5785 – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

Both Yitzchak Avinu and RIvkah Imeinu prayed fervently for a child. The Kaf HaChaim (281:8) cites the Sefer Chesed LaAlafim who states: “We have a kabbalah, tradition, handed down from Rav Yehudah HaChasid who taught that when one is confronted with a difficult challenge, committing to recite the Nishmas prayer (we recite Nishmas on Shabbos and Yom Tov at the end of Pesukei D’Zimra. We also recite it at the end of the Pesach seder) in the presence of a minyan is a segulah for deliverance. The tefillah is attributed to Rav Elazar Azkari, who lived in Tzfas during the…

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וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

With his hand grasping on to the heel of Eisav. (25:26)

Horav Yaakov Moshe Charlop, zl, explains the imagery of Yaakov Avinu holding onto Eisav’s heel as a metaphor that underscores the concept of limitation and restraint. A vicious dog chained to a stationary place cannot go beyond the pull of his chain. He can bark and growl and attack anything that comes within the parameter of his chain, but that is it. He is locked in place. Veritably, it often appears that Eisav is on top; he is first. Despite Eisav’s precedence in birth order, which grants him certain parameters of strength, Yaakov continues to hold on to his heel. …

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ויאמר עשו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדם הזה ויאמר יעקב מכרה כיום את בכרתך

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

Eisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me some of that very red stuff.” Yaakov said, “Sell, as this day, your birthright to me.” (25:30,31)

On the surface, to the uneducated reader, the story of Yaakov Avinu purchasing the bechorah, birthright, from Eisav seems highly enigmatic. Horav David Povarsky, zl, compares it to a shrewd man who saw a young child playing with a bag of diamonds. The man offered to give the young boy a bag of chocolates in exchange for the diamonds. The boy jumped at the idea and readily made the trade. Clearly, we would look askance at such a person. How could he have the temerity to take such advantage of an unknowing child? Eisav was clueless concerning the value of…

Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

In his hesped, eulogy, of Horav Meir Chadash zl, Horav Elazar M. Shach, zl, quoted the words of the Midrash, Va’yavo, And Avraham came- Where did he come from? Rabbi Levi said, ‘He came from the grave of his father, Terach, (He had attended to his father’s burial) Rabbi Yosi asks “But Terach died two years before Sarah? (How could you say that he came from Terach’s funeral?) Thus, we must say that he came from Har Ha’Moriah (from Akeidas Yitzchak)”. On the surface there is no way to reconcile these two diverse opinions. Two years is a time difference that cannot…

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כי אל ארצי ואל מולדתי תלך ולקחת אשה לבני ליצחק

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Rather, to my land and to my kindred shall you go and take a wife for my son, for Yitzhak. (24:4)

Harov Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zl, relates a debate that took place between a modern, progressive thinking Jew and a traditional member of the community. Clearly, a deep contrast existed between the divergent outlooks on Jewish life and living that guided these two men. The forward thinking (as he regarded himself) wondered why, when Eliezer sought a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, a woman who would one day be the next Matriarch, he did not look for yichus, pedigree, nor was he concerned whether she used electricity on Shabbos, (There is a serious debate among the poskim whether one is prohibited from…

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ויוסף אברהם

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham Avinu added, proceeded (25:1)

The Torah informs us that Avraham remarried Hagar. The word Va’yosef, he proceeded, also means that he added. The Sefas Emes interprets this as an allusion that teaches us the importance of tosfos Shabbos, adding on to Shabbos, i.e. beginning Shabbos earlier and extending it past the set time. The Pnei Menachem zl explains that prior to Shabbos (Friday) and after Shabbos (Sunday) there are klipos, “shells” (metaphysical barriers between ourselves and the light of the Creator.) Which represent evil or impure forces. They are the klipah of Yishmael which is on Friday (their day of rest) and the klipah…

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ויתן אברהם את כל אשר לו ליצחק

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham gave all that was his to Yitzchak. (25:6)

Daas Zekeinim m’Baalei Tosfos wondered how Avraham Avinu bypassed Yishmael and bequeathed all his possessions to Yitzchak Avinu. Yishmael was his son, perhaps one that did not engender much pride in Avraham, but his son nonetheless. Chazal (Kesubos 53A) teaches that one may not give to one child over another-even if the other son is of ill repute, because one does not know what offspring will descend from him. Avraham adhered to the entire Torah; he should have observed the laws of inheritance. They reply that Avraham and Yishmael were gerim, converts. Chazal (Kiddushin 1813) teach that a convert does…

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והאלקים נסה את אברהם

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5785

And G-d tested Avraham. (22:1)

In Judasim, mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice is about aligning one’s life with Hashem’s will, even at great personal cost. One must be prepared to go as far as making the ultimate sacrifice in order to demonstrate his consummate dedication to Torah and mitzvos. The rosh ha’maaminim, head of the faithful, Avraham Avinu, demonstrated his unequivocal conviction throughout his life. It reached its crescendo during Akeidas Yitzchak, the Binding of Yitzchak, when the Patriarch acquiesced to sacrificing his only beloved son and successor, Yitzchak Avinu. Someone who is studying Chumash for the first time may wonder: What is all the great to-do…

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והאלקים נסה את אברהם

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5785

And G-d tested Avraham (22:1)

Avraham Avinu withstood the ten nisyonos, trials, with which Hashem tested him. What is so special about these trials that the Torah makes note to elaborate on them? Just about every one of them is recorded in the Torah, with the nisayon of the Akeidas Yitzchak achieving special prominence. Our Torah is neither a history book, nor does it relate stories needlessly. Every letter in the Torah is present for a profound reason. What is the Torah’s message with the redacting of these trials? Furthermore, why is it only with regard to Avraham Avinu that the Torah calls attention to…

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ויאמר אברהם אל נעריו שבו לכם פה עם החמור

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5785

Avraham said to his lads, “Stay here by yourselves with the donkey.” (22:5)

The Torah relates that, on the third day of Avraham and Yitzchak’s journey, they saw the “place” from afar. Rashi explains that he saw anan kashur al ha’har, “a cloud affixed on the mountain.” The cloud that was above the mountain was a cloud accompanying the Shechinah. Chazal teach (Bereishis Rabbah 56:1), “Avraham said to Yitzchak, ‘My son, what do you see? Do you see what I see?’ Yitzchak answered, ‘Yes.’ Avraham then asked his two aides (Yishmael and Eliezer), ‘Do you see what I see?’ When they replied, ‘No,’ he said, ‘Since the donkey does not see and you…

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ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו

With his hand grasping on to the heel of Eisav. (25:26)

ויאמר עשו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדם הזה ויאמר יעקב מכרה כיום את בכרתך

Eisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me some of that very red stuff.” Yaakov said, “Sell, as this day, your birthright to me.” (25:30,31)

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

כי אל ארצי ואל מולדתי תלך ולקחת אשה לבני ליצחק

Rather, to my land and to my kindred shall you go and take a wife for my son, for Yitzhak. (24:4)

ויוסף אברהם

Avraham Avinu added, proceeded (25:1)

ויתן אברהם את כל אשר לו ליצחק

Avraham gave all that was his to Yitzchak. (25:6)

והאלקים נסה את אברהם

And G-d tested Avraham. (22:1)

והאלקים נסה את אברהם

And G-d tested Avraham (22:1)

ויאמר אברהם אל נעריו שבו לכם פה עם החמור

Avraham said to his lads, “Stay here by yourselves with the donkey.” (22:5)

YEARS

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