Peninim on the Torah – Page 160 – Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

Rashi quotes Chazal (Megillah 16b) who indicate that Yosef and Binyamin wept over the destruction of the Sanctuaries which would be built in their respective portions of Eretz Yisrael. Yosef cried over the two Batei Mikdash which were to be situated in Binyamin’s territory, while Binyamin mourned the Mishkan Shiloh which was to be in Yosef’s portion of Eretz Yisrael. Clearly, the weeping generated by these destructions could have occurred at a different time. Yosef and Binyamin had been separated for twenty-two years. The joy in meeting one another must have been overwhelming. Just talking about the missing years and…

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ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

There is no question that the yetzer hora, evil inclination, maintains a powerful hold on man. As much as we try to extricate ourselves from its grip, it is very difficult. It is a never-ending battle from which we often do not emerge triumphant. Is there a strategy for overcoming the blandishments offered up by the yetzer hora with which it ensnares us? Why do some fall prey, while others survive the battle, often unscathed? In Mayanei HaChaim, Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, shares with us his secret for success. Lavan was searching for the terafim, his little idols, unaware that…

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עם אשר תמצא את אלהיך לא יחיה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. (31:32)

Yaakov Avinu made a statement, ascribing a premature demise to the one who had taken Lavan’s terafim, idols. He was unaware that Rachel Imeinu had taken them. As a result of our Patriarch’s words – albeit without malice and unwittingly – he catalyzed a tragic impact on his beloved wife. The Chafetz Chaim derives from here a compelling lesson concerning the gravity of one’s words. Yaakov certainly did not want to harm Rachel, but words, once they exit the mouth, cannot be recanted. They are gone, and, sadly, in this situation, they left an indelible mark. Yaakov was very careful…

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וישג לבן את יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

Lavan overtook Yaakov. (31:25)

Imagine how Yaakov Avinu must have felt when Lavan caught up with him. He made an attempt to escape. He knew that if Lavan overtook him, he had little chance to remain alive. No one could best Lavan. So Yaakov kept on running, while Lavan continued his pursuit. The Midrash teaches us that, while Yaakov was running from Lavan, unbeknownst to him, another enemy, his brother Eisav, was also in pursuit. Armed to the teeth with four hundred trusted soldiers, Eisav was finally free to rid himself of Yaakov. His brother would pay a hefty price for appropriating the blessings….

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ויקח מאבני המקום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

He took from the stones of the place. (28:11)

The Midrash disputes how many stones Yaakov Avinu took. Rabbi Yehudah posits that the Patriarch took twelve stones. Rabbi Nechemiah contends that he took three stones. The Rabbanan say that he took only two stones. Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, offers a homiletic understanding of Rabbi Nechemiah’s position that there were three stones. He suggests that “stones” are a metaphor which alludes to the three Patriarchs, who are the foundation stones upon which the world is built. Each Patriarch represents his individual approach towards serving the Divine. Avraham Avinu represents the middah, attribute, of chesed, kindness. Yitzchak Avinu characterizes avodah, service…

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ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5775

And Yaakov departed from Beer-Sheva and went to Charan. (28:10)

The Torah underscores Yaakov Avinu’s departure from Beer-Sheva. This emphasis begs elucidation, because we know that Yaakov left Beer-Sheva. It is the place in which he was living. Obviously, when one leaves – he leaves from home. Rashi explains that when a tzaddik, righteous person, leaves a community, it is no ordinary departure. It is a major event, because the community will never be the same. The departure of a tzaddik creates a stir and leaves an impression. When a tzaddik is in a city, he is its glory, its splendor, and its beauty. When he departs, these qualities leave…

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וימאן... הן אדני לא ידע אתי מה בבית

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

But he adamantly refused… Look – with me here, my master concerns himself about nothing in the house. (39:8)

The word va’yimaein, “And he (Yosef), adamantly refused,” has above it a shalsheles, which is one of the tamei ha’mikra, cantillation marks, rarely used in the Torah. The few times it is used, it is for the purpose of underscoring something specific. In this case, it notes the degree of refusal manifest by Yosef – adamant. The word shalsheles means chain, which lends itself to an inspirational story that adds commentary to this unique cantillation mark. Our story takes place during the dread Spanish Inquisition, when Jewish life in Spain and Portugal became meaningless, and Jewish blood flowed like water….

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ויהי ד' את יוסף ויהי איש מצליח... וירא אדניו כי ד' אתו וכל אשר הוא עשה ד' מצליח בידו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man… His master saw that Hashem is with him, and all that he would do Hashem would make successful in his hand. (39:2,3)

People go through life searching for success. They are seeking that unique elixir that will provide them with favorable achievement in all of their endeavors. Some are fortunate to find it; while, to others, it remains elusive. What is the key to success? Wherein does one find the passport to achievement? Yosef was successful. How did he do it? Rashi explains the phrase, ki Hashem ito, “Hashem was with him,” as Shem Shomayim shagar b’fiv, “The Name of Heaven was fluent in his mouth,” to mean that he would regularly refer to Hashem in conversation. The Midrash Tanchuma elaborates on…

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ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

Yehudah recognized; and he said, “She is right: it is from me.” (38:26)

Tamar could have saved herself and the two fetuses that were growing in her womb – at the expense of Yehudah. She was not prepared, however, to step on someone in order to save herself. Potifar’s wife wanted very badly to be married to Yosef. She wanted to contribute to Klal Yisrael. Yosef was not prepared to take the wife of his master. This was not only immoral; it was also prohibited. Chazal teach that both women had noble intentions. They both wanted a role in building Klal Yisrael. Something was apparently lacking in the l’shem Shomayim, acting for the…

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וישמע ראובן ויצלהו מידם ויאמר לא נכנו נפש

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5775, Vayeishev

And Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand; he said, “We will not strike him mortally.” (37:21)

What is the meaning of “Reuven heard”? Was he not present together with his brothers? He did not “hear” from afar; he was there! The Midrash explains that, indeed, Reuven was there; it is just that he viewed the situation from a different vantage point than his brothers did. It was as if he had heard differently than they did. When Reuven heard Yosef relate his dream, he heard something which the other brothers either did not hear, or to which they did not bother listening: Yosef mentioned that there were eleven stars. This indicates that he still included Reuven…

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ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך ובנימין בכה על צואריו

Then he fell upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his neck. (45:14)

ורחל לקחה את התרפים ותשימם בכר הגמל ותשב עליהם

Now Rachel had taken the terafim, put them into the camel’s packsaddle and sat on them. (31:34)

עם אשר תמצא את אלהיך לא יחיה

With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live. (31:32)

וישג לבן את יעקב

Lavan overtook Yaakov. (31:25)

ויקח מאבני המקום

He took from the stones of the place. (28:11)

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

And Yaakov departed from Beer-Sheva and went to Charan. (28:10)

וימאן... הן אדני לא ידע אתי מה בבית

But he adamantly refused… Look – with me here, my master concerns himself about nothing in the house. (39:8)

ויהי ד' את יוסף ויהי איש מצליח... וירא אדניו כי ד' אתו וכל אשר הוא עשה ד' מצליח בידו

Hashem was with Yosef, and he became a successful man… His master saw that Hashem is with him, and all that he would do Hashem would make successful in his hand. (39:2,3)

ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני

Yehudah recognized; and he said, “She is right: it is from me.” (38:26)

וישמע ראובן ויצלהו מידם ויאמר לא נכנו נפש

And Reuven heard, and he rescued him from their hand; he said, “We will not strike him mortally.” (37:21)

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