5755

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

Horav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, notes that immediately upon seeing that Lavan was chasing him, Yaakov sought to blame no one but his own spiritual failing. This is the hallmark of a tzaddik. When circumstances change for the bad tzaddikim instantly introspect, seeking to find fault in their own inadequacies. The simple way out is the one employed by most of us – rationalize and justify, but by all means blame it on something or someone other than yourself. This is not the Torah way. Every situation we are confronted with is a response to something we have done. Subsequently when…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

Yaakov did what few people ever do. He literally slaved for fourteen years to acquire his wives and, ultimately, his children. He never broke down in desperation or depression. He kept on going, resolutely warding off the temptations of his environment. He never deferred to deep-seated anger at his father-in-law for cheating him. He raised a decent family and infused in them a nobility of spirit and pride in being the sons of Yaakov, the future progenitors of Am Yisrael. The interesting point to note is that when it was all over and Yaakov was preparing to leave, with what…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

Yaakov Avinu’s dream contains profound implications which express the Torah’s perspective on life. The ladder serves an important purpose. The angels either ascend to Heaven or descend to the earth. Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l., suggests that this is the nature of Am Yisrael. The Talmud in Megillah 16a states, “This nation (Am Yisrael) is compared to dust and also to stars. When they descend (spiritually) they descend to the dust, and when they ascend, they can reach the stars.” Moreover, the Midrash states concerning this ladder, “Hashem showed Yaakov the meaning of “a ladder set up on the earth” as…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

Rashi notes the Torah‘s emphasis upon Yaakov’s departure. He explains that a tzaddik’s departure from a community creates a noticeable impact, for he is the glory, splendor and crown of a community. We may wonder why the Torah chooses to emphasize the tzaddik’s positive influence upon a community only after he has left. Doesn’t his stay within the community also create its glory and splendor? Responding to this question, Horav Elchanan Sorotzkin z.l. opines that the Torah is regrettably alluding to the obvious; it is only when a tzaddik leaves the community that people appreciate his contribution. On the contrary,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5755

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

Rashi states that it was not necessary for the Torah to mention Yaakov’s departure. It would have been quite sufficient to state his intended destination. The Torah is emphasizing an important point – that the departure of a tzaddik, righteous person, makes an impression upon the entire community. During the time that a tzaddik resides in a city/community, he constitutes its glory, its splendor and its crown. When he departs, however, these noble attributes are sorely lacking in the community. Consequently, his departure creates a significant void in the community. Many lessons can be derived from Rashi regarding the character…

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YEARS

“What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me?” (31:36)

“Give (me) my wives and my children for whom I have served you and I will go.” (30:26)

“And he dreamed and behold (there was) a ladder set up on the earth and its top reached up to Heaven, and behold the angels of Hashem (were) ascending and descending on it.” (28:12)

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

“And Yaakov went out from Be’er Sheva and (he) went toward Charan.” (28:10)

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