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Home -> 5778 -> Vayishlach

ויהיו בני יעקב שנים עשר... בני רחל יוסף ובנימין... אלה בני יעקב אשר יולד לו בפדן ארם

Roberto Szerer
In Vayishlach, 5778

The sons of Yaakov were twelve… the sons of Rachel were Yosef and Binyamin… these are the sons of Yaakov who were born to him in Paddan Aram. (35:23,24,26)

The Rishonim, early commentators, question the location of Binyamin’s birth. The Torah states that he was born in Paddan Aram, when, in fact, he was born outside of Bais Lechem (Bethlehem) on the road to Efras. This is where Rachel Imeinu died and was buried. It was clearly not Paddan Aram. Ibn Ezra explains that the majority of Yaakov Avinu’s sons (eleven) were born in Paddan Aram. Chizkuni offers a novel response to this question, which offers us a powerful insight into the concept of tefillah, prayer. Indeed, Binyamin was not born in Paddan Aram, but the precursors for his…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayishlach

עכרתם אותי להבאישני בישב הארץ

Roberto Szerer
In Vayishlach, 5778

You have decomposed me, making me odious among the inhabitants of the land. (34:30)

Although the men of Shechem were collectively guilty of Dinah’s violation, either for harboring the perpetrator or for not preventing the outrage, Yaakov Avinu felt that the actions of his two sons had disgraced him. To the average unlearned student of the “Bible,” this would be another “example” of Jewish obsequisness, fear of retaliation, of taking a stand for what is right. Baruch Hashem, there are those who understand the depth of Yaakov’s shame as being related to his position as the b’chir ha’Avos, chosen of the Patriarchs. Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl, observes that Yaakov’s middah, attribute, was emes, truth….

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayishlach

ויאמר עשיו יש לי רב... וכי יש לי כל

Roberto Szerer
In Vayishlach, 5778

Eisav said, “I have plenty… in as much as I have everything. (33:9,11)

In addition to differences in their chosen vocations, Yaakov and Eisav had completely different perspectives on life. Yaakov Avinu was totally immersed in spiritual pursuits. The life of Eisav ha’rasha was all about the physical and the material. Spirituality did not play a role of any sort in Eisav’s world view. Satiating his physical desires, fulfilling his material needs, was what made life worth living. One powerful difference exists between the physical/material and the spiritual, with regard to satisfaction. One who is focused on the physical/material can never satisfy his physical/material hunger. One who is focused on spirituality, however, is…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayishlach

כי ירא אנכי אותו פן יבוא והכני אם על בנים

Roberto Szerer
In Vayishlach, 5778

For I fear him lest he come and strike me down, mother and children. (32:12)

Rashi explains that, while Hashem did ensure Yaakov Avinu that He would protect him and that all would be good, perhaps, as a result of his “sin,” he might be compelled to fall into Eisav’s hands. Our Patriarch feared the repercussions of his sin. This was his madreigah, spiritual plateau, with regard to yiraas cheit, fear of sin. We can only begin to imagine what Yaakov’s criteria concerning sin were. Yaakov was concerned about the fact that he had made a bris, covenant/agreement, with the evil Lavan. Could this be a sin which would catalyze the loss of Hashem’s protection?…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

ברך עלינו ד' אלקינו את השנה הזאת

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeitzei, 5778

Bareich Aleinu… es ha’shanah ha’zos. Bless on our behalf… this year.

We pray to Hashem for sustenance. This is an indication that we realize that sustenance comes from Hashem. We receive His sustenance through the various media that He employs on our behalf. We, of course, think that how we earn a living is our choice, when, in fact, it is totally from Hashem Who guides and directs us. The choices we make coincide with what Hashem wants us to do. In other words, when we do not achieve success at one position, it means that we should move on to another. Quite possibly, Hashem does not want us to earn…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeitzei, 5778

For you are aware of my service that I labored for you. 30:26)

Imagine in today’s day and age, a man working for fourteen years – day and night – exposed to the elements – not for money to provide his family – but for the right to have a family! Yaakov Avinu slaved for fourteen years – not to provide for his family – but just so that he could marry Lavan’s two daughters, who came to the table without any dowry. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, observes that those fourteen years serve as the bedrock, the foundation, upon which the national existence and family life of the House of Yaakov are rooted….

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

ואחר ילדה בת ותקרא את שמה דינה

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeitzei, 5778

Afterward, she bore a daughter and she called her name, Dinah. (30:21)

Everyone wants to get ahead, to rise to the summit of the spiritual ladder. What are we willing to sacrifice in order to achieve spiritual distinction? Are we willing to expend time and effort, give up financial security all for the purpose of spiritual achievement? The answer obviously should be a resounding, “Yes.” Nothing should stand in the way of spiritual ascendency. It cannot, however, be achieved on the “back” of someone else: a friend or even someone who is not a friend. Achieving closeness with Hashem cannot and should not be achieved at the expense of another Jew’s feelings…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

וישא את קלו ויבך

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeitzei, 5778

And he raised his voice and wept. (29:11)

Yaakov Avinu wept when he met Rachel Imeinu. He meets the girl that he is going to marry, the wife with whom he is destined to build Klal Yisrael, and he cries. One would expect a somewhat different reaction. Rashi offers two reasons for our Patriarch’s anomalous reaction. First, Yaakov saw b’Ruach ha’Kodesh, through Divine Inspiration, that Rachel would not be buried near him. Why was Yaakov Divinely inspired at this moment? Was there no other time for Yaakov to see b’ruach ha’kodesh that he would not be buried with Rachel? Second, Rashi offers a reason for Rachel’s loss of…

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Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

ואולם לוז שם העיר לראשונה

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeitzei, 5778

However, Luz was the city’s name originally. (28:19)

A man goes through life – and then he passes to the next world – the real world, the world of Truth. What is left of all the years that he spent on this world? Nothing but memories: no money; no material assets; no distinction – only memories. In order to perpetuate themselves, people build monuments, erect buildings, make tributes to their achievements. Why? So that they will be remembered. We are so fickle. Everything is for one purpose: so that the next generation will not forget us. No one wants to be forgotten, but are we prepared to lead…

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Home -> 5778 -> Toldos

ברך עלינו... את השנה הזאת

Roberto Szerer
In Toldos, 5778

Bareich Aleinu… es ha’shanah ha’zos. Bless on our behalf… this year.

Some people have difficulty confronting the present. They either live in the past: glories of yesterday; the successes that represent everything but the present – or they dream of the future: new relationships; new projects; new deals. The present is reality; it bespeaks responsibility, obligation, things we must do – now – not tomorrow. Bless on our behalf… this year. We are urged to live in the present, not wallow in memories of the past or dream fantasies of the future. Life is now. Serving Hashem is now. We must live in the present and make plans for the future,…

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