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2 essays
Devarimתשפ״ו
Brotherly Love: Navigating the Relationship with Esav
The essay explores the complex relationship between Bnei Yisrael and the descendants of Esav as described in Parshas Devarim. It explains that the Torah's use of the term 'brothers' refers to a failed partnership where Esav was meant to support Yaakov's spiritual pursuits; consequently, the commands to purchase food and maintain distance serve as eternal lessons for navigating Galus while recognizing that Hashem is our true provider.
Medrash
Re'ehתשפ״ו
Re'eh — Good Choices
The essay explores the seeming contradiction between two Midrashim (Devarim Rabba and Eicha Rabba, both citing R' Elazar) about when the paradigm shift occurred that good comes automatically to those who do good and evil to those who do evil — at Sinai or at Moshe's words in Nitzavim. Drawing on the Panim Yafos' explanation of why the Torah writes אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ rather than אִם, and why וּבָחַרְתָּ בַחַיִּים is needed at all, the author concludes that unlike a detached human advisor who is content to let a student fail and learn the hard way, HKBH has a vested interest in our success and only wants us to receive הֲטָבָה. Internalizing that Ratzon Hashem allows us to see reality through the lens of לֹא יָצָאת טוֹבָה לְעוֹשֵׂה רָעָה even when appearances suggest otherwise.
Medrash