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PARSHA INSIGHTS by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair

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PARSHA INSIGHTS by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair SHABBAT PARSHAT VAYECHI • 18 TEVET 5781 JANUARY 2, 2021 • VOL 28 NO. 10 PARSHA INSIGHTS by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair Striving and Thriving “And he lived…” (47:28) he national census for Jews living in Israel was Yaakov's intention when he came down to Egypt was approximately 6,700,000 in 2019. That of the only to “sojourn” — not to live there permanently. T United States was approximately 6,543,820 in However, “And he lived,” the beginning of this week's 2018. If you add all the other places in the Diaspora, Torah portion, tells us that Hashem told Yaakov to from France with around 450,000 Jews, to El live out the rest of his life there. Also, the verb “to Salvador, or North Macedonia, or the Philippines, live” here suggests that Yaakov finally found peace in who have around 100 Jews, and factor in the Israeli Egypt. At the end of his difficult life, he finally found birth rate together with the increase in aliya to Israel tranquility. But didn't the Torah implicitly criticize from places like France — the Jewish population of Yaakov for wanting to dwell in tranquility, as we see the Land of Israel will exceed that of the Diaspora in at the beginning of the Torah portion of Vayeshev? the foreseeable future. This will trigger a number of halachic events and laws that have not occurred for "The actions of the Patriarchs are a sign to their children." nearly two thousand years. Yaakov's living and thriving in happiness in exile was We are coming to the end of our longest exile. The a sign for the generations that you can live — and story of the Jewish People in the Diaspora has not prosper — even in exile, by the diligent learning and been one of unremitting misery, despite horrific and the inspired living of the Torah, the qualities terrible events. For much of our time in exile, we epitomized by Yaakov. have managed to live and prosper without losing our identity among our hosts. Where did this ability • Sources: Abarbanel, Akeidah, ArtScroll Chumash - come from? Stone Edition Ohrnet Magazine is a weekly Torah magazine published by Ohr Somayach Institutions POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel - Tel +972-2-581-0315 ∙ Email. [email protected] Contributing authors, editors and production team: Rabbi Nota Schiller – Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz - Rav of Kehillos Ohr Somayach, Avi Kauffman, Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein, Rabbi Reuven Lauffer, Rabbi Yaakov Meyers, Mrs. Rosalie Moriah, Rabbi Moshe Newman, Rabbi Shlomo Simon, Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair, Rabbi Yehuda Spitz, Mrs. Helena Stern. ©1992-2021 Ohr Somayach Institutions – All rights reserved – This publication contains words of Torah. Please treat it with due respect. Editor’s disclaimer – Ohrnet Magazine is not intended to be a source for halachic rulings. In any real and specific case one should consult a qualified halachic authority for ruling. PARSHA OVERVIEW fter 17 years in Egypt, Yaakov senses his days Yaakov summons the rest of his sons in order to bless A drawing to a close and summons Yosef. He them as well. Yaakov's blessing reflects the unique has Yosef swear to bury him in the Machpela Cave, character and ability of each tribe, directing each one the burial place of Adam and Chava, Avraham and in its unique mission in serving Hashem. Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivka. Yaakov passes from this world at age 147. A Yaakov falls ill and Yosef brings to him his two sons, tremendous procession accompanies his funeral Ephraim and Menashe. Yaakov elevates Ephraim and cortege up from Egypt to his resting place in the Menashe to the status of his own sons, thus giving Cave of Machpela in Chevron. After Yaakov's Yosef a double portion that removes the status of passing, the brothers are concerned that Yosef will firstborn from Reuven. As Yaakov is blind from old now take revenge on them. Yosef reassures them, age, Yosef leads his sons close to their grandfather. even promising to support them and their families. Yaakov kisses and hugs them. He did not think he Yosef then lives out the rest of his years in Egypt, would see his son Yosef again, let alone Yosef's seeing Ephraim's great-grandchildren. Before his children. Yaakov begins to bless them, giving death, Yosef foretells to his brothers that Hashem precedence to Ephraim, the younger — but Yosef will redeem them from Egypt. He makes them swear interrupts him and indicates that Menashe is the to bring his bones out of Egypt with them at that elder. Yaakov explains that he intends to bless time. Yosef passes away at the age of 110 and is Ephraim with his strong hand because Yehoshua will embalmed. Thus ends Sefer Bereishet, the first of the descend from him, and Yehoshua will be both the five Books of the Torah. Chazak! conqueror of Eretz Yisrael and the teacher of Torah to the Jewish People. TALMUD TIPS by Rabbi Moshe Newman Pesachim 44-50 The Superior Vineyard We are taught in a beraita, “A person should sell all of his properties to marry the daughter of a Torah scholar, and, also, a person should sell all of his properties to enable his daughter to marry a Torah scholar.” his beraita teaches that a person who is for anything — there are two noted exceptions here committed to the Torah — for himself and for the sake of the Torah. T future generations — should be prepared to take bold action to help achieve these goals. Let’s examine one of these exceptions. A person Even today, when these measures may seem extreme should be prepared to sell everything he owns so that where there is virtually total insistence on standing his daughter will be able to marry a Torah scholar. on one’s own feet and also not sacrificing too much This is a dowry that will help the young couple get set www.ohr.edu 2 up with a home and their basic needs, and enable undignified nature and no discord.” them to be immersed in Torah and mitzvahs. The gemara offers two reasons for doing this. • Pesachim 49a One reason is to help ensure compatibility. The One beraita is a “Talmud Tip” for a parent who is a Torah scholar — or at least a parent who greatly values the Ravi Acha bar Chanina asked, “What does the following study of Torah and the fulfillment of its mitzvahs. verse mean?” ‘And Hashem will be King of the entire The beraita’s teaching is directed to this type of universe, and, on that day, Hashem will be One and His parent, as a parent who is not “Torah-centric” is very Name will be One.” (Zecharia 14:19) likely not interested in obeying the advice or halacha in this beraita (or any other one). Since the daughter The essence of his question is to understand why the of a Torah scholar will naturally be more aligned in prophet says that Hashem will be One “on that day.” her Torah way of life and her Torah way of thinking What about today? Of course He is One today, already with a husband of the same Torah goals and Torah — and has always been One and will always be One! character traits — her parents should therefore do whatever they can to help her find and marry her Rav Acha bar Chanina offers this explanation of the “Torah soul mate.” verse to answer his own (rhetorical) question: “This world is different from the World to Come. In this Our beraita describes such a marriage as comparable world, when hearing good news, a person says the to the successful blend of grafting one choice blessing, “Blessed is the One Who is good and does grapevine with another one — invei hagefen b’invei good to others.” However, in this world, on hearing hagefen — and as something that is very suitable and bad news, a person says the blessing, “Blessed is the beautiful. true Judge.” But in the World to Come, there will be only one of these blessings — the one for good news — And the gemara teaches another motivation for because there will no longer be any bad news.” In the parents seeking a Torah scholar to marry their future, it will be clearly recognized that everything daughter. A good parent certainly wants a son-in-law that Hashem does, did and will do, is only good — and who has internalized the correctness and need to the blessing will reflect this recognition: “Blessed is honor their daughter’s dignity and feelings. And the One, Who is good, and does good to others.” whether or not she is the daughter of a Torah scholar, she is “a daughter of the King”, and, as such, Some commentaries point out that this is similar to should be treated as royalty with great love and the theme we express when saying Shma Yisrael — respect. A husband who is a Torah scholar has the “Hear O Israel, Hashem, our G-d, Hashem is One.” refined character traits and demeanor to treat his Meaning: Although, nowadays, Hashem is recognized wife as not only Hashem’s princess but as “his as the One and only G-d by the Jewish People — queen.” The Rambam writes this idea succinctly, but Hashem Elokeinu, i.e. Hashem, our G-d — in the with words that every parent and and daughter need future, Hashem will be recognized and acknowledged to know before and during marriage: “In the homes as the One and only G-d by all the nations and of Torah scholars, there exists nothing of an people in the world.
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