By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Vayigash is one of the most dramatic parshiyos in the Torah. The sons of Yaakov had strange experiences when they went to Egypt in search of food during a famine. They followed the path of many people and acted no differently than anyone else. There was a hunger throughout the Middle East, and the only place where there was food was Mitzrayim, so the natural thing to do was to travel there in search of sustenance. Yet, this family was singled out for special attention by the prime minister, who was overseeing the entire famine-fighting effort.

Dear Editor,
Matzav.com recently reported on the fact that Lakewood has the fastest rising housing prices in the country.
But please report the truth: The main reason for this price surge in Lakewood is a result of real estate agents trying to create bidding wars in order to raise the price and with it the dollar size of the commission.
This is combined with agents pressuring potential buyers to offer more and enticing people to sell by giving the seller high valuations.
In other words, much of the insane uptick in prices is due to manipulations by the agents.

By Rabbi Efrem Goldberg
Recently, plastic surgeons are reporting an unprecedented number of requests for procedures. Though the actual data won’t be available until spring 2021, assuming the anecdotal reporting is accurate, it could be the result of several factors. Perhaps it is simply pent-up demand after months of shutdown. It could be the lack of social events and gatherings, combined with wearing masks in public, make now the perfect time to get a procedure.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
At the end of last week’s parsha, we studied the story of Yosef and how he was thrown into jail, where he languished for ten years. He then interpreted the similar dreams of two former ministers who had fallen out of the king’s favor and were jailed alongside Yosef. One would be beheaded in three days and the other would be reinstated to his former position. Yosef asked him to return the favor, mentioning him to Paroh and soliciting a pardon.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The Chofetz Chaim foretold that before Moshiach’s arrival, there would be a few resolute individuals who would fight lonely battles. He said that while they might be few, they would be proud and effective.
Every individual has the ability to grasp an ideal and fight for it. We all have a singular mission in life, and if we are true to our core, we can summon the strength to realize and accomplish it. We must never lose sight of what our ultimate goal is, despite all the noise and static seeking to steal our attention. Challenges confront us, but we possess the ability to surmount them.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The battle of Yaakov and Eisov that began in the parshiyos of these weeks continues on until this day. The eternal battle takes on different guises, and each generation is faced with a new unprecedented threat. Sometimes the battle is physical, such as in the time of Yaakov, Chanukah and Purim, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the era of pogroms and blood libels, the Holocaust, and the wars and terror attacks of the Arabs against Israel and Jews. Other times, it is a covert war, conducted under the guise of friendship. The goal is always the same: to subvert adherence to Torah and mitzvos and cause the offspring of Yaakov to divert from the correct path.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
These days talk of presidential politics and Covid have taken over the public conversation and thought. People are consumed by those topics, seemingly to the exclusion of all else. It would seem that we need to be reminded that there should be more to our lives than current events and the fleeting pursuits that occupy the minds of the masses.
By remembering that at our essence we are Torah Jews with a solid core, we can remain rooted in the values that have allowed us to endure and prosper, without losing sight of the important things in life, not becoming overtaken and swept along by trivial pursuits and conversations.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week’s parsha introduces us to a new phenomenon: hypocritical tricksters and cynical jokers. The posuk (Toldos 25:19) tells us, “These are the children of Yitzchok, the son of Avrohom; Avrohom gave birth to Yitzchok.” Rashi (ibid.) points out the repetition, explaining that the leitzonim of the generation alleged that Yitzchok was the son of Avimelech and not Avrohom. Hashem thus made Yitzchok appear exactly like Avrohom, so that people could look at him and see that he was indeed the son of Avrohom.

By Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver
rabbioliver@gmail.com
We are living through terrifying times, and I am not talking about Covid-19.
We are seeing draconian measures enforced in the western world that are harsher than any we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes. On the face of it, this should awaken alarm and skepticism of the explanations we’ve been given for this vast expansion of government power. Yet many people, including in the Jewish community and including in the Orthodox Jewish community, see no problem with these measures, and they willingly encourage and enforce them. Some even do so with zeal and fanaticism, to the point of informing—of reporting to the police anyone who dares disobey the government.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Klal Yisroel has been buffeted about of late and is worried. We have lost a most amazing gadol baTorah, a man who learned through Shas and Shulchan Aruch hundreds of times and was familiar with kol haTorah kulah. Whenever there was a difficult question, we knew that there was a place on the Lower East Side of Manhattan where we could turn to and receive a definitive answer.