Emes – Page 57 – Peninim on the Torah

“So now, please forgive the spiteful deeds of the servants of your father’s G-d.” And Yosef wept when they spoke to him. (50:17)

Yaakov Avinu had passed from this world. Feeling a sense of foreboding, the brothers asked Yosef to forgive them for what they had done to him. They recalled the suffering which had resulted from his sale to a degenerate nation that relegated him to live in miserable dungeons with individuals of base character. Their choice of words (“so now”) intimates that from now on – since Yaakov’s death – they will be seeking Yosef’s forgiveness. What does Yaakov’s passing have to do with the need for forgiveness? In his volume, A Vort From Rav Pam, Rabbi Shalom Smith quotes the Rosh…

Home -> Vayechi -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayechi

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

Yaakov Avinu explains to his son Yosef, why he did not bury Rachel in the Meoras HaMachpelah. It was Hashem’s decision that Yaakov bury Rachel on the side of the road, so that the exiled Jews would pass by the Matriarch’s grave on the way to Bavel. Her neshamah, soul, would weep and pray for their safe passage and eventual return. Rachel’s heartfelt prayers will effect a positive response from Hashem. But, we wonder why Rachel was selected for this mission? Clearly, she was virtuous and saintly, and her prayers would have great efficacy, but is that all? Horav Dovid…

Home -> Vayechi -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayechi

“Ephraim and Menasheh shall be mine like Reuven and Shimon… By you shall Yisrael bless… ‘May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menasheh.’” (48:5,20)

At best, Ephraim and Menasheh are considered equal to Reuven and Shimon, two of the Shivtei Kah, Tribes. However, when fathers and mothers bless their children they do not bless them, “May you be like Reuven and Shimon” (or any of the other Shevatim). Why, then, do Ephraim and Menasheh serve as paradigms for blessing? Surely, they were not better people than Reuven and Shimon. Sefas Emes explains the distinction. Although Ephraim and Menasheh were “second generation,” and therefore at birth were not on the same spiritual plateau as the Shevatim, they achieved their elevated status by developing themselves to reach…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayigash

“The days of the years of my sojourns have been a hundred and thirty years. Few and bad have been the days of the years of my life.” (47:9)

Daas Zekeinim m’Baalei HaTosfos quotes the Mishnah that says Yaakov Avinu was punished for making the above statement, condemning the years of his life as being “few and bad.” As a result of the Patriarch’s “complaint,” his life was shortened thirty-three years, which coincides with the thirty-three words (Pesukim 8-9) expressing this. The question is obvious and glaring: How could Yaakov have made such a statement? The Patriarch was an individual who served the Almighty with all of his heart and soul. How could he declare that his years were “few and bad”? Furthermore, to have made such a statement…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayigash

And he saw the wagons that Yosef had sent to transport him, then the spirit of Yaakov, their father was revived. (45:27)

In the previous pesukim, whenever Yaakov Avinu’s name is mentioned, his relationship to his sons is not indicated. Here, in denoting his “revival,” the Torah insists o underscoring that Yaakov avihem, “their father” became revived. What is the connection and significance of his being their forebear to his revival? Horav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Shlita, explains this based upon a principle quoted from his father Horav Shneuer Kotler, zl. The Rosh Yeshivah focuses on the opening Mishnah of Pirkei Avos, in which the Tanna commences his treatise on ethics by first introducing the Mesorah, transmission, of Torah from Hashem to Moshe and…

Home -> Vayigash -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayigash

But his brothers could not answer him, because they were left disconcerted before him. (45:3)

It had become clear to the brothers. The ambiguities with which they had lived for the last twenty-two years were all resolved, as everything that had transpired fell into place. Likewise, explains the Chafetz Chaim, when our exile is finally concluded and Hashem lifts the veil from our eyes, we will see clearly how the events of history all fit together. What up until now seemed to be an inexplicable puzzle will be revealed as a Divine master plan. In the Midrash Rabbah, a quotation from Abba Kohen Bardela has set the standard for understanding the concept of mussar/tochachah, ethical…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

It was the end of two years to the day. (41:1)

Horav Meir, zl, m’Premishlan, related that his father had once experienced aliyas neshamah, during which his holy soul took leave of its physical container and ascended into the Heavenly sphere. He “noticed” that two “people” were being brought into Heaven; one was quite young, while the other appeared to be very old. Strangely, in Heaven, they referred to the young man as a senior citizen, while, concerning the old man, the converse was true. His father questioned this. After all, this is the Olam Ha’Emes, World of Truth. One’s age should be registered in accordance with his biological journey on…

Home -> Vayeishev -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Vayeishev

After these things, his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Yosef. (39:7)

After spending a year in Potiphar’s service, the stage was set for Potiphar’s wife to express her desire for this handsome slave. Chazal teach that there is more to the story. Yosef ruminated, “My father was tested, my grandfather was tested, and I should not be tested?” Immediately upon hearing this, Hashem decided to grant Yosef his wish. He, too, would be tested. Chazal conclude that Yosef wanted to be tested, so that his latent strength of character would be freed and he could ultimately achieve more. Clearly, languishing in an Egyptian jail was not conducive to Yosef’s hidden abilities….

Home -> 5771 -> Vayishlach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5771

When he perceived that he could not overcome him, he struck the ball of his thighbone; and the ball of Yaakov’s thighbone became dislocated as he wrestled with him. (32:26)

Obviously, the dynamics of this “wrestling match” – this spiritual struggle between the forces of evil and falsehood and the forces of good and truth – have created powerful, esoteric implications and ramifications for generations. Chazal shed some light upon this struggle and the meaning of Yaakov Avinu’s “limping” afterwards. Sforno presents an interesting rendering of the phrase: “He could not overcome him” from the pasuk quoted above. Eisav’s angel – who represented him in this struggle to overwhelm Yaakov’s middah, attribute, of emes, truth, and his clinging to Torah – fought in vain to weaken Yaakov’s resolve. He clung so…

Home -> 5771 -> Toldos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5771

And it came to pass, when Yitzchak became old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, that he summoned Eisav, his older son. (27:1)

Yitzchak Avinu saw that his mortal years were slowly coming to a close. He called Eisav to grant him his fatherly blessing, as befits the first-born son. Rivkah Imeinu understood what was about to transpire, and she manipulated the situation, so that in the end it was Yaakov Avinu who received the blessings. One shudders at the thought of Eisav receiving the blessings. Yet, this was Yitzchak’s intention. How are we to reconcile ourselves with this? What did Yitzchak see in Eisav that prompted him to view him as worthy of blessing? True, Eisav was a fraud, a very talented fraud,…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5771 ->

“So now, please forgive the spiteful deeds of the servants of your father’s G-d.” And Yosef wept when they spoke to him. (50:17)

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

“Ephraim and Menasheh shall be mine like Reuven and Shimon… By you shall Yisrael bless… ‘May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menasheh.’” (48:5,20)

“The days of the years of my sojourns have been a hundred and thirty years. Few and bad have been the days of the years of my life.” (47:9)

And he saw the wagons that Yosef had sent to transport him, then the spirit of Yaakov, their father was revived. (45:27)

But his brothers could not answer him, because they were left disconcerted before him. (45:3)

It was the end of two years to the day. (41:1)

After these things, his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Yosef. (39:7)

When he perceived that he could not overcome him, he struck the ball of his thighbone; and the ball of Yaakov’s thighbone became dislocated as he wrestled with him. (32:26)

And it came to pass, when Yitzchak became old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, that he summoned Eisav, his older son. (27:1)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!