Derech Eretz – Page 36 – Peninim on the Torah

And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

Four words! Yosef turned to the dejected, deposed courtiers of Pharaoh, noticing their downcast appearance, he asked them, “Why are you so downcast? What is the cause of your depression?” Yosef’s sensitivity catalyzed circumstances that changed his entire life and the history of Klal Yisrael. Our course of history was altered because Yosef asked a simple question. He noticed–he cared–he took action. First and foremost, however, he noticed. This caring for another human being ultimately led to Yosef’s salvation from imprisonment and elevation to the position of viceroy. Thus, his father, Yaakov, was able to come down to Egypt…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

Sforno interprets the idea of “this evil,” to mean the performance of bad in return for good. Yosef’s prime concern was the gratitude he owed his master. He could not respond to the advances of his master’s wife because of his hakoras hatov, the appreciation he felt to Potiphar. We may infer from here a lesson regarding the significance of hakoras hatov, and how far one must go to fulfill his obligation to acknowledge gratitude. Yosef was subject to the blandishments of Potiphar’s wife on an almost constant basis. She tried to entice him in every way possible. She would…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeishev

And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

The Midrash questions from where did Reuven return? They respond that he was sitting in sackcloth and fasting, remorseful over his impetuous reaction to Yaakov moving his bed into Bilhah’s tent. Although Reuven did nothing more than tamper with his father’s bed, the Torah viewed his action as being a transgression. He now repented for his sin. The Midrash continues that Hashem told Reuven that previously no one had ever sinned and repented. Since he initiated teshuvah, he was to merit that his descendant, Hoshea, would petition Klal Yisrael to perform teshuvah with the clarion call of “Shuvah Yisrael.” Two…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

Rachel sat upon Lavan’s idols, which she had stolen, in an attempt to hide them. Lavan did not ask her to rise when she explained to him that the way of women was upon her. The Zohar Ha’kadosh, however, reveals to us an entirely new explanation for Rachel’s actions. She sat upon the idols because of her utter contempt for them. The teraphim were like many of the other idols which also had the ability to serve as mediums for divining the future. Rachel stole the teraphim, so that Lavan could not use them to find out where Yaakov…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeitzei, 5758

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

In his commentary on this pasuk, Ibn Ezra makes a compelling statement. He interprets Leah’s “gratitude” as if she were saying, “I have had four sons. I, therefore, thank Hashem, for I want no more.” It is as if she were saying, “I have enough; Hashem has been very kind. I am now grateful for everything that He has given me.” Therefore she stopped giving birth. Horav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, infers from Ibn Ezra that Leah caused her own inability to bear additional children. She claimed that she had had enough. Thus, she stopped conceiving and giving birth. Whether…

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Moshe Marcovich In Tzav, 5758

He slaughtered it, and Moshe took the blood…and he purified the Mizbayach….and he sanctified it to provide atonement for it. (8:15)

The Yalkut Shimoni questions the reason for atonement. What had Bnei Yisroel done that would have been considered sinful? Moshe was concerned that perhaps during the collecting for the Mishkan, undue pressure might have been applied upon people, causing them to contribute out of shame. This can be viewed as gezel, theft. Although a gift given under duress, out of embarrassment, is halachically valid, this gift cannot be considered b’ratzon, willful, as emanating from a total nedivus ha’lev, heartfelt contribution. In order for the kedushah, holiness, of the Mishkan to be pervasive, it was essential that it be built in…

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Moshe Marcovich In Tetzaveh, 5758

You shall make holy vestments for Aharon your brother, for glory and splendor. (28:2)

The Kohanim are to be clothed in vestments which reflect their wearers’ noble position. These garments were similar to the garb worn by royalty. They gave glory to Hashem as they lent splendor to the Kohanim who wore them. The Kohen serves as the spiritual mentor to Klal Yisrael. His total demeanor, including his clothes, must reflect the lofty position he holds. He teaches Torah, the code of Jewish Law authored by Hashem. As the Almighty’s representative for disseminating His Torah, his mode of dress must reflect dignity, sanctity and splendor. When the people gaze upon the Kohanim donned in…

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Moshe Marcovich In Shoftim, 5758

Judges and officers shall you appoint … you shall not plant for yourselves an idolatrous tree…and you shall not erect for yourselves a pillar; which Hashem your G-d hates. (16:18,21,22)

The Torah enjoins us not to plant an asheirah, which was a tree that was worshipped as an idol. Likewise, it is also forbidden to erect a pillar or single stone for the purpose of idol-worship. Although at one time this was a manner of worship to Hashem, it was adopted by the idol-worshippers. Hashem despises anything associated with idols. Consequently, it was forbidden for a Jew to worship by any means other than the Mizbayach, altar of many stones. The Torah’s juxtaposition of these laws to the pasuk regarding judges leads Chazal in the Talmud Avodah Zarah 52A, to…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Shemos

Let us deal wisely with them. (1:10)

The mentality required to enslave an entire nation of people constitutes a unique form of “wisdom.” As descendants of the original tribes who came to Egypt, Bnei Yisrael enjoyed respect, admiration, and prominence. Their ancestor, Yosef, was Pharaoh’s viceroy. How did their stature suddenly plummet to such a low degree that they were conscripted as menial slaves, performing harsh labor for the Egyptians? Are we to believe that Pharaoh’s “wisdom” was responsible for this feat? The Sforno presents a new perspective in understanding the meaning of the term, “dealing wisely” with the Jews. He claims that the Egyptians did…

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And he asked Pharaoh’s courtiers who were with him in the prison….”Why do you appear downcast today?” (40:7)

There is no one greater in the house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how can I have perpetrated this evil? (39:9)

And Reuven returned to the pit, and behold Yosef was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. (37:29)

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

And Rachel took the teraphim and put them into the camel’s pack-saddle and sat upon them. (31:34)

She conceived again, and bore a son and declared, “This time let me gratefully praise Hashem; therefore she called his name Yehudah, then she stopped giving birth. (29:35)

He slaughtered it, and Moshe took the blood…and he purified the Mizbayach….and he sanctified it to provide atonement for it. (8:15)

You shall make holy vestments for Aharon your brother, for glory and splendor. (28:2)

Judges and officers shall you appoint … you shall not plant for yourselves an idolatrous tree…and you shall not erect for yourselves a pillar; which Hashem your G-d hates. (16:18,21,22)

Let us deal wisely with them. (1:10)

YEARS

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