Excerpt from the book PACHAD DAVID PART TWO Bereshit • Shemot Rabbi David Hanania Pinto ’’ Grandson of venerable and holy Rabbi Chaim Pinto Zatsal Translated by Mr Jeff Soussana New York 13th of Sivan 5778 Chevrat Pinto Institutions The Kollel of Lyon The Kollel of Dayanut The Kollel of Guemara Hevrat Pinto Ohr Haim Ve Moshe Pachad David Beith Ha-Midrash Beith Ha-Midrash The Kollel Yeshivat Chevrat Pinto Chevrat Pinto Orot Chaim U-Moshe Torat David Kollel for Kollel Kollel Baalei Batim Pninei David Kol Chaim Rehov Ha’ahouza 98 Ra’anana • Israël Tel: +972 98 828 078 +972 58 792 9003 [email protected] Translation Mr. Jeff Soussana Editions Chevrat Pinto 207 West 78th Street - New York NY 10024 Tel.: 1 212 721 0230 - e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.hevratpinto.org Offered Graciously - Not for Sale 3 BERESHIT Contents Bereshith.....................................................................................................................10 “Distance Yourself From Evil and Do Good” – And Only Good!..........................................................................10 The Infinite Wisdom of the Torah ...........................................................................................................................12 There Is no End to the Holy Torah ..........................................................................................................................14 .Humility Is an Absolute Prerequisite for Observing Torah ...................................................................................16 The Essential Role of Humility In The Creation of the World ................................................................................18 Man is the Crown of Creation…But Only if He Fulfills the Torah .........................................................................20 The Strategy of the Evil Inclination ........................................................................................................................23 Wisdom was Given to Overcome Material Desires ................................................................................................25 Parsha Noah ...............................................................................................................27 The Influence of Torah Study and Prayer Even Extends to Others .........................................................................27 Faith Cannot Exist Without a Love for Others .......................................................................................................29 It is Impossible to Have Faith Without a Love for Others ......................................................................................31 From Noah to Abraham ..........................................................................................................................................33 Some View it as a Criticism ....................................................................................................................................35 Sages, Be Mindful of Your Deeds ............................................................................................................................37 How We Influence Others ........................................................................................................................................40 Parsha Lech Lecha ....................................................................................................43 Performing Mitzvot With Enthusiasm, not Out of Simple Habit .............................................................................43 The Deeds of the Fathers Are a Sign for the Children ............................................................................................45 Why Didn’t Abraham Fear a Neglect of Torah Study? ...........................................................................................47 Exile Yourself to a Place of Torah! .........................................................................................................................49 Man is Led Along the Path Which He Desires to Take ...........................................................................................51 Speak Well and Act Correctly..................................................................................................................................53 Who’s Afraid of Charity Collectors? .......................................................................................................................55 Parsha Vayeira ...........................................................................................................57 The Importance of Hospitality ................................................................................................................................57 Created to Change the Material Into the Spiritual .................................................................................................59 A Great Principle in Education ..............................................................................................................................61 When Does the Satan Come to Hinder a Person? ..................................................................................................62 Abraham the Hebrew ..............................................................................................................................................64 Circumcision: A Permanent Connection to Hashem ..............................................................................................67 How Far Should Hospitality Extend? .....................................................................................................................69 Let’s Invest in Education .........................................................................................................................................71 4 PAHAD DAVID Parsha Chayei Sarah .................................................................................................73 Everything Depends on Good Middot ....................................................................................................................73 Man Was Created Only to Overcome Trials ...........................................................................................................75 The Death of Sarah is a Teaching for All the Generations .....................................................................................77 Spiritual Perfection and Material Perfection .........................................................................................................79 The Life of Sarah and the Kingdom of Esther ........................................................................................................81 The Reason Behind Eliezer’s Oath to Abraham ......................................................................................................83 The Servants of the Patriarchs ................................................................................................................................85 The Importance of Men of Goodness ......................................................................................................................87 Taking an Oath to Strengthen Faith ........................................................................................................................89 Parsha Toldot .............................................................................................................92 Exiling Yourself to a Place of Torah Guarantees the Torah’s Existence Throughout the World ............................92 Jacob and Esau: Looking at the World in Different Ways ......................................................................................94 Isaac’s Love for Esau: A Way of Drawing Him Closer to Hashem ........................................................................96 A Covenant of Peace That Did not Last..................................................................................................................98 The Tzaddik Perishes, But No Man Takes it to Heart ...........................................................................................100 Jacob’s Garments ..................................................................................................................................................102 Whoever is Grateful can Receive! ........................................................................................................................104 Parsha Vayeitzei .......................................................................................................107 The Study of Torah Prepares us for Confronting Life’s Trials ..............................................................................107 Making a Person Sin is Worse than Killing Him ..................................................................................................109 How to Merit the Crown of Torah ..........................................................................................................................111 The Temple: Source of Israel’s Prosperity ............................................................................................................ 113 The Mandrakes ..................................................................................................................................................... 115 The Torah in Exile ................................................................................................................................................