Friday, December 18, 2009

Parshas Mikeitz

Liyluy Nishmas Elchonon Tzvi ben R'Yisroel Menachem..... In perek mem alef psukim lamud tes and mem it says, "Vayomer Pharaoh el Yosef, acharei hodia Elokim oscha es kol zos ein navon v'chacham kamocha.  Atah tihiyeh al beisi, v'al picha yishak kol ami, rak hakisei egdal mimeka."  Reb Chaim Shmulevitz ztl asks, how does this make any sense? How did Pharaoh just give over so much of his kingdom to some random eved who was young, a stranger, and to top it off an ivri! Very nice he interpreted a dream for him, but should that be something that causes Pharaoh to just sign off his whole country to Yosef?  Reb Chaim answers, bsheim the Alter of Kelm, ztl, that what Pharaoh saw was the Yiras Shomayim that Yosef had.  He saw how Yosef responded when he said, "Elokim ya'aneh es shilom Pharaoh."  "I don't have any powers to interpret your dream, Hashem will.  That is why Pharaoh answered, "Acharei hodia Elokim."  He saw that the wisdom that Yosef had was straight from Hkbh and therefore knew that he deserved to be and would do wonders as a leader.  Everyone is mivatel themselves in front of a true Yiras Shomayim.... Good Shabbos and Afreilichin Chanuka

Friday, December 11, 2009

Parshas Vayeishev

Liyluy Nishmas Elchonon Tzvi ben R'Yisroel Menachem.......In Perek Kuf Yud Dalid Kapital Gimmel in Tehillim it says "Ha'yam Ra'ah Va'yanas" Chazal discuss that what the sea saw that caused it to split was the aron of Yosef that was coming toward the sea. Hashem told the sea "Yanus Mipnei Hanas" as it says in Perek Lamud Tes Posuk Yud Beis "Va'yanas Va'yeitzei Hachutzah"..Yosef fled and ran outside (away from eishes Potiphar).Rav Chaim Shmulevitz ztl is troubled by why running out was singled out from all the other things that he did - For stopping himself from the etzem aveira he got tremendous schar. Not only that, Chazal go through each limb of his and the schar that he got for not doing an aveira with that limb.Obviously there is  something extra special and extra hard about his running outside above all the other restraints,that caused him to get the greatest reward of all, having the Yam Suf split to save all of Klal Yisroel,.Reb Chaim explains,that this teaches us a tremendous yesod in the avoda of man. We all think that we will work on ourselves for years and then we'll go out out and fight our yetzer harah! We think that after preparing for the fight, we have a chance against him! How foolish can we be?! From Yosef we see the way to win is to run, get out of the ring.He knew that sticking around for even one more second would just increase his chances of losing the battle. He understood the power of the yetzer harah and therefore ran for his life not even taking a second to grab his beged (which ended up costing him jail time).Its not easy,in fact its extremely difficult,and that is why Yosef got the most schar for that action. However,it is vital for us to take this to heart. It is almost impossible to beat the yetzer harah, no matter how great we think we are. Don't make it into a boxing match,its not worth it. Sometimes it's good to look like a chicken, sometimes that's the only way to win..Good Shabbos and A Freilichin Chanuka