Bracha – Page 43 – Peninim on the Torah

“And this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each one his own special blessing.” (49:28)

From this pasuk Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, infers that all of Yaakov Avinu’s enjoinments to his sons were actually blessings. In other words, when rebuke is internalized, it can be transformed into a blessing. Indeed, didn’t Reuven and Levi correct their ways as a result of Yaakov’s admonishment? Likewise, when Zevulun was told that his descendants would be marine merchants, travelling the dangerous high seas, he accepted his fated vocation without fear. Their piety increased, since they were now acutely aware of their total dependence on Hashem’s mercy and beneficence for sustenance. We learn an appropriate approach to life’s occurrences…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayechi

“And he blessed them on that day saying, ‘with you Yisrael (Jewry) will bless (their children) saying: Hashem should make you like Efraim and Menashe.'” (48:20)

This blessing has become the standard for blessing children throughout history. Yaakov’s words express the hope that every Jewish child will follow in the path of Yosef’s two sons. What traits did Efraim and Menashe exemplify that distinguished them from any of the other shevatim? Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, makes a profound observation. The “way of the world” is that each ensuing generation digresses a bit more spiritually. As we become increasingly distant from the source of spirituality, we lose sight of our spiritual roots. Our ambitions no longer translate into lofty goals. We become complacent and settle for achievements…

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הפעם אודה את ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

This time I will give thanks. (29:35)

Rashi explains that Leah Imeinu’s present expression of gratitude coincided with the birth of her fourth son, Yehudah, because she now realized that she had received more than her equal share. Since Yaakov Avinu had four wives and was destined to have twelve sons, each wife would be expected to have three sons. With the fourth son, Leah had taken more than her share. In the Talmud Berachos 7b, Chazal make what seems to be an enigmatic statement. “From the time that Hashem created the world, no one had come forth and thanked Hashem until Leah came along and offered…

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וידר יעקב נדר לאמר אם יהיה אלקים עמדי... והאבן הזאת אשר שמתי מצבה יהיה בית אלקים וכל אשר תתן לי עשר אעשרנו לך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

Then Yaakov took a vow, saying if G-d will be with me… Then this stone which I set as a pillar shall become a house of G-d, and whatever You will give me, I shall surely tithe it to You. (28:20,22)

In Hilchos Arachin (6:32,33), the Rambam writes: “It appears to me that whereas one cannot consecrate something which has not yet appeared in the world (is not yet in existence); if he were, however, to state, ‘I take it upon myself to consecrate this object’ (which is not yet in existence), he must carry out his vow and consecrate the object when it appears in the world. For instance, if one were to say, ‘I will give the fruits of this field (which are not yet here) to poor people, he must give those fruits to the poor when they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Mikeitz

“And Yosef commanded to fill their vessels (with) grain and to restore their money each one’s to his sack.” (42:25)

In an attempt to cause his brothers to return to Egypt, Yosef returned their money to them and placed it in their sacks. This seems unnecessary. Would they not have returned simply due to the famine in the land? Also, Shimon was still incarcerated in Egypt. They had to come back to redeem him! The Brisker Rav z.l. gives a simple, but striking, response. The ten brothers were Shivtei Kah, the forebears of the ten tribes of Klal Yisrael. They constituted the standard for our nation. We have no idea of the level of bitachon, trust in Hashem, which they…

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ויחלם והנה סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה. והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים וירדים בו. והנה ד' נצב עליו.

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

He dreamt, and behold! A ladder set up toward earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven, and behold! Angels of G-d ascending and descending against it. And behold! G-d stood beside him. (28:12,13)

Yaakov Avinu set the tone and established the standards for our nation. The principles by which we live as a people were set forth by the Patriarch as he journeyed from Beer-Sheva to Charan. Yaakov gives us our name and destiny, as we are called Bnei Yisrael. Avraham Avinu was instructed to “go for yourself,” lech lecha, uproot yourself and your family, and leave for a destination unknown. He did so as a successful baal ha’bayis, householder, with a wife and retinue of servants and wealth. Yaakov did not leave because he was so commanded by Hashem; rather, the Almighty…

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ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5774

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

In the previous parsha, we read that Yaakov Avinu incurred the implacable wrath of his brother, Eisav, because he appropriated the blessings. Eisav was quite upset, and he swore to kill Yaakov in the proper place and time. This parsha begins with Yaakov leaving home on his way to seek a wife at his Uncle Lavan’s house. Between the time that Yaakov received instructions from his parents concerning leaving home for Charan, and the actual commencement of his journey, the Torah interrupts the story by informing us that, when Eisav saw that his father disapproved of Canaanite women, he decided…

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ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5774, Vayeishev

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

It is sad that those who – either by choice or by upbringing – live a life totally estranged from Torah have no clue how distant they are from the verities of the Torah, its values and proposed lifestyle. Many of them are well-meaning, good people, who simply do not know. They are clueless concerning what a Torah Jew believes and the lifestyle to which he adheres. I recently had occasion to have a conversation with a respected member of the secular Jewish clergy – which taught me how distant two minds can be from another. Yet, one of them…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“And it came to pass as her soul was departing, for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Binyamin.” (35:18)

As Rachel was about to leave this world, she realized that the child she had longed for was about to be born. She named him Ben-oni. According to the most common interpretation, Ben-oni is Aramaic for, “the son of my grief.” Yaakov called the child, “Binyamin,” which in Hebrew means, “the son of my right hand.” The Ramban states that there are two contrasting views expressed by the father and mother of this child. Rachel, the dying mother, seems to have accentuated the pessimistic significance of the word iut, “a son of my sorrow”. Yaakov, on the other hand, decided…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5755

“And a man wrestled with him.” (32:25)

Rashi cites Chazal who explain that the “ish” who wrestled with Yaakov was none other than Samael, the guardian angel of Eisav. Rashi says, however, that the angel who met Yosef as he searched for his brothers was Gavriel. What prompts Rashi to identify the angel who fought Yaakov as Samael and the angel who met Yosef as Gavriel? Horav Leib z.l., who was Av Beis Din in Pressburg, offers a novel response. He notes the disparity in behavior between the two angels. After Yaakov fought all night with his angel, he asked for one small favor– to be blessed….

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“And this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each one his own special blessing.” (49:28)

“And he blessed them on that day saying, ‘with you Yisrael (Jewry) will bless (their children) saying: Hashem should make you like Efraim and Menashe.'” (48:20)

הפעם אודה את ד'

This time I will give thanks. (29:35)

וידר יעקב נדר לאמר אם יהיה אלקים עמדי... והאבן הזאת אשר שמתי מצבה יהיה בית אלקים וכל אשר תתן לי עשר אעשרנו לך

Then Yaakov took a vow, saying if G-d will be with me… Then this stone which I set as a pillar shall become a house of G-d, and whatever You will give me, I shall surely tithe it to You. (28:20,22)

“And Yosef commanded to fill their vessels (with) grain and to restore their money each one’s to his sack.” (42:25)

ויחלם והנה סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה. והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים וירדים בו. והנה ד' נצב עליו.

He dreamt, and behold! A ladder set up toward earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven, and behold! Angels of G-d ascending and descending against it. And behold! G-d stood beside him. (28:12,13)

ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה

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

ואיך אעשה הרעה הגדולה הזאת וחטאתי לאלקים

How can I perpetrated this great evil and I have sinned against G-d! (39:9)

“And it came to pass as her soul was departing, for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Binyamin.” (35:18)

“And a man wrestled with him.” (32:25)

YEARS

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