It’s a Tough World
“Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojourning, in the land of Canaan.” (Bereishit - Chapter 37:1)
Rashi explains that when Jacob sought to dwell in tranquility, the troubles of Joseph sprang upon him. The righteous seek to dwell in tranquility but said the Holy One, blessed be He, “What is prepared for the righteous in the world to come is not sufficient for them, but they seek also to dwell in tranquility in this world!”
Rav Yerucham Levovitz, the great pre-WWII Mirrer mashgiach asks a difficult question. Which type of tranquility did Jacob desire? Surely, it was not tranquility in …
The Sweet Smell of Good Deeds
“And he came closer, and he kissed him, and he smelled the fragrance of his garments, and he blessed him, and he said, ‘Behold, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field, which the Lord has blessed!’ ” (Bereishit - Chapter 27:27)
Rashi explains that there is no odor more offensive than that of washed goat skins? But this teaches us that the fragrance of the Garden of Eden entered with him which is like a field of apples as our Sages explained it in Ta’anith 29b.
Eliyahu the Prophet, it is told, passed by the carcass of …
The Most Important Trait
“And it will be, that the maiden to whom I will say, ‘Lower your pitcher and I will drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels,’ her have You designated for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her may I know that You have performed loving kindness with my master.” (Bereishit - Chapter 24:14)
The Gemarah Chulin 95a states: An omen which is not after the structure pronounced by Eliezer Abraham’s servant, or by Jonathan the son of Saul, is not considered a divination!
Rav Rovman in his sefer zichron Meir asks how was it possible for …
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