Commitment – Page 42 – Peninim on the Torah

But as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died on me on the road…and I buried her there on the road to Efras, which is Bais Lechem. (48:7)

On what basis did Yaakov expect Yosef to bury him in the Meoras Ha’Machpeilah, when Yaakov did not do so for Yosef’s mother, Rachel? Sensing Yosef’s possible quandary, Yaakov Avinu responded with the reason that he purposely buried Rachel by the roadside. When the Jewish people were to be led to captivity after the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash, they would receive solace from Rachel’s grave. When they passed along the road to Bais Lechem, anguished, persecuted, depressed and exhausted, Rachel’s soul would come to her grave to supplicate the Almighty on their behalf. Rachel’s cries for her children…

Home -> 5759 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5759

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

Chazal credit Yaakov Avinu with introducing Tefillas Arvis. Thus, the word “vayifga,” which is usually translated as “he encountered,” means, “and he prayed.” Prayer is, in essence, an encounter with the Almighty. The Patriarchs initiated each of the daily tefillos. Regarding Avraham Avinu, who originated Tefillas Shacharis, the Torah says, “Avraham rose early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Hashem” (Bereishis 19:27). The Torah uses the word, “amidah,” standing, regarding Avraham. In contrast, pegiah, encounter, is used in regard to Yaakov. Finally, the word, “sichah,” – “Yitzchak went out to supplicate (lasuach) in the field,”…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

Noach was a righteous man…Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

Noach walked with Hashem. This seems to be a positive comment about Noach’s virtue, until we note that the Torah writes about Avraham Avinu, “Hashem before whom I walked,” (Bereishis 24:40). Rashi notes that Avraham walked in front, without assistance. Noach walked with Hashem; he needed the support of the Almighty to maintain his spiritual strength. Without prompting from Above, Noach would have faltered. Avraham, on the other hand, had the spiritual fortitude to single-handedly override the challenges that confronted him. Chazal use the term, “hisorrerus d’l’eila,” inspired from Above, in reference to Noach’s spiritual commitment. In contrast, Avraham…

Home -> 5773 -> Yisro

הנה אנכי בא אליך בעב הענן... וגם בך יאמינו לעולם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5773

Behold! I (Hashem) will come to you (Moshe) in a thick cloud… and also in you they shall believe forever. (19:9)

The seminal event in Jewish history, the experience which transformed us from a tribe of people into a Torah nation, was the Giving of the Torah. Matan Torah. The unparalleled Revelation of the Shechinah which we experienced was much more than a spectacle that we witnessed. Indeed, we were much more than spectators. According to Ramban, every Jew achieved a level of prophecy during this experience. He explains that although Hashem spoke to Moshe Rabbeinu from amidst a thick cloud, the people, having reached a level of prophecy, were able to know prophetically of Hashem’s dialogue with Moshe. The people…

Home -> 5773 -> Yisro

ויענו כל העם יחדיו ויאמרו כל אשר דבר ד' נעשה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5773

The entire People responded together and said, “Everything that Hashem has spoken we shall do.” (19:8)

When the Kesav Sofer was Rav in Budapest, Hungary, a group of lay people complained concerning a certain Jewish banker who refused to close his bank on Shabbos. They considered this an affront to the entire community. “The Rav must take action,” they demanded. The Kesav Sofer was visibly depressed. Such an act of disgracing Hashem could not be countenanced in his community. This man was making a mockery of the Jewish religion and openly insulting the Jewish community. He sent for the banker to appear before him. The banker had no qualms about coming to visit the Rav –…

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ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Yisro, 5773

And Yisrael encamped there opposite the mountain. (19:2)

Rashi notes that the verb va’yichan is written in the singular. This teaches that the entire nation encamped k’ish echad b’lev echad, “as one person with one heart,” so great was their sense of unity. Only when we are united in our commitment to Hashem, each of us maintaining a single, unified desire to serve Him, are we worthy of the name Yisrael. No hatred, no envy, only love and caring – that is how we approached Har Sinai. Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl, explains that this is why, in the well-known Dayeinu segment of the Haggadah, we say, “If He…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5773

אל תירא מרדה מצרימה כי לגוי גדול אשימך שם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayigash

Do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make a great nation of you there. (46:3)

Yaakov Avinu needed reassurance. He was prepared for the worst, as he had already experienced so much hardship. It is no wonder, therefore, that when he was confronted with the beginning of what was to be galus Mitzrayim, the Egyptian exile, he was afraid. The Patriarch, however, did not fear for himself. His commitment and devotion to Hashem was unwavering. He feared for his children, his descendants who would be born into Egypt’s depraved culture. How were they going to be able to withstand the onslaught of evil and licentiousness, as they confronted an environment permeated with spiritual defilement? He…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5773

ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

Rashi teaches that yamim rabim, many days, amounts to a period of twenty-two years. This time frame coincides with the twenty-two years that Yaakov Avinu was away from home, thereby preventing him from properly carrying out the mitzvah of kibud av v’eim, honoring one’s father and mother. While we certainly are not in a position to understand the underlying reason for Yaakov’s behavior, there is clearly a powerful lesson to be derived from here. This is despite the fact that Yaakov’s decision to leave home was originally suggested, encouraged and approved by his mother, Rivkah Imeinu. Yet, Yaakov is held…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5773

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings. (37:1)

Rashi teaches that, after enduring the many trials of his life – Eisav, Lavan, the premature passing of Rachel Imeinu, and the violation of Dinah – Yaakov Avinu sought tranquility, leisheiv b’shalvah. Immediately, Kofatz alav rogzu shel Yosef, “The trial of Yosef tumbled suddenly upon him.” This world is one of continual striving. Although the Patriarch was near perfect, his work was not complete. The question that confronts us is simple: Does it have to be this way? Does life have to be a constant struggle? Would it have been so bad if Yaakov could spend his twilight years in…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5773

ויקם את החצר סביב למשכן ולמזבח... ויכל משה את המלאכה ויכס הענן את אהל מועד וכבוד ד' מלא את המשכן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Pekudei

He erected up the courtyard all around the Mishkan and the Mizbayach… And Moshe completed the work. The cloud covered the Ohel Moed, and the glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan. (40:33, 34)

Ramban addresses the reason Sefer Shemos concludes with the subject of the Mishkan, when, in fact, it is addressed earlier in Parshios Terumah and Tetzaveh. He explains that Sefer Shemos is referred to as the Sefer HaGeulah, Book of Redemption. It is the book that relates how Hashem came to His close nation and redeemed them from the pain and misery of the Egyptian bondage. Although they were no longer under the thumbscrews of their Egyptian masters, they were still in exile, in the sense that, until they would return to their place and come back to the level of…

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But as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died on me on the road…and I buried her there on the road to Efras, which is Bais Lechem. (48:7)

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

Noach was a righteous man…Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

הנה אנכי בא אליך בעב הענן... וגם בך יאמינו לעולם

Behold! I (Hashem) will come to you (Moshe) in a thick cloud… and also in you they shall believe forever. (19:9)

ויענו כל העם יחדיו ויאמרו כל אשר דבר ד' נעשה

The entire People responded together and said, “Everything that Hashem has spoken we shall do.” (19:8)

ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר

And Yisrael encamped there opposite the mountain. (19:2)

אל תירא מרדה מצרימה כי לגוי גדול אשימך שם

Do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make a great nation of you there. (46:3)

ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings. (37:1)

ויקם את החצר סביב למשכן ולמזבח... ויכל משה את המלאכה ויכס הענן את אהל מועד וכבוד ד' מלא את המשכן

He erected up the courtyard all around the Mishkan and the Mizbayach… And Moshe completed the work. The cloud covered the Ohel Moed, and the glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan. (40:33, 34)

YEARS

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