Peninim on the Torah – Page 180 – Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

ויזבח זבחים לאלקי אביו יצחק

He slaughtered sacrifices to the G-d of his father, Yitzchak. (46:1)

Yaakov Avinu was moving to Egypt. Although he knew quite well that his ultimate home would be Eretz Yisrael and that Egypt was a galus, exile, which he would have to endure – the move to Egypt was not an easy one. Galus has a transformative effect on a person. Some feel the need to adapt, to eschew past practices and beliefs. Otherwise, how can they survive in an environment that is foreign to them? Yaakov taught his children to remain focused on the future, on their return to the Holy Land, on their eventual redemption. With hope, one can…

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והיה כי תמצאן אתו רעות וצרות וענתה השירה הזאת לפניו לעד

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeilech

It shall be when many evils and distresses come upon it, then this song shall speak up before it as a witness. (31:21)

The Torah states that when the terrible evils and afflictions, the curses, of which many have taken their toll on us, descend on us, we will (despite the many travails) ultimately be spared. The Torah, which is referred to here as the shirah, song (of Torah), will serve as a witness in our defense – a testimony that will help turn the tide in our behalf. Nothing will be held back. We will sin, and we will deserve whatever fate is decreed against us, but we will be spared. Interestingly, the prophecy concerning the evils and distresses that will fall…

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ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeilech

So now, write this song. (31:19)

The Talmud Megillah 3A relates the conversation that occurred between Yehoshua bin Nun and a Heavenly angel that visited him. The purpose of citing the conversation is to prove that limud haTorah, the study of Torah, is more stringent than sacrificial service: “The angel said to Yehoshua, ‘This afternoon, you neglected to offer the Korban Tamid Shel Bein Ha’Arbaim, daily afternoon sacrifice, and now (after dark) you neglected the study of Torah.’ (This conversation took place during the battle for Yericho, shortly after Bnei Yisrael entered the Land and performed circumcisions on the men who had not been circumcised in…

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ומצאוהו רעות רבות וצרות ואמר ביום ההוא הלא על כי אין אלקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות האלה. ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא על כל הרעה אשר עשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeilech

And many evils and distresses will encounter it. It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” But I will surely have concealed My face on that day because of all the evil that he did. (31:17,18)

If the People finally came to the realization that the source of their troubles was Hashem’s concealing Himself from them, why does Hashem continue the punishment by concealing Himself even more? Why add more punishment if the people already have become aware of the reason for their troubles? The point has been made; now, it is time to move on. Horav Shlomo Teichtal, zl, explains this with a parable. A person had tried for some time to meet with a government official to discuss a zoning variance. It was crucial for his business that the zoning laws be modified so…

Home -> Vayeilech -> 5776

וילך משה ... ויאמר אליהם בן מאה ועשרים שנה אנכי היום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeilech

Moshe went… He said to them, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today.” (31,1)

Parashas Vayeilech invariably falls before Yom Kippur. The parsha begins with Moshe Rabbeinu reflecting on his life, in preparation for taking leave of his nation. This perspective gives each and every one of us something to think about. Even the quintessential leader of the Jewish People prepared to meet his Maker. The confluence of the Parsha and the time of year gives us food for thought. I recently came across a lecture from Horav Yoshiahu Yosef Pinto, Shlita, which adds compelling insight and even trepidation to the thoughts ruminating through our minds at this time of year. Moshe prayed fervently…

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מה פשעי מה חטאתי כי דלקת אחרי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5776

What is my crime? What sin did I commit that you were in such hot pursuit of me? (31:36)

After over two decades of being cheated and surrounded by his evil father-in-law, Lavan, Yaakov Avinu left in the hope of finally having a home undisturbed by the nefarious machinations of his father-in-law. Lavan, of course, accused our Patriarch of every evil endeavor known to man. Yaakov’s response? “What is my crime?” No screaming; no shouting; no malediction; just a relaxed and calm, “What did I do?” How did he contain himself after so many years of suffering and degradation? Horav Reuven Karlinstein, Shlita, explains that Yaakov did not respond to Lavan, because he was acutely aware that Lavan was…

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וישא את קלו ויבך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5776

And (Yaakov) cried out in a loud voice. (29:11)

The Torah informs us that Yaakov Avinu wept when he met Rachel Imeinu for the first time. Rashi gives us two reasons that the Patriarch wept. Horav Arye Leib Heyman, zl, addresses both reasons, seeking the Divine Providential factor in each one, and explaining how it impacted our People for generations to come. The first reason that Rashi gives is that Yaakov saw b’Ruach HaKodesh, by Divine Inspiration, that he would not be buried with Rachel. He would be buried in the Meoras HaMachpeilah, while Rachel would be buried on the road near Bais Lechem. We wonder why, specifically at…

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ויגל את האבן מעל פי הבאר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5776

And he (Yaakov) rolled the stone from the mouth of the well. (29:10)

Yaakov Avinu exhibited brute force when he rolled the heavy stone off the well. Was Yaakov attempting to impress Rachel Imeinu with his strength? Clearly, he had a deeper message to convey to his future wife than his brawniness. Furthermore, when Yaakov Avinu cried following his encounter with Rachel, Rashi explains that this weeping was the result of his seeing b’Ruach HaKodesh, Divine Inspiration, that Rachel would not be buried near him. If his vision was so penetrating that he could see the future, he obviously saw that Rachel was a righteous and virtuous woman who would certainly not be…

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ויגש יעקב ויגל את האבן מעל פי הבאר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5776

He stepped near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well. (29:10)

Rashi teaches that Yaakov Avinu was able to roll the stone off the well with the same ease as one removes a stopper from a bottle opening. Are Chazal that impressed with Yaakov’s physical strength that they feel it is a necessary lesson to impart to us? Are we that interested in our Patriarch’s physical prowess? Furthermore, in Tefillas Geshem, we say, Yichad lev v’gal even mi’pi be’er mayim… Baavuro al timna mayim, “He dedicated his heart and rolled a stone off the mouth of a well of water… For his sake, do not hold water back!” What merit does…

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ויפגע במקום וילן שם כי בא השמש

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5776

He reached the place and spent the night there because the sun had set. (28:11)

Darkness can be overwhelming. The symbolism inherent in darkness can be debilitating, since it evokes hopelessness; when there is no hope, there is no life. Hope is the candle that lights up the darkness, regardless of the size of the candle. Sadly, consistent with the well-known proverb, too many of us are too busy cursing the darkness to seek out a candle to counteract the darkness. We are too intensely involved in complaining about the miserable hand that has been dealt to us to focus on the positive, in order to engender hope into our lives. Yaakov Avinu had two…

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ויזבח זבחים לאלקי אביו יצחק

He slaughtered sacrifices to the G-d of his father, Yitzchak. (46:1)

והיה כי תמצאן אתו רעות וצרות וענתה השירה הזאת לפניו לעד

It shall be when many evils and distresses come upon it, then this song shall speak up before it as a witness. (31:21)

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת

So now, write this song. (31:19)

ומצאוהו רעות רבות וצרות ואמר ביום ההוא הלא על כי אין אלקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות האלה. ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא על כל הרעה אשר עשה

And many evils and distresses will encounter it. It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” But I will surely have concealed My face on that day because of all the evil that he did. (31:17,18)

וילך משה ... ויאמר אליהם בן מאה ועשרים שנה אנכי היום

Moshe went… He said to them, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today.” (31,1)

מה פשעי מה חטאתי כי דלקת אחרי

What is my crime? What sin did I commit that you were in such hot pursuit of me? (31:36)

וישא את קלו ויבך

And (Yaakov) cried out in a loud voice. (29:11)

ויגל את האבן מעל פי הבאר

And he (Yaakov) rolled the stone from the mouth of the well. (29:10)

ויגש יעקב ויגל את האבן מעל פי הבאר

He stepped near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well. (29:10)

ויפגע במקום וילן שם כי בא השמש

He reached the place and spent the night there because the sun had set. (28:11)

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