Attitude – Page 97 – Peninim on the Torah

וישאל יעקב ויאמר הגידה נא שמך ויאמר למה זה תשאל לשמי

Then Yaakov inquired, and he said, “Divulge if you please, your name.” And he said, “Why then do you inquire of my name?” (32:30)

Yaakov Avinu wanted to know the name of the angel with whom he had wrestled – and won. The angel responded, “Why do you inquire of my name?” The commentators debate if this was a question, more or less, as if the angel were replying, “What difference does it make to you what my name is? You cannot do anything about it. I am not reachable by name.” Others contend that his response was actually his name. In other words: “Why do you ask my name?” is the actual name of the angel. Horav Shabsi Yudelevitz, zl, explains this. When…

Home -> 5776 -> Vayishlach

הצילני נא מיד אחי מיד עשו כי ירא אנכי אותו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5776

Rescue me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Eisav, because I fear him. (32:12)

Rashi explains the apparent redundancy continued in the pasuk: Miyad achi, miyad Eisav; “From the hand of my brother, from the hand of Eisav.” Sometimes Eisav acts like my brother, showing love and friendship which conceal his true, nefarious intentions. Other times Eisav acts like the evil person that he is, challenging me and stirring up adversity for me to overcome. Both the Kedushas Levi and the Chozeh m’Lublin write that Yaakov Avinu prayed to Hashem to spare him the challenge of Eisav, the yetzer hora, evil inclination, who was coming at him in the form of Eisav, his “dear”…

Home -> Vayikra -> 5776

ולא תשבית מלח ברית אלקיך מעל מנחתיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayikra

You may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from upon your meal offering. (2:13)

Rashi teaches that a covenant was enacted during the Sheishes Yemei Bereishis, Six Days of Creation, that ensured the lower waters (the waters of our earth) that they would be offered on the Mizbayach. This is executed through the induction of salt on the Mizbayach and the water libation. Apparently, the waters were appeased for a reason. What was it? In the beginning of Sefer Bereishis, Rashi comments concerning the creation of Heaven and earth which was preceded by the spirit of G-d hovering over the water. This would seem to indicate that the creation of the waters preceded the…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5776

ויאסור יוסף מרכבתו ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו גשנה וירא אליו ויפול על צואריו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayigash

Yosef harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father in Goshen. He appeared before him, and fell on his neck. (46:29)

Rashi explains that neither did Yaakov Avinu fall upon Yosef’s neck, nor did he kiss him, because, at the time of their meeting, Yaakov was preoccupied with reciting Shema. Yosef was not. This leads up to the obvious question: Was it the time for reciting Krias Shema — or not? If it was not Krias Shema recital time, why did Yaakov find it necessary to choose this unique moment of their meeting to capitalize on Krias Shema? Could the meeting not have waited a few moments? The commentators grapple with this question, each offering his own insight into this seeming…

Home -> 5776 -> Vayeitzei

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…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5776

וימאן... ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדלה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeishev

But he adamantly refused… how then can I have perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d. (39:8,9)

Above the word va’yima’en, “but he adamantly refused,” are two cantillation signs/notes, a shalsheles followed by a p’sik; the shalsheles is a rarely used sign. Together, they underscore the word va’yima’en, indicating that Yosef’s refusal was emphatic and unequivocal. It was a definitive “No!” which offered Potifar’s wife no question about her ability to entice Yosef into committing a sin with her. He asserted that there was no room whatsoever for negotiation. It was only after he emphatically said, “No!” that he explained his reasons to her. From this pasuk, Horav Shlomo Amar, Shlita, derives the Torah’s approach to dealing…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5776

והנה ארחת ישמעאלים באה מגלעד וגמליהם נשאים נכאת וצרי ולוט

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5776, Vayeishev

Behold! – A caravan of Ishamelites was coming from Gilead, their camels bearing spice, balsam and lotus. (37:25)

Rashi’s commentary is well-known. After all, why did the Torah find it necessary to mention the cargo carried by the Ishmaelite caravan? He explains that the Torah is teaching us that Hashem intervened on behalf of Yosef. Ishmaelite caravans usually transported foul-smelling cargo, such as naphtha and tar, but, in order to spare the righteous Yosef the discomfort of smelling the offensive odor, Hashem arranged for this caravan to carry sweet-smelling fragrances. Many lessons can be gleaned from Rashi’s interpretation of the sudden change in Ishmaelite cargo. Indeed, Horav Eliyahu Baruch Finkel, zl, categorizes these lessons, based on individual insights…

Home -> 5776 -> Vaeira

והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים והצלתי אתכם... וגאלתי אתכם... ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם, והייתי לכם לאלקים וידעתם כי אני ד' אלקיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5776

“I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt. I shall rescue you… I shall redeem you… I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a G-d to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt.” (6:6,7)

Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, observes that it is only after V’lakachti eschem li l’am, “I shall take you to Me for a people,” which is a reference to Kabbolas HaTorah, Accepting the Torah, that the Torah follows up with V’yidaatem ki Ani Hashem, “And you will know that I am your G-d Hashem, Who takes you out.” Until we received the Torah, we viewed life’s occurrences, even the spectacular miracles that overwhelmed Egypt, as supernatural events – but, we did not equate them with Hashem, nor did they bring us any closer to Him. It was after we donned the…

Home -> 5776 -> Tzav

והרים את הדשן אשר תאכל האש את העולה על המזבח ושמו אצל המזבח

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5776

And he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has consumed the elevation/burnt offering on the Altar, and lay them down at the side of the Altar. (6:3)

Prior to arranging the pyre and the kindling of the Altar fire, the Kohen was enjoined to perform the mitzvah of Terumas HaDeshen. The purpose of Terumas HaDeshen is not to prepare the Altar for the coming day’s sacrifices, since this is the focus of the Hotzoas HaDeshen, the removal of the ashes; rather, Terumas HaDeshen is in and of itself an avodah, priestly service. Thus, it may be carried out only by a Kohen kasher, dressed in his priestly vestments. The Haromas HaDeshen is the final conclusion to the service of the preceding day. Just as with the Korban…

Home -> 5776 -> Terumah

וישא עשו קולו ויבך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5776

And Eisav raised his voice and wept. (27:38)

Yaakov Avinu received the blessings from his father, Yitzchak Avinu. He had barely left the room before Eisav returned with his father’s meal. Eisav had been sent to prepare a special meal for his father, so that his father would bless him. Following his mother, Rivkah Imeinu’s instructions, Yaakov entered the room first, giving the impression that he was Eisav, and preventing the blessings from falling into the hands of the evil Eisav. Understandably, Eisav did not react kindly to this scenario. Feeling that he was the victim of fraud, having been outsmarted by his brother, he let out a…

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וישאל יעקב ויאמר הגידה נא שמך ויאמר למה זה תשאל לשמי

Then Yaakov inquired, and he said, “Divulge if you please, your name.” And he said, “Why then do you inquire of my name?” (32:30)

הצילני נא מיד אחי מיד עשו כי ירא אנכי אותו

Rescue me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Eisav, because I fear him. (32:12)

ולא תשבית מלח ברית אלקיך מעל מנחתיך

You may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from upon your meal offering. (2:13)

ויאסור יוסף מרכבתו ויעל לקראת ישראל אביו גשנה וירא אליו ויפול על צואריו

Yosef harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father in Goshen. He appeared before him, and fell on his neck. (46:29)

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)

וימאן... ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדלה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

But he adamantly refused… how then can I have perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d. (39:8,9)

והנה ארחת ישמעאלים באה מגלעד וגמליהם נשאים נכאת וצרי ולוט

Behold! – A caravan of Ishamelites was coming from Gilead, their camels bearing spice, balsam and lotus. (37:25)

והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים והצלתי אתכם... וגאלתי אתכם... ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם, והייתי לכם לאלקים וידעתם כי אני ד' אלקיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים

“I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt. I shall rescue you… I shall redeem you… I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a G-d to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt.” (6:6,7)

והרים את הדשן אשר תאכל האש את העולה על המזבח ושמו אצל המזבח

And he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has consumed the elevation/burnt offering on the Altar, and lay them down at the side of the Altar. (6:3)

וישא עשו קולו ויבך

And Eisav raised his voice and wept. (27:38)

YEARS

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