Peninim on the Torah – Page 13 – Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

ויקח מאבני המקום וישם מראשתיו

He took from the stones of the place which he arranged around his head. (28:11)

Chazal teach that the stones began quarreling, each one vying for the tzadik to rest his head upon it. Thereupon, Hashem combined them all into one stone to serve the tzadik equally. Apparently, the competition among the stones lasted only as long as they were separated from one another. Why did it not continue, even when they became one with different surfaces? Each stone could have demanded that Yaakov rest his head on his portion of the stone. This teaches us that competitiveness and divisiveness occur only when people are separated from one another. When everyone lives together in harmony,…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeitzei

והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים ויורדים בו

Sruly Schnair In Vayeitzei, 5786

And behold! Angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it. (28:12)

The realm in which the Heavenly Angels make their “home” is Heaven. Thus, the Torah should have written that Angels were first descending and then ascending back to their spiritual habitat. Rashi clearly says that olim techilah, v’achar kach yordim, they first went up to Shomayim and then returned down to land. Horav Chaim Berlin, zl, explains this with a practical analogy. The eastern wall of a shul is called the “front,” and walking up to the lectern or Aron Kodesh is called “walking up.” The reason for this is that the Aron Kodesh, Ark, is situated on the eastern…

Home -> 5786 -> Toldos

אלה תולדות יצחק בן אברהם, אברהם הולד את יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5786

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

The opening pasuk of the parsha seems redundant. If Yitzchak was Avraham’s son, then obviously Avraham was his biological father. Rashi explains that the redundancy is deliberate, to attest that Yitzchak was unmistakably Avraham Avinu’s son both biologically and spiritually. Apparently, the leitzanim, cynics, were spreading the lie that Sarah had conceived through relations with Avimelech when she was in Gerar. They claimed that, at his advanced age, Avraham could no longer have children. [They ignored Yishmael’s birth.] In order to set the record straight, Hashem formed Yitzchak’s countenance to be exactly the same as that of Avraham. No question…

Home -> 5786 -> Toldos

ויאהב יצחק את עשו כי ציד בפיו ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5786

Yitzchak loved Eisav for game was in his mouth, but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

Rashi explains tzayid b’fiv as “cunning in his mouth.” Eisav was extremely smooth and able to articulate halachic questions, thereby giving the ruse that he was meticulous in his observance – which he was not. The obvious question is: How did Eisav pull one over Yitzchak Avinu? To suggest that, due to his immense level of kedushah, our Patriarch was slightly “naïve” in the evil ways of the world demeans the greatness of Yitzchak. Being holy does not mean being naïve. Indeed, Torah study makes one wiser and equips him with greater acuity. We have no question that Yitzchak knew…

Home -> 5786 -> Toldos

וישטם עשיו את יעקב

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5786

Now Eisav harbored hatred toward Yaakov. (27:41)

David Hamelech dedicates an entire perek Tehillim (109) to Eisav ha’rasha, wishing that this representative of evil incarnate receive his due via serious, painful punishment. He writes about the type of sins Eisav committed, the wrongs that he did, and he sums it up with what seems to be an enigmatic detail of his sins: Yizacheir avon avosav el Hashem, v’chatas imo al timach; “May their ancestors’ wrongs be recalled by G-d, the sins of their mothers not erased” (109:14). Obviously, the literal translation and actual meaning of the pasuk do not align. The Avos and Imahos did not sin. …

Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ויהיו חיי שרה ... ותמת שרה בקרית ארבע הוא חברון בארץ כנען

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Sarah’s lifetime was… Sarah died in Kiryas Arba which is Chevron in the land of Canaan. (23:1,2)

It is safe to say that Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu were the first great Jewish parents. As such, the manner in which they raised Yitzchak (Avinu) should serve as a guiding light for us. Every detail of their parenting was rooted in emunah and imbuing that faith into their only son. The discipline and love were real. They were not trying to impress anyone. Their efforts were foundational for setting up the principles upon which we – their descendants—live. Their sacrifices were unique in that they were the first people of whom Hashem demanded sacrifice. Thus, they set the…

Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספוד לשרה ולבכותה

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5786

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

The passing of a great Torah giant is a tragedy that reverberates across time. It is a loss not only for the present generation, but also weighs heavily on future inspiration: what would have been; who could have grown; the many students who could have been guided and are now lost in his passing. His teachings, however, his manuscripts and lessons transcribed by his students, keep him alive, as his voice resonates in their ears. Future generations will benefit. Indeed, the rebbe lives on in the students he created and in the ones who, through his sifsosav dov’evos be’kever, lips…

Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ברוך ד' אלוקי אדוני אברהם אשר לא עזב חסדו ואמתו מעם אדוני

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of my master, Avraham, who did not abandon His kindness and truth with my master. (24:27)

Eliezer’s declaration of gratitude concerning the chesed, kindness, he received is understandable. He arrived in Aram Naharaim for the purpose of finding a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, and he immediately met Rivkah, the perfect candidate. Where does emes, truth, enter into the equation? Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, zl, explains that, indeed, the concept of chesed is complex. It is possible that a person who offers assistance possesses a kind and generous heart. It is also possible, however, that this person, despite all his kindness, does not. For example, a person may demonstrate kindness which actually stems from egotism. This type…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeira

ויעש אברהם משתה גדול ביום הגמל יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Avraham made a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned. (21:18)

Tosfos (Shabbos 130A) teach that the Hebrew word, higamel, translated as “weaned,” can be broken up to read “was circumcised on the eighth day.” Higamel is comprised of four letters: hay, gimmel, mem, lamed. The first two letters – hay, gimmel – are read separately, and their gematriya, numerical equivalent, which is eight,is duly noted. The second two letters – mem, lamed – spell mal, which means circumcise. Thus, this pasuk can be read as, “On the eighth day, when Avraham Avinu circumcised Yitzchak, he made a festive celebration.” Tosfos derive from here that on the eighth day of his…

Home -> 5786 -> Vayeira

קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5786

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

Akeidas Yitzchak, binding of Yitzchak, is considered Avraham Avinu’s tenth and most challenging trial. This test was to catapult our Patriarch to the apex of avodas ha’Borei, service to the Creator. We wonder if the tenth trial was that difficult, after he had already passed nine earlier trials, with each success refining and enhancing Avraham’s level of mesiras nefesh. For instance, if a person must scale a large mountain, with the last one hundred feet fraught with danger, can we say that it is the same as the fellow who stands at the foot of the mountain prepared to climb? …

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ויקח מאבני המקום וישם מראשתיו

He took from the stones of the place which he arranged around his head. (28:11)

והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים ויורדים בו

And behold! Angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it. (28:12)

אלה תולדות יצחק בן אברהם, אברהם הולד את יצחק

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

ויאהב יצחק את עשו כי ציד בפיו ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Yitzchak loved Eisav for game was in his mouth, but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

וישטם עשיו את יעקב

Now Eisav harbored hatred toward Yaakov. (27:41)

ויהיו חיי שרה ... ותמת שרה בקרית ארבע הוא חברון בארץ כנען

Sarah’s lifetime was… Sarah died in Kiryas Arba which is Chevron in the land of Canaan. (23:1,2)

ויבא אברהם לספוד לשרה ולבכותה

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

ברוך ד' אלוקי אדוני אברהם אשר לא עזב חסדו ואמתו מעם אדוני

Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of my master, Avraham, who did not abandon His kindness and truth with my master. (24:27)

ויעש אברהם משתה גדול ביום הגמל יצחק

Avraham made a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned. (21:18)

קח נא את בנך את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק

Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak. (22:2)

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