Yeshiva World News

Vertluch: Parshas Vayishlach

When the Malachim returned to Yaakov, they gave him the grim report. Esav was advancing towards Yaakov with a frighteningly large army. He started to worry and daven to Hashem as the pasuk states קטנתי מכל החסדים. Yaakov was worried. He was concerned that he had run out of zechusim due to all the chesed that Hashem had showered upon him up until now. Rashi comments that even though Yaakov had a havtacha from Hashem he thought that he had sinned and therefore may have lost his ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Vayeitzei

The Jewish Home Not like Avraham who called it [the Beis Hamikdash] "mountain," and not like Yitzchak who called it "field," but rather like Yaukov who called it "house. . ." (Pesachim 88a). Rambam in the beginning of Hilchos Beis HaBechirah lists three functions of the Beis Hamikdash: (1) to be a bayis LaHashem- literally, God's house; (2) to be the place where sacrifices will be offered; and (3) to be the place to which the Jewish people will ascend three times yearly to celebrate the ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeitzei

Vayeitzei Yaakov miBe'er Shava vayeilech Charana (28:10) The parsha begins by relating that Yaakov departed from Be'er Sheva and went to Charan. As the Torah doesn't write unnecessary letters, why didn't the Torah relay the information more succinctly by stating Vayeitzei Yaakov miBe'er Shava l'Charan, effectively eliminating one seemingly unnecessary word (vayeilech)? Why is the verse written in this seemingly superfluous manner? The Medrash relates (Bereishis Rabbah 75:8) that prior to ...

Vertluch: Parshas Vayetzei

After all the hardships that Yaakov had endured with Lavan, they made amends and feasted over a korban together. When they were finished, the pasuk says (32; 1, 2) ‘And Lavan arose early in the morning and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them; and Lavan went and returned to his place. And Yaakov went on his way, and the Angels of Hashem encountered him.’ Rashi, on the last part of the pasuk, comments and asks ‘what does it mean that the Angels of Hashem encountered him?’ He ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Toldos

And the children clashed within her (Bereishis 25:22). Whenever she passed the entrances to the House of Study of Ever, Yaakov struggled to exit, [whenever] she passed the entrance to houses of idol worship, Esav struggled to exit (Rash) to Bereishis 25:22). The Midrash cited by Rashi requires much study, for it seems to imply that Esav and Yaakov were already fixed in their tendencies to evil and righteousness, respectively, prior to birth. That would seem to contradict the very foundation ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Toldos

Va'yetar Yitzchok l'Hashem l'nochach ishto ki akara hee va'yei'aseir lo Hashem va'tahar Rivkah ishto (25:21) After 20 childless years of marriage, Yitzchok and Rivkah petitioned and beseeched Hashem to give them children. Rashi explains that they didn't pray as one would typically pray, but rather they entreated Hashem repeatedly and with tremendous fervor before they were finally answered. What was Hashem's rationale for making them endure such intense and prolonged suffering? Why didn't He ...

Vertluch: Parshas Toldos

Parshas Toldos begins recounting the birth of Yaakov and Esav. When describing Esav the pasuk states that he came out of the womb ‘extremely hairy and red’. Rashi (25) comments that he was completely developed with hair, as someone who was already a mature adult. Rashi notes that he was referred to as Edmoni because it was a sign that he would grow up and become a murderer. Ba’al Haturim says that Esav was born complete, he was physically mature. He then adds that the numerical value ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Chayei Sarah

Remembering the Day of Death Sarah died in Kiriath Arba which is Hebron in the land of Canaun. And Abraham came to eulogize Sarah and bewail her (Bereishis 23: 2). Rabbi Yitzchak Karo in his work, Toldos Yitzchak, explains that the account of Sarah's death is placed between Rivkah's birth and Yitzchak's marriage to remind us that even on such joyous occasions as a birth or a wedding, one must still remember the day of death. It is the day of death which puts life in its proper ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Chayei Sorah

Vayakam Avrohom me'al p'nei meiso vay'dabeir el b'nei Cheis leimor ger v'toshav anochi imachem t'nu li achuzas kever imachem v'ekb'ra meisi mil'fanai (23:3-4) The Gemora in Bava Basra (15b) relates that the Satan challenged the piety of Iyov and suggested that his commitment to Hashem wasn't as pure and reliable as that of Avrohom, who didn't question Hashem's ways even when confronted with the trial of purchasing a burial plot for his beloved wife Sorah. As the Satan was attempting to ...

Vertluch: Parshas Chayei Sorah

After last week’s spellbinding account of the akeida, this week we start off by revealing the death of Sara Imeinu. The pasuk says (23: 2) ‘Sara died in Kiryas Arbeh……and Avraham came to eulogize Sara and to bewail her.’ Rashi comments that the reason why the parsha of Sara’s death is juxtaposed to the story of the akeida is to tell us that when Sara heard that her son was nearly slaughtered, her soul departed from her body. The gemara in Bava Basra (16) relates the conversation ...

Rabbi Krakowski: Parshas Chayei Sarah

Avrohom Avinu sets off in search for a burial site for Sarah Imeinu, with his eyes set on buying Mearas Hamachpeila from Efron. Efron tells Avrohom Avinu that he need not buy it from him, rather, that he may have it as a present. However, Avrohom stubbornly insists upon buying it. There is an obvious question here. Why did Avrohom find it necessary to purchase Mearas Hamachpeila, rather than just receive it as a present, when either way he would properly own it? In Derech Hashem, the Ramchal ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Vayeira

The Value of a Friend's Advice And God appeared to him in the plains of Mamre (Bereishis 18:1). The Midrash relates that when Hashem commanded Avraham to circumcise himself and his entire household, Avraham sought the advice of his three confederates - Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Aner told him that the bris would weaken him and render him vulnerable to attack from relatives of the four kings he had just vanquished. Eshkol stressed that the operation itself, with the attendant loss of blood, ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeira

Yukach na me'at mayim ... v'ekcha pas lechem v'sa'adu lib'chem (18:4-5) Avrohom excelled in the mitzvah of hosting guests. Three days after he had circumcised himself at the age of 99, Hashem didn't want Avrohom to burden himself with caring for guests. He brought a heat wave to deter all travelers on that day. Still, the weak Avrohom's greatest concern was that the unusually hot weather would deny him the merit of welcoming guests. Avrohom decided to sit at the entrance of his tent in the ...

Vertluch: Parshas Vayeira

When Hashem was preparing to eradicate Sedom, He made a decision to inform Avraham of His plans. He told Avraham that they were an appalling and corrupt people and that the only way to put a stop to it was to obliterate the entire city. Avraham acted as a defender for Sedom and asked Hashem if he woould spare the city’s destruction should he find fifty righteous people within. Hashem answered that he would, and as we saw from the pasukim fifty righteous individuals were not found. He then ...

Rabbi Krakowski: Parshas Vayeira

This week’s Sedra contains one of the most perplexing portions of the Torah. Avraham Avinu, who preached against human sacrifice at a time when this was a widely accepted practiced, Avraham who had waited for so long for his son Yitzchak, was now being commanded by Hashem to offer him as a sacrifice. Chazal explain that although Hashem commanded Avraham to bring Yitzchak as an offering he never actually asked him to sacrifice Yitzchak. Keeping this in mind, it is also possible to ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Lech Lecha

Abram took Sarai his wife and his nephew Lot, and all their wealth that they had amassed, and the people they had acquired in Charan; and they embarked for the land of Canuan, and they came to the land of Canaan (Bereishis 12:5). They brought them under the wings of the Divine Presence. Avraham converted the men, and Sarah converted the women (Rash) to Bereishis 12 5). World history, Chazal tell us, is divided into three periods, each lasting two thousand years. The first is called the ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Lech Lecha

Vayehi ka'asher hikriv la'vo Mitzraymah vayomer el Sarai ishto hinei na yadati ki isha yefas mareh at (12:11) Due to a famine in the land of Canaan, Avrohom and Sorah decided to travel to Egypt. As they approached the border between the two countries, Avrohom became aware of Sorah's beauty and began to fear that the Egyptians would want to marry her and would kill him in order to do so. Why did he suddenly become aware of her beauty at this time? Rashi explains that due to their ...