We hear it again and again, at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, from Fathers or Uncles or Grandfathers about how the young person carries the name, and indeed the midos and attributes of the one for which they are named. We hear how this young person carries the same attributes of Chessed, of dedication to Mitzvot, to Torah, to his fellow Jews as the Tzaddik/Tzadekket whose name he or she carries. And we learn that a Tzaddik, upon his earthly demise, lives on through the midot and kindnesses of descendents. It would seem that this recognition of inherited midos has its roots with Yaakov Aveinu.
Parsha Vayigash 5773: Yosef, the Brothers and Distinguishing Real Teshuvah From Mere Words, Spoken or Textual
Every so often, over the past 7 1/2 years since the expulsion of our brethren from their homes and neighborhoods in Gush Katif and the 4 Shomron towns, we read a piece on one of the news sites or receive an email voicing regret from those who either supported the expulsion or who sat on their hands and did nothing and who now would beg forgiveness from their evicted brethren in the hope of bringing peace to within Am Yisrael.
Such a paradigm piece was an Israel National News report a few years ago about how former IDF Chief Rabbi Yisrael Weiss expressed regret at having supported the expulsion, or as they call it the “disengagement.”
Parshat Mikeitz/Shabbos Chanukah 5773: Behind Yosef’s Marraige, and Hashem’s Miracle Cure for Modern Hellenism?
In last week’s Parshat Vayeishev, this author wrote about Yosef’s being thrown in a bor (pit) seething with snakes and scorpions — and the miracle of his emerging unscathed. This suthor ventured that there seven subsequent miracles that played a role in his life and in his becoming Viceroy, including who he was sold to and what was carried in their caravan, his ensuing journey to Mitzrayim and conditions of his slavery, his imprisonment on false charges and his liberation and ascendency to the position of Viceroy, second only to Pharoh.
The UN Vote — Failure of Oslo: They told Us Sweet L’il Lies
Parshat Vayeishev 5773: Chanukah, Yosef, and the Contrast Between the Brothers vs Israeli Hellenists’ War of Polarization on Yiddishkeit
With Chanukah 5773 coming in literally on the heels of Shabbos Vayeishev, we recall again a short article which appeared on the INN website entitled;”Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” (url for article no longer accessable) which told about the Menorah which Neve Dekalim residents made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on their Gush Katif town over the years.
Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many evicted Neve Dekalim residents, took this author back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yosef was thrown. The point bears repeating.
Parshat Vayishlach 5773: Levado: In Our Generations — Individually, Nationally
We learn at the end of Parsha Vayeitzei that Yaakov and his family were escorted by a group of Melachim to the border of Eretz Yisrael where a second group of melachim took over and escorted them inside Eretz Yisrael. Yaakov declared both groups to be Holy and named this border point Mahanaim for the two camps of Melachim.
It was about this second camp that our Parsha begins by informing that Yaakov sent Melachim (angels) — some render a translation of messengers:
“… ahead of him to Eisev to the land of Seir, to the field of Edom… Thus shall you say … to Eisev, so said your servant Yaakov: ‘Im-Lavan garti’ (I have sojourned with Lavan) …” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 32, posukim 4 & 5).
Parsha Vayeitzei 5773: Discerning Kindness From Cunning, Compassion From Cruelty L’Shem Shemayim
In writing on Parshiyot Chayei Sarah and Toldos, this author cited Rebbetzin Shira Smiles from her sefer “Torah Tapestries” in discussing the attributes of unconditional kindness and bringing unity possessed by Rivka Imeinu and how these attributes in her merited the resumption of the Lamp burning and the Blessed Dough from Shabbos to Shabbos in the tent of Sarah Imeinu, as well as the Cloud of Glory which resumed hovering over the tent continuously. Rebbetzin Smiles (“Torah Tapestries”, Parsha Toldos, pages 89-90) cites Rabbi Eliyahu Yedid’s explanation of Rivka Imeinu’s Test of overcoming her nature of kindness and fostering of unity, and the role it played in Yaakov Avinu’s receiving his father’s Brachot:
Parshat Toldos 5773: “When You are Aggrieved” — If the Jews Stray from Torah and Hashem’s Ways?
There are multiple lessons and discussions to come out of our Parshat Toldos: The Eisev paradigm of Kibud Av V’Eim (honoring one’s parents), how the childhood nurturing of Rivka Imeinu, in an atmosphere of wickedness, positioned and enabled her act l’Shem Shemayim so that the righteous child — Yaakov would receive the Brachot that Am Yisrael would descend from him and that the nations would serve his descendents, the contrast in personality between Yaakov and Eisev, Avraham Aveinu’s death and Eisev’s selling of his Birthright for some lentil soup, the deception of Yitzchak through the “tithing of salt and straw, the seeming deception through which Yaakov received the Brachot and more.
Parsha Chayei Sarah 5773: Why Hevron’s Ma’arot HaMachpela for Sarah Imeinu’s Burial Place?
Our Parsha opens by giving Sarah Imeinu’s age upon her death:
“Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years: the years of Sarah’s life.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 1)
Why was it necessary to break the 127 years into 3 sections rather than to merely say, as rendered in translation in The Living Torah Chumash by R’ Aryeh Kaplan z”l (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 1) :
“Sarah had lived to be 127 years old. These were the years of Sarah’s life.”
Parsha Vayeira 5773: Prayer and Avraham, vs Israel and Chutz L’Aretz in Our Times
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. Hashem is the Creator, The Master, The Ruler over the world who knows and is aware of everything. And so, as Hashem visited to inquire as to Avraham’s wellbeing, Avraham pardoned himself from Hashem when he spotted 3 travellers inviting them into his tent.