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Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And the angel of Hashem said to her, ‘Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hands’.” (16:9)

The end of this pasuk, “And submit yourself under her hands,” is enigmatic. Why was it necessary for the angel to “encourage” Hagar to return to be “persecuted”? He should simply have said, “Return to your mistress.” The text suggests that the angel was telling Hagar that Hashem had mandated her suffering. Horav Yosef Salant z.l., offers a profound insight into the matter. Hagar had originally responded to the angel that she had fled from her mistress’ persecution. She had hoped that by escaping she would rid herself of  travail. The angel responded that when it has been decreed from…

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Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And (when) she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes… And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her (face).” (16:4,6)

There seems to be a distinct correlation between Hagar’s attitude towards her mistress and Sarah’s response. Horav Yisrael Yaakov Lubchenski z.l., suggests that actually Sarah’s attitude towards Hagar had never changed. It remained consistent throughout their relationship. After Hagar lost respect for her venerable mistress, however, she felt abused. He explains this statement in the following manner: Hagar was a princess who had left a lifestyle of wealth and fame to join Avraham in the quest for greater spirituality. She chose to be a maidservant in Avraham’s home, rather than a princess in an environment of godlessness and depravity. Undoubtedly,…

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Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And Avram said… what will your give me, seeing that I go childless and he that will be the possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.” (15:2)

Avraham Avinu entreated Hashem for a son, lest his servant Eliezer be the one to inherit his wealth. Chazal interpret the word eans using the principle of notaricon, as a modified form denoting Eliezer’s deeds. He would be ohrjtk ucr ,ru,n veanu vkus . He [Eliezer], ks, “drew” up his master’s teachings and “gave of them to drink”. He,  vean, imparted [his master’s teachings] to others.” Avraham’s request seems strange. He obviously had a student whose exemplary characteristic was his ability to impart all of his rebbe’s teachings to others.  Why did he need a son to do what his…

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Home -> 5755 -> Lech Lecha

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Lech Lecha, 5755

“And Lot journeyed from the east.” (13:11)

Rashi interprets Lot’s  journey from the east as creating more than a geographical distance. Lot “removed himself from okug ka ubunse, the Originator of the world”.  This separation was a critical choice on Lot’s part.  He was leaving the presence of the pious, saintly Avraham to dwell among the wicked, sinful nation of Sodom. Lot travelled away from Hashem. He withdrew his faith in the Almighty. This decision was the forerunner of Lot’s spiritual descent. Indeed, what seemed to be a simple choice then turned out to be the determining factor in his descendants’ “spiritual” decadence. We seldom realize the…

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