Commitment – Page 26 – Peninim on the Torah

אין שר בית הסהר ראה את כל מאומה בידו באשר ד' אתו

The prison warden did not scrutinize anything that was in his charge inasmuch as Hashem was with him. (39:23)

Prison is not a happy place. It is usually reserved for the dregs of society. Many are there because they were unable to defend themselves against the prevailing circumstantial evidence. Others just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yosef was accused of a crime which he did not commit, but, in Egypt, as in most countries, this does not prevent the ruling class from disposing one into a system where he is lost – often forever. Yosef was admired and revered by the warden, as well as by the prisoners. They saw that something was…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5778

יוסף ... היה רעה את אחיו בצאן

Roberto Szerer In 5778, Vayeishev

Yosef … was a shepherd with his brothers by the flock. (37:2)

As parents, we have an awesome responsibility to infuse our children with proper middos, character traits, coupled with yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, and an abiding commitment to Torah study and mitzvah performance. As parents, we are our children’s first and primary mentors. The rebbeim and moros that we choose for them are a reflection of our standards. Last, the joy in mitzvah observance that we present will have a lasting impression upon our children as they journey forward in the world. Horav Nissim Yagen, zl, relates the story of two American families who, on the outside, maintained similar lifestyles,…

Home -> 5778 -> Vayishlach

כי ירא אנכי אותו פן יבוא והכני אם על בנים

Roberto Szerer In Vayishlach, 5778

For I fear him lest he come and strike me down, mother and children. (32:12)

Rashi explains that, while Hashem did ensure Yaakov Avinu that He would protect him and that all would be good, perhaps, as a result of his “sin,” he might be compelled to fall into Eisav’s hands. Our Patriarch feared the repercussions of his sin. This was his madreigah, spiritual plateau, with regard to yiraas cheit, fear of sin. We can only begin to imagine what Yaakov’s criteria concerning sin were. Yaakov was concerned about the fact that he had made a bris, covenant/agreement, with the evil Lavan. Could this be a sin which would catalyze the loss of Hashem’s protection?…

Home -> 5778 -> Vayeitzei

כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך

Roberto Szerer In Vayeitzei, 5778

For you are aware of my service that I labored for you. 30:26)

Imagine in today’s day and age, a man working for fourteen years – day and night – exposed to the elements – not for money to provide his family – but for the right to have a family! Yaakov Avinu slaved for fourteen years – not to provide for his family – but just so that he could marry Lavan’s two daughters, who came to the table without any dowry. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, observes that those fourteen years serve as the bedrock, the foundation, upon which the national existence and family life of the House of Yaakov are rooted….

Home -> 5778 -> Toldos

יעקב איש תם ישב אהלים

Roberto Szerer In Toldos, 5778

But Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

Rashi explains that a tam is wholesome, a person who is not adept at deceiving. Thus, Yaakov Avinu is called a tam, because he did not deceive. Deception went against his grain. We find, however, in the following parshah, when Yaakov meets Rachel Imeinu, Va’yaged Yaakov l’Rachel ki achi avihah hu, “And Yaakov told Rachel that he was her father’s brother” (Bereishis 29:12). Rashi clarifies this statement, quoting the Midrash, “If he (Eisav) comes for deceit, I, too, am his brother in deceit; but, if he is a decent person, I am also the son of Rivkah, his decent sister.”…

Home -> 5778 -> Lech Lecha

ואת הנפש אשר עשו בחרן

Roberto Szerer In Lech Lecha, 5778

And the souls they made in Charan. (12:5)

Avraham Avinu was the amud ha’chesed, pillar of kindness. What was his greatest kindness? It was reaching out to people and teaching them about Hashem. To save a person from the clutches of idol worship and inculcate him with belief in monotheism is the greatest act of kindness, because this person has been saved – not only spiritually, but physically as well. We involve ourselves in all forms of chesed projects, but the most basic act of reaching out to our estranged brethren seems to elude us. This is especially true if the subject is in an environment that is…

Home -> 5778 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך... ואעשך לגוי גדול

Roberto Szerer In Lech Lecha, 5778

Go for yourself… and I will make of you a great nation. (12:1,2)

לך לך… ואעשך לגוי גדול Go for yourself… and I will make of you a great nation. (12:1,2) The term/class/status, minority, implies deficiency to a certain extent. Indeed, in contemporary society (and probably much earlier), the appellation, minority, relegates its members, or member, to an implied second-class status. This, of course, is dependent on the individual or individuals who fall under this status, either imposed by the members of the majority or self-imposed – due to a desire to segregate themselves from the majority. Having said this, we will analyze our People’s status – both vis-à-vis the world community and…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5772

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בנו לא ידע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who has said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition, and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Shevet Levi, he details their qualities and the perfection of their souls, which they exhibited while standing up for the Glory of Hashem and His Torah. They withstood enormous challenges to their spiritual persona and emerged better people, to the point that their individual personal lives had no meaning to them. They lived for Hashem. When Moshe stood in the midst of the Jewish camp following the tragic sin of the Golden Calf, he called out, Mi l’Hashem eilai! “Who is for Hashem should come forward and stand by me!” It was the tribe of Levi…

Home -> 5767 -> Bereishis

לפתח חטאת רובץ

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5767

Sin rests at the door. (4:7)

The yetzer hara, evil inclination, does not give up. It waits vigilantly for the yetzer hara, evil inclination, does not give up. It waits vigilantly for the opportunity to entice the individual to sin. The Midrash draws a comparison between the evil inclination and the dogs in Rome. Apparently, the dogs in Rome were extremely astute in providing sustenance for themselves. They would park themselves at the back of the baker’s door, where he stacked his freshly baked breads. As the baker stacked the breads, the dog feigned sleep in order not to arouse the baker’s vigilance. As soon as many breads…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5765

מימינו אש דת למו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

From His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them. (33:2)

Rashi explains that Hashem gave the Torah to Klal Yisrael amid fire and lightning. This mode of presentation carries great significance for the way we should study the Torah and for our level of commitment to it. Horav Elimelech, zl, m’Lizhensk comments that this spectacular manner of delivery was designed to impress upon the people that one must fulfill the Torah with the fire of fervor and self-sacrifice. This has been the legacy of Har Sinai – fire and self-sacrifice. Anything less than total commitment is no commitment. There are countless stories that demonstrate our People’s devotion to the Torah. In…

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אין שר בית הסהר ראה את כל מאומה בידו באשר ד' אתו

The prison warden did not scrutinize anything that was in his charge inasmuch as Hashem was with him. (39:23)

יוסף ... היה רעה את אחיו בצאן

Yosef … was a shepherd with his brothers by the flock. (37:2)

כי ירא אנכי אותו פן יבוא והכני אם על בנים

For I fear him lest he come and strike me down, mother and children. (32:12)

כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך

For you are aware of my service that I labored for you. 30:26)

יעקב איש תם ישב אהלים

But Yaakov was a wholesome man, abiding in tents. (25:27)

ואת הנפש אשר עשו בחרן

And the souls they made in Charan. (12:5)

לך לך... ואעשך לגוי גדול

Go for yourself… and I will make of you a great nation. (12:1,2)

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בנו לא ידע

The one who has said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition, and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

לפתח חטאת רובץ

Sin rests at the door. (4:7)

מימינו אש דת למו

From His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them. (33:2)

YEARS

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