Bracha – Page 33 – Peninim on the Torah

And Eisav raised up his voice and wept. (27:37)

Eisav’s tears have had a significant impact on the fate of Klal Yisrael. We have been considered unscrupulous for stealing Eisav’s birthright. Eisav was rewarded for his tears. He experienced peace and tranquillity as a result of his weeping. Moreover, the Zohar Hakadosh says that Moshiach will not come until Eisav’s tears will dry. This is the analogy: We will remain under Eisav’s power until we repent and shed tears that will overwhelm Eisav’s tears. What do Chazal mean by this? Ostensibly, Klal Yisrael has long ago surpassed the level of Eisav’s tears. What aspect of his tears condemned us…

Home -> 5758 -> Toldos

Moshe Marcovich In Toldos, 5758

Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall be as a mocker in his eyes; I will thus bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing. (27:12)

Yaakov feared that his deception would be discovered. If so, rather than receive blessing, he would have been cursed. We may question Yaakov’s concern. In the final analysis, he did serve his father. Yitzchak noted that the “voice” was not consistent with the “hands”; yet, he blessed Yaakov. What prompted Yaakov to fear a curse? Horav Ze’ev Weinberger, Shlita, renders a thoughtful explanation. When Yitzchak discovered that there was “something” inconsistent about the person who stood before him, he felt it could be attributed to one of two factors. Yaakov could have been dressed as Eisav, which would give…

Home -> 5758 -> Shemini

Moshe Marcovich In Shemini, 5758

And Aharon fell silent. (10:3)

The Ramban notes that Aharon maintained his silence only after first breaking into sobs. The Abarbanel disagrees, asserting that Aharon did not react to the tragic death of his sons. In an attempt to defend the Ramban’s position, the Chasam Sofer explains that while Aharon did weep, he cried in response to his sins which he felt precipitated the tragedy that befell his sons. Aharon’s silence was a sign of acceptance, of inner peace, of profound faith in the Almighty. Aharon’s silence reflected his serenity at accepting the Divine decree issued against his sons. How did he gather the fortitude…

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Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5758

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

The Torah’s use of the word “re’eh“, see, is significant. It is important that we clearly understand the relative effects of mitzvah and aveirah. We should actually see this distinction. We should be able to comprehend blessing as the direct result of a life of mitzvah-performance and curse as the product of a sinful lifestyle. All too often we attribute our good fortune to just that – good fortune. On the other hand, we perceive external factors to be the cause of our misfortune. We should open our eyes to perceive the accurate distinction between blessing and curse. Regretably, the…

Home -> 5758 -> Noach

Moshe Marcovich In Noach, 5758

Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. (6:9)

The Torah emphasizes “his generations.” This word stimulates various interpretations of Noach’s true level of virtue. Was he virtuous only because he lived in a generation that was synonymous with evil? Or would he have been considered much more righteous had he lived in a truly virtuous society? Regardless of the outcome of this dispute, we have to wonder. What is the basis for these two opinions? What aspect of Noach’s virtue provokes question? Horav Eliyahu Schlesinger, Shlita, applies a thought from Horav Meier Shapiro, zl, to respond to this question. The quest for peace is most compelling. Every single…

Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich In Naso, 5758

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

The various commentators render their interpretations of the Birkas Kohanim, priestly blessing. Rashi cites the Sifri that views the blessing as a reference to material bounty. “May Hashem grant that you be triumphant over your enemies and that your crops and business ventures succeed. May your possessions increase, and may Hashem guard these possessions from thieves.” In short, the blessing of “Yevarechecha,” May (Hashem) bless you, refers to receiving abundance, while the blessing of “Veyishmerecha” is a prayer that we be able to retain our blessing. The Midrash Tanchuma supplements the blessing with an invocation that our increase in material…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Mikeitz

When one of them opened his sack…he saw his money and behold–it was in the mouth of his sack. (42:27)

Rashi comments that the “echad,” the individual who opened his sack and found the money, was Levi. Abarbanel says that it was by design that Levi found the money first. Yosef had Levi’s money placed by the top of his sack, so that he would be the first to discover the money. Since he was the one most responsible for Yosef’s sale into slavery, the distress he experienced would provide atonement for his sin. In any event, the one who found the money first would be the one to impose a feeling of fear and remorse upon the rest of…

Home -> 5758 -> Ki Savo

Moshe Marcovich In Ki Savo, 5758

These shall stand to bless the people on Har Gerizim…and these shall stand for curse. (27:12,13)

The tribes were divided. Some stood by Har Gerizim to issue the blessings, while the remainder stood by Har Eival to issue the curses. Ibn Ezra notes that the bnei ha’geviros, sons of “main” wives, Rachel and Leah, stood for the blessings, while the bnei ha’shefachos, tribes that descended from the maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah, stood for the curses. In order to “even” the sides, Reuven and Zevulun, were to stand on Har Eival. What is unusual about this division of tribes is the fact that Yissachar and Zevulun were separated from one another. Moreover, Zevulun was on the side…

Home -> 5758 -> Ki Savo

Moshe Marcovich In Ki Savo, 5758

These shall stand to bless the people on Har Gerizim…and these shall stand for curse. (27:12,13)

Interestingly, this parsha is filled with promises of blessing for good behavior and punishment and curse for disobedience. Nowhere, however, do we find the entreaty, “Please, Hashem, do not punish us for the wrong behavior we have committed. Overlook our sins.” Horav Moshe Swift, zl, emphasizes that the concept of reward and punishment is an integral part of Jewish doctrine. When you do something wrong, you pay for your sin. When you do a good deed, you are rewarded. Every action, every activity, every word, is all taken into account recorded and compensated. Furthermore, if we note the text, Hashem…

Home -> 5758 -> Emor

Moshe Marcovich In Emor, 5758

Every native in Yisrael shall dwell in booths (23:42)

Every Jew is commanded to dwell in a succah for the prescribed period of seven days. Indeed, our ancestors went to great lengths to ensure that they fulfilled the mitzvah of succah according to halachah. A poignant story occurred concerning Horav Mordechai M’Nedverne that, while its focus is not actually on Succos, teaches us a timely lesson. In Rav Mordechai’s city, there was an outbreak of cholera, a very contagious plague. The doctors warned the general populace to exercise extreme care in regard to sanitary conditions. It just so happened that it was just before the festival of Succos. Despite…

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And Eisav raised up his voice and wept. (27:37)

Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall be as a mocker in his eyes; I will thus bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing. (27:12)

And Aharon fell silent. (10:3)

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. (6:9)

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

When one of them opened his sack…he saw his money and behold–it was in the mouth of his sack. (42:27)

These shall stand to bless the people on Har Gerizim…and these shall stand for curse. (27:12,13)

These shall stand to bless the people on Har Gerizim…and these shall stand for curse. (27:12,13)

Every native in Yisrael shall dwell in booths (23:42)

YEARS

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