Mikeitz 5781

Mikeitz

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR BALANCE SHEET

This week’s Parsha, Mikeitz, begins with the Torah informing us that Yosef’s freedom from prison was delayed two years. Our Sages explain that this was the con-sequence of Yosef’s lack of bitachon (trust) in HaShem. In last week’s Parsha, after Yosef deciphered the butler’s dream he asked the butler to please remember him to Pharaoh and to get him out of prison. This slight reliance on the butler’s assistance demonstrated an ever so slight shortcoming in Yosef’s bitachon. He should have said nothing to the butler and allow HaShem to bring about his freedom with no assistance at all.

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Vayishlach 5781

Vayishlach

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THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

In this week’s Parsha, Vayishlach, HaShem tells Yaakov “The Land that I gave to Avraham and to Yitzchok I will give it to you and to your children after you I shall give the Land.” The redundancy jumps out at us. Why does HaShem indicate giving the Land to Yaakov and his children twice?

The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains “if HaShem did not repeat the second giving, the implication would be that Yaakov will receive the Land for the sake of giving it to his children. With the additional giving, HaShem is telling Yaakov that He is giving it to Yaakov for himself and He is also giving it to Yaakov’s children.”

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Vayeitzei 5781

Vayeitzei

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HASHGACHA PRATIS

This week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, opens with our father Yaakov on his way to his uncle Lavan where he hoped to find a wife and begin his family. He knew that his family would be the beginning of the Jewish people. He also knew that Lavan was a man of evil design and recognized the dangers he would encounter living with him and raising his family there. With this in mind HaShem came to Yaakov and promised him that He will be with him and provide His direct Providence wherever he should go. HaShem’s promise of hashgacha pratis, personal providence, has been the legacy of our people which we inherited from our fathers. To the extent that a Jew places his trust and reliance on HaShem, to that extent HaShem supports and provides for him. As the prophet Yirmiyahu writes “Blessed is the person who relies upon HaShem, and HaShem will be his support.”

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