BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA 5772 PARSHAS VAYESHEV Ex-Parte Communication

This week's parsha begins by telling us that Yaakov Avinu dwelt in the land of his fathers - the land of Canaan. The Torah then continues with the story of Yosef and his brothers. Rashi comments that the parsha's introduction to the episode of Yosef and his brothers comes to teach us that Yaakov Avinu only wanted to have some peace and quiet after having experienced so many troubles. Unfortunately, however, the troubles of Yosef now began the cycle anew. As Rashi rhetorically remarks, the righteous desire to dwell in peace but Hashem says "Is it not sufficient for the righteous that which is prepared for them in the World-to-Come that they seek to dwell in peace in this world as well?" The Zohar, in the beginning of the parsha, explains the passuk similarly and adds to this thought. The Zohar explains that the lives of the righteous are full of troubles because they are continually running away from the traps of the yetzer hara (evil inclination). This is because the evil inclination arrives at birth while the good inclination only arrives when a person develops his intellect. This gives the evil inclination an advantage as it already put its ideas into a person's mind long before the good inclination arrives on the scene. Feature Shiur Vayeshev, by Rav Dovid Grossman: Ex-Parte Communication It is for this reason, says the Zohar, that a judge can't listen to one side without the presence of the other. Once the words of one side enter the judge's mind it is difficult for him to properly hear the other side of the story. We see from here that the righteous suffer in this world in order to avoid the pitfalls of the evil inclination. Hashem saves the righteous from falling prey to the evil inclination and rewards them greatly in the world to come. This week's journal will focus on the laws of ex-parte communication. PRINT VERSION HERE