In last week’s Parsha Toldos, we learned about Rivka, who rose above an evil environment while internalizing it’s insights and was thus well positioned to urge Yaakov to claim the Bracha, and about Yaakov, the “Ish Tam”. We learn that Yaakov was “totally honest, a man of great integrity” but was also master over the trait of being “tam”, a “‘plain man’, … without trickery. This means that Yaakov did not allow this “Ish Tam” character trait to dominate him. He knew when and where to act otherwise. We knew that from his demand for the birthright from Eisev in exchange for the lentil soup. These traits surely seemed inculcated to Yaakov as a result of Rivka Imeinu’s nurturing.
Author: moshe
Parsha Toldos 5770: Yitzchak’s False Perceptions Regarding Eisev
In considering Avraham Aveinu’s passing and his son Yitzchak’s aveilut (mourning) of his Father’s passing, there seem to be a number of burning questions which beg to be asked concerning the relationship between Yitzchak and Eisev.
In understanding that Eisev was largely able to camouflage his evil behind his ability to honor his Father, how is it that he (Eisev), this master of Kibud Av, is out running wild committing two of the Big 3 aveirot — Gilui Aroyot; violating a betrothed maiden, and murder; in chopping off Nimrod’s head and killing his (Nimrod’s) 2 guards on the day of his Father’s aveilut?
Parsha Chaye Sarah 5770: Avraham’s Intuitive Perceptions, Today’s Real Adversarial Intentions
There are two intriguing commentaries, each relating to a different posuk of Parsha Chaye Sarah, regarding the dialogue leading up to Avraham Aveinu’s acquisition of the Ma’arat HaMachpela for 400 shekels of silver from Efron the Hittite.
The first of the two posukim is spoken by Avraham and says, in part:
“I will have given the money for the field; take it of me …” (Breish’it, Perek 23, posuk 13)
“…That a man may marry a woman by using money to effect the marriage is deduced in the Talmud (Kiddushin 2) by drawing a parallel from this verse. But the parallel goes beyond merely the acquisition of the land of the Efronite and the acquisition of a wife. Just as in a marriage the act of acquisition is only the beginning and not the end, because that is when all one’s obligations begin — food, clothing, etc. — the same is true in our dealings with the Efronites. Nothing ends with written contracts and agreements. We pay, pay and pay again, and yet they keep demanding more from us.” (Torah Gems on Chaye Sarah, page 182 quoting Rabbi A.M. Amiel)
Parsha Vayeira 5770: Stark Contrasts Between Chessed, the Ways of Sodom and Western Morality
Our Parsha opens with Hashem, as we understand, visiting Avraham Aveinu on the 3rd day after Bris Milah, when Avraham was at the height of his pain following the circumcision, as Rashi indicates, “to inquire about his welfare.” (Metsuda Linear Chumash rendering of Rashi on Perek 18, posuk 1)
It’s not like Hashem needed to pay a visit to ascertain Avraham’s actual condition for, Hashem is the Creator, The Master, The Ruler over the world who knows and is aware of everything. And so we learn and gain insight from this first posuk as to the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim; showing, caring, giving strength and encouragement to the ill by visiting and caring about them.
Guess What: Barak, Not Shimshon Battalion, Politicized IDF!
Commentary:
Many of you may wonder why this blog has been silent for awhile, aside from the weekly Parsha HaShevua.
Frankly, it’s been a case of basically the same recurrent news, day after day. How many times and in how many different ways can one comment on the same news, again and again with only the names and the specific events changing, but essentially remaining the same? This author has been commenting on recurring news for the 4 plus years that this blog has been in existence plus years before.
Hezbollah Heating Up North Again Amidst Israel’s Silence, Kassam From Gaza Hits South and Other War News…
4 Katyushas Found, Dismantled in Southern Lebanon Launching Site
Katyusha Rocket Hits Galilee [Near Kiryat Shemonah], by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (Israel National News)
Katyusha Explosion Causes Fire in Upper Galilee
Palestinians Fire Kassam Rocket into Israel [Lands in Sha’ar Hanegev Area]
IDF Troops Arrest 2 Palestinians [Terrorists] Near Bethlehem
Weapon Seized [From “Israeli” Arab] in Umm el Fahm
Parsha Lech Lecha 5770: Aliyah — Distinguishing Reality From Fantasy
“Hashem said to Avram, Go for yourself from your land … to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation…” (Breish’t, Perek 12, posukim 1 & 2) Lech Lecha, the “Aliyah Parsha.”
Rashi writes on the posukim, “For your benefit and good. It is there that I will make you a great nation …” (Rashi on Breish’t, Perek 12, posuk 1)
Sefat Emet asks;
“if G’d himself promised… that the move would be for his good and his benefit, why should this have been such a great test?” It seems that it was exactly because of Hashem’s promise to him that the test was of greater magnitude because when Avram actually went, he did so “as Hashem had spoken to him.” (Breish’t Perek 12, posuk 4)
Parsha Noach 5770: Added Thoughts on Compromising Principles for Perceived “Larger Cheshbonot”
There is a Midrash Says at the end of Parsha Breish’t which is prelude to No’ach and the Mabul. It speaks about Hashem, as it were, Bemoaning His Making of man. The Melachim say to Hashem that they would do far better than man and would sanctify Hashem’s Name. So they came down and were more evil than man.
The Melachim were referred to in Torah as “the sons of judges”, “the lofty ones” for “they took for themselves wives from whomever they chose. And so Gilui Aroyot (coveting illicit intimacies) became the “right of passage” expected by the “lofty ones” — the powers to be of the era and this evil became institutionalized,
Monday Thru Thursday War News: Kassam Rocket Strikes Western Negev, IAF Bombs Smuggling Tunnels; Hezbollah Arms Smuggling Videoed, Jewish Cars Stoned in North and Throughout Yehuda, Shomron, Palestinian Terrorist Nabbed Planning Attacks, Arabs From Silwan Neighborhood Toss Firebombs at IDF Vehicle in Jerusalem, IDF Nabs 16 Terrorists
Kassam Rocket Strikes Open Area [Between Sdot Negev and Sha’ar Hangev Regions] in Western Negev
IAF Bombs Smuggling Tunnels in Northern Gaza Strip
IDF Releases Video of Hezbollah Arms Smuggling
IDF Tells Soldiers: Don’t Kill Firebombers, by Gil Ronen (Israel National News)
4 Cars Stoned on Coastal Highway [in North Near Arab-Israeli Village of Jisar Azraka]
Wednesday Thru Shabbos, Sunday War News: Arab Rock and Molotov Attacks on Jewish Autos, Border Guard Unit; IDF Nabs Arabs With Knives, Molotovs; IDF Nabs 25 Terrorists, Attempted Arab Tractor Attack in Shvut Ami, 75 Arabs Nabbed in Uprisings
Rock Attack [by ARABS] at Wadi Haramia
Car Stoned at Beit Omer [Between Jerusalem and Hevron]
Woman Wounded After Palestinian [ARAB Terrorist] Hurls Rock at Car [Near Shechem]
Woman Seriously Injured in Arab Rock Ambush [Near Tapuach Junction]
Rocks and Molotov Cocktails Hurled at Israeli Cars [Near Shechem]
Palestinian [ARAB Terrorist] Arrested in Hebron After Soldiers Catch Him With Knife