Vayigash – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

“And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

The Midrash states, “Woe to us on the Day of Judgment, and woe to us on the Day of Reproof. Yosef was the youngest of the tribes, but when he said, “I am Yosef,” the brothers were overcome with shame at their misdeeds. When Hashem will reveal Himself to each one of us, announcing, “I am Hashem,” we will certainly be unable to respond because of humiliation.” The commentators, each in his own inimitable manner, have interpreted the powerful words of this Midrash. Let us focus on the words “to each one of us,” or — in the vernacular of…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayigash

“And he (Yosef) fell upon the shoulders of his brother Binyamin and wept, and Binyamin wept upon his (Yosef’s) shoulders.” (45:14)

Rashi comments that Yosef wept upon Binyamin’s shoulder because he foresaw the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash, which would be in Binyamin’s portion of Eretz Yisrael. It is interesting to note that Yosef also cried, falling upon his other brothers during his reconciliation with them, but there is no mention that he cried for the destruction of the Batei Mikdash. What was there about falling on Binyamin that inspired Yosef to mourn for the Batei Mikdash? The Eish Kodesh cites the Talmud Rosh Hashanah 20 which asserts that mitzvos were not given to us for the purpose of deriving…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayigash

“And Yosef shall put his hand on your eyes.” (46:4)

The Ibn Ezra infers from this pasuk that it is customary for the living to close the eyes of the dead. Hashem was assuring Yaakov that Yosef would be there when he passed away. Yosef would arrange to take Yaakov out of Egypt to be buried in the Me’oras Ha’Machpeilah. The custom is that the eldest son closes the eyes of his father, as the parent takes leave from this world. The Yalkut Yehudah offers a poignant and meaningful foundation for this custom. Closing one’s eyes indicates peace of mind. When one sleeps, his eyes are closed. He is at…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayigash

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

Rashi cites the Midrash which interprets the word,ruvk as “to teach.” This implies that Yehudah, the leader of the brothers, was sent ahead to prepare a place in which the family could study Torah. This first “yeshivah” in Egypt represents the essence of Klal Yisrael, setting the historical precedent for the primacy of learning. We are viewed as the Nation of the Book because the core of our lives is interwoven with Torah. Priority number one in every Jewish community has been the establishment of a Torah educational system. The Midrash concludes that wherever Yaakov went, he would study Torah,…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayigash

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

In citing the Midrash which interprets the word, ruvk as “to teach,” Rashi uses a word which lends ambiguity to his statement. He says “to prepare for him a House of Study.” Why does Rashi add the word “for him?” He should have simply said to make a House of Study. Why is it necessary to emphasize that it was “for him”? When Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, z.l., came to these shores together with Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, z.l., to rebuild Yeshivas Telz, he used this Rashi as the source for maintaining the yeshivah in the same character and form…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayigash

“And Yosef said unto his brothers, ‘I am Yosef’…. and his brothers could not answer him for they were frightened before him.” (45:3)

Rashi says that the fear experienced by the brothers was precipitated by the intense shame that they felt. The Yalkut Shimoni cites R’ Shimon ben Elazar who says, “Woe is to us from the Yom Ha’Din, Day of Judgment. Woe is to us from the Yom Ha’Tochachah, Day of Rebuke. Yosef was the youngest of the tribes. Yet, the brothers could not face up to his rebuke. How much more so when Hashem will come and rebuke each and every one according to his deeds.” This Chazal has long been applied in many instances as the standard for Tochachah, rebuke,…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayigash

“And he (Yosef) fell on the neck of Binyamin his brother and cried, and Binyamin cried on his (Yosef’s) neck.” (45:14)

Chazal note the word hrtum, neck(s), is written in the plural. Did Binyamin have two necks? They explain that when Yosef and Binyamin met, the Ruach Ha’kodesh, Divine Inspiration, rested on both of them. This enabled Yosef to see the future destruction of the two Batei Mikdash in Binyamin’s portion. At the same time, Binyamin saw the destruction of the Mishkan in Shiloh, which was in Yosef’s portion. Chazal’s basis for scrutinizing the pasuk seems questionable. The Torah also uses the plural for neck uhrtum in regard to Yosef. There was only one destruction in Yosef’s portion. Why does the…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayigash

“And Yehudah he sent before him to Yosef, to show (the way) before him to Goshen.” (46:28)

Rashi explains that Yaakov did not have Yehudah precede the rest of the family merely for a practical purpose. He sent Yehudah to Goshen to establish a Bais Ha’midrash from which Torah would emanate. Despite Yaakov Avinu’s original uncertainty, he was finally satisfied that Yosef was alive and well. The decision to leave his home and take his entire family to a country characterized by corruption and immorality was not an easy one. Nonetheless, Yaakov prepared for this sojourn in Egypt in a unique way. Indeed, his preparations should serve as prototype for us, wherever we may be, regardless of…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5755

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayigash

“Now I can die since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.” (46:30)

The word ogpv, “now,” does not seem to fit into the text. Rashi cites Chazal who reveal a message underlying Yaakov’s words. Yaakov told Yosef, “Now that you are alive, I will die only once.” There are two types of death. First, there is the physical death which confronts every being of flesh and blood. Second, there is another, more definitive form of death — spiritual death. Such spiritual extinction is characterized by the lack of eternity in the individual. Yaakov proclaimed, “I see that you and your children have continued to maintain and forge future links in the legacy…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5754

Sruly Schnair In 5754, Vayigash

“And Yosef said to his brothers: I am Yosef; is my father still alive?” (45:3)

Yosef saw that Yehudah was adamant in his position and that he had reached the limits of his patience. The Midrash compares Yosef’s submission to an athlete who, upon accepting impending defeat, surrenders to avoid greater embarrassment. Indeed, the Midrash lauds Yosef’s wisdom in making this decision. This idea is bemusing. What great wisdom is indicated by Yosef’s surrender in the face of imminent defeat? Yehudah and his brothers would have destroyed everything had he not permitted Binyamin to leave! Horav Henoch Lebowitz, Shlita, suggests an important lesson in human nature to be derived from this pasuk. An amazing sense…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5756 ->

“And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him.” (45:3)

“And he (Yosef) fell upon the shoulders of his brother Binyamin and wept, and Binyamin wept upon his (Yosef’s) shoulders.” (45:14)

“And Yosef shall put his hand on your eyes.” (46:4)

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

“And he (Yaakov) sent Yehudah ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen.” (46:28)

“And Yosef said unto his brothers, ‘I am Yosef’…. and his brothers could not answer him for they were frightened before him.” (45:3)

“And he (Yosef) fell on the neck of Binyamin his brother and cried, and Binyamin cried on his (Yosef’s) neck.” (45:14)

“And Yehudah he sent before him to Yosef, to show (the way) before him to Goshen.” (46:28)

“Now I can die since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.” (46:30)

“And Yosef said to his brothers: I am Yosef; is my father still alive?” (45:3)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!