5757

“And the chief wine steward did not remember Yosef and he forgot him.” (40:23)

Chazal teach us that Yosef was forgotten because he was wrong in placing his trust in a mere human being. Did Yosef really behave inappropriately? What about the concept of hishtadlus, endeavor? Is one to sit back with folded hands doing nothing whatsoever, expecting the blessing to descend from Hashem? Horav Elyakim Shlesinger, Shlita, surmises from here a significant principle regarding the idea of hishtadlus. He cites the Midrash which quotes Hashem’s statement to Yosef, “The Sar Ha’Mashkim, wine steward, forgot you. I will not forget you. Who waited for Avraham and Sarah to attain old age before they had…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

From where was Reuven “returning”? Chazal teach us that he was engaged in fasting and praying for the sin of exchanging the beds. In accepting his teshuvah, Hashem said to him, “Never from the beginning of Creation has there been an individual who has sinned and expiated his sin via the medium of teshuvah. You began by performing teshuvah first. By your life, your grandson will also stand before Klal Yisrael and admonish them to perform teshuvah first.” This refers to Hoshe’a Ha’Navi whose words, “Shuvah Yisrael,” serve as the clarion call for teshuvah. The commentators ask the obvious question:…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

Chazal derive from the redundancy of the text that, although there was no water in the pit, dangerous creatures, such as serpents and scorpians, abounded. We may question the Torah‘s style in expressing its point. If the pit contained serpents and scorpions, why did the Torah not clearly state that fact? What purpose does the Torah serve with this back-handed approach? This question is posed by every serious reader of the text. The commentators offer a number of explanations. Horav David Shneuer, Shlita, takes a novel approach which teaches us an important lesson. The Torah asserts, “The pit was empty,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

Meilitz Yosher infers a striking lesson from this pasuk. One can have an abundance of “heteirim,” reasons for eating a certain food that is not kosher. He can find a number of reasons to justify his actions. Yet, when all is said and done, his action is simply not justifiable. This is similar to the lazy person who comes up with a multitude of excuses for not participating in a given endeavor. Indeed, all of the stated reasons may be true, but – the main reason that he is not involved in this endeavor is his indolence! The Torah tells…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeishev

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

The text begins with the word, “Vayeshev,” settle, and ends with “migurei,” sojourn. Chazal infer from this seeming ambiguity that Yaakov finally sought to settle down, to rest from the tzaros, afflictions, that were an integral part of his life. He was not, however, destined to rest. The righteous enjoy no rest in this world. Their ultimate rest and reward await them in the World to Come. Chazal do not mean that Yaakov is about to “retire,” to cease his work in this world. They simply teach us that the tzaddik’s work is never completed. Yaakov thought that he had…

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YEARS

“And the chief wine steward did not remember Yosef and he forgot him.” (40:23)

“And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold, Yosef was not in the pit!” (37:30)

“And they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it.” ( 37:24)

“And his brothers were jealous of him.” (37:1)

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

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BOOK OF VAYIKRAH

BOOK OF BAMIDBAR

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