command to leave Lavan’s home, he begins with a long  explanation that Lavan no longer favored him and has cheated him many times.  Only afterwards, does  he tell  them that it is Hashem’s command that they leave. Equally perplexing is Rochel and Leah’s response. Although they agreed with Yaakov they base their reasoning on the fact that Lavan is wicked and they will not inherit anything from him anyway. Is this  the way to respond to Hashem’s command? They…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!