Commitment – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

וימאן

But he (Yosef) adamantly refused. (39:8)

Chazal (Yoma 35:13) teach that, if a wicked person (his neshamah, soul) comes before the Heavenly Tribunal and is asked, “Why did you not engage in Torah study?” and he replies, “I was handsome and preoccupied with my evil inclination,” we reply to him, “Were you any more handsome than Yosef who did not neglect Torah, despite his beauty?” Chazal go on to describe Potifar’s wife’s various machinations to entice Yosef to be with her. He rejected it all because of his abiding devotion to Hashem. This may be good and well, but Chazal (Sotah 36B) add something to the…

Home -> 5785 -> Vayishlach

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

Sruly Schnair In Vayishlach, 5785

I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

The numerical value of garti equals taryag, 613. Chazal teach that Yaakov Avinu implied to Eisav, “Although I was with Lavan for some time, I remained loyal to Hashem and observed all 613 mitzvos. I have not changed one iota. I am as committed today as I was when I left home.” Eisav should not have thought that he could prevail over Yaakov. The Patriarch’s merits will still protect him. Yaakov then added, Va’yehi li shor v’chamor; “I have an ox and a donkey.” Understandably, Yaakov was not informing Eisav of his material assets; rather, as the commentators explain, shor…

Home -> 5785 -> Vayeitzei

ועיני לאה רכות

Sruly Schnair In Vayeitzei, 5785

And Leah’s eyes were tender (29:17)

Rashi explains that Leah Imeinu wept copious tears in prayer to Hashem that she not have to marry Eisav. People would say that Rivkah Imeinu had two sons and her brother, Lavan, had two daughters. It made sense that the older daughter, Leah, would wed the older son, Eisav; and the younger daughter, Rachel, would marry Yaakov. The prospect of having to spend the rest of her life with the evil Eisav is enough to make anyone cry. As a result, Leah’s eyes became tender. Targum Onkelos interprets rackos as ya’in, beauty. Was Rashi unaware of Onkelos’ commentary? Furthermore, Chazal…

Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

In his hesped, eulogy, of Horav Meir Chadash zl, Horav Elazar M. Shach, zl, quoted the words of the Midrash, Va’yavo, And Avraham came- Where did he come from? Rabbi Levi said, ‘He came from the grave of his father, Terach, (He had attended to his father’s burial) Rabbi Yosi asks “But Terach died two years before Sarah? (How could you say that he came from Terach’s funeral?) Thus, we must say that he came from Har Ha’Moriah (from Akeidas Yitzchak)”. On the surface there is no way to reconcile these two diverse opinions. Two years is a time difference that cannot…

Home -> 5785 -> Vayeira

והאלקים נסה את אברהם

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5785

And G-d tested Avraham (22:1)

Avraham Avinu withstood the ten nisyonos, trials, with which Hashem tested him. What is so special about these trials that the Torah makes note to elaborate on them? Just about every one of them is recorded in the Torah, with the nisayon of the Akeidas Yitzchak achieving special prominence. Our Torah is neither a history book, nor does it relate stories needlessly. Every letter in the Torah is present for a profound reason. What is the Torah’s message with the redacting of these trials? Furthermore, why is it only with regard to Avraham Avinu that the Torah calls attention to…

Home -> 5785 -> Vayeira

עתה ידעתי כי ירא אלקים אתה

Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5785

For now, I know that you are a G-d-fearing man. (22:12)

We wonder what is the meaning of the words, Atah Yaadati, “Now I know (that you fear G-d)? Did we ever harbor any doubt concerning Avraham Avinu’s fear of Hashem? He was the consummate oved Hashem, servant of Hashem. Certainly, his yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, was unparalleled. Imrei Noam (Bereishis 32B) quotes the Gaon, zl, m’Vilna who explains that a person achieves spiritual perfection only if he must deal with two incompatible, incongruous character traits. For example, the heart of someone who is by nature the paragon of lovingkindness overflows with love for his fellow. No activity is too…

Home -> 5785 -> Lech Lecha

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך

Sruly Schnair In Lech Lecha, 5785

Go for yourself, from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house. (12:1)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:4) teach that Avraham Avinu earned his distinction by successfully passing ten trials. The first trial which the Torah elaborates, tested his ability to pick himself up, bid farewell to family and friends, and journey to a new land. Hashem was requiring him to start over and set up a new infrastructure for his outreach work. No one will suggest that moving is not difficult, especially if one has spent his entire life in a particular place. Leaving family and friends is equally challenging – for some more than others. Nonetheless, why does the Torah make such…

Home -> 5784 -> Ki Seitzei

כי יהיה לאיש בן סורר ומורה איננו שמע בקול אביו ואימו

Sruly Schnair In Ki Seitzei, 5784

If a man has a wayward and rebellious son, who does not obey his father or his mother. (21:18)

In the list of potential familial tragedies, the ben sorer u’moreh, wayward and rebellious son, is certainly in the upper stratum. This is clearly a tragedy, given that parents do so much and give all of themselves to raise their children along the proper and straight course. It happens, however, for various reasons or just because Hashem wills it. In other words, parents can do everything right, follow all the guidebooks and sefarim on chinuch, even daven and recite Tehillim, and Hashem can still decree upon them to have a ben sorer u’moreh. I would like to address the circumvention…

Home -> 5784 -> Re'eh

שבעת ימים תאכל עליו מצות לחם עני כי בחפזון יצאת מארץ מצרים

Sruly Schnair In Re'eh, 5784

For seven days, you shall eat matzos, because of it, the bread of affliction for you departed from the land of Egypt in haste. (16:3)

Is it bread of affliction or bread commemorating the haste in which Bnei Yisrael left Egypt? Veritably, the Jewish People, as slaves to Pharaoh, ate only matzah, which is considered poor man’s bread, because it takes longer to digest and allows the person to feel “satiated” longer. This was their bread of affliction. When they left Egypt, they left in a hurry; thus, their dough could not rise long enough to become bread. Sforno wonders why the Torah gives two reasons for lechem oni. He explains that Hashem took all the afflictions of Bnei Yisrael into consideration, and, as a…

Home -> 5784 -> Eikev

לאהבה את ד' אלקיכם ולעבדו בכל לבבכם

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5784

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart. (11:13)

The mitzvah of ahavas Hashem, loving the Almighty, is recorded in the Torah thirteen times. (Interestingly, the gematria, numerical equivalent, of ahavah, love, is 13. Another word that has such a gematria is echad, one. True love transforms two people into one. When we love Hashem, we abrogate ourselves, thus becoming completely attached to Him.) In the previous parashah, the Torah teaches that this love must extend to: b’chol levavcha, with all your heart; b’chol nafshecha, with all your soul (life); and b’chol me’odecha, with all your material assets. Chazal add their own interpretation to these three expressions of love….

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וימאן

But he (Yosef) adamantly refused. (39:8)

עם לבן גרתי ואחר עד עתה

I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. (32:5)

ועיני לאה רכות

And Leah’s eyes were tender (29:17)

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

והאלקים נסה את אברהם

And G-d tested Avraham (22:1)

עתה ידעתי כי ירא אלקים אתה

For now, I know that you are a G-d-fearing man. (22:12)

לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך

Go for yourself, from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house. (12:1)

כי יהיה לאיש בן סורר ומורה איננו שמע בקול אביו ואימו

If a man has a wayward and rebellious son, who does not obey his father or his mother. (21:18)

שבעת ימים תאכל עליו מצות לחם עני כי בחפזון יצאת מארץ מצרים

For seven days, you shall eat matzos, because of it, the bread of affliction for you departed from the land of Egypt in haste. (16:3)

לאהבה את ד' אלקיכם ולעבדו בכל לבבכם

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart. (11:13)

YEARS

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