Ramban, Vayeitzei: Nisayon, Tefillah, Understanding Behavior of Avos.
– Rachel saying to Yaakov that she will die from the tza’ar of not having kids. Yaakov replies that even a tzaddik can’t guarantee that anything will happen via his tefilla, rather it’s up to Hashem. Yaakov is not invalidating
Ramban – Parshas Toldos. Suffering, Tefillah, Eretz Yisroel.
– According to Ramban, Rivka was in such pain that she was questioning why she’s alive. It is possible to be in such pain that one doesn’t want to live. Gemara Kesubos – Chananiah et al would’ve given in if
Ramban’s Hakdama
– Hakdama to peirush al haTorah: Ramban appologizes for writing his peirush even though he “isn’t qualified”, but nafsho choshko baTorah (and that includes teaching.) In his hakdama to the Milchamos Hashem, he apologizes for mistakes, but not for writing
Ramban, Vayera
– People would ask how could it be that Hashem didn’t tell him, or how could it be that Avraham didn’t daven for them; either way HKB”H told Avraham to avoid that reaction.– “Tzedaka u’mishpat v’shamru derech Hashem” – blending
Maaseh Avos Siman Labonim: Ramban on Lech Lecha
There is a causative relationship between what happens to the Avos and what has been decreed on their descendants. As long as a gezeira is in the spiritual realm, it can be preempted, etc. Once it has been figuratively concretized
Noach’s Tzidkus. Ramban, Noach.
– Machlokes Rishonim what “toldos” means – progeny or history of events. Ramban says it’s progeny, and it’s emphasized because the key part of the mabul story was that the world survived, and it was through his progeny that this
Onelus, V’zos Haberacha. Ramban, Breishis.
– Onkelus, Vzos Haberacha: “Torah tziva lanu Moshe, morasha kehilas Yaakov” – “Oraysa ya’hav lanu Moshe”. Prompted by “tziva lanu” as opposed to “tziva o’sanu”, Onkelus is telling us: it’s certainly true that we are on the receiving end of
Self-Absorption & Teshuva
Ramban describes teshuva as including saying vidui on aveiros of ancestors, as well as following through to subsequent generations. Three perspectives / understandings of this:1) A proper teshuva is one that will carry over l’doros and lead to the geulah
Ramban: Parshas Vayelech
– Hester panim followed by a lesser form of hester panim, due to there only being a “hirhur v’charata”, but not a complete vidui. What’s missing? It was a hirhur balev, but not a vidui and teshuva shleima; like someone
Ramban: Parshas Nitzavim
– “Lifnei Hashem” refers to the content and essence of what is being done (in addition to the permanent lifnei Hashem that is always existentially true). Alternatively, refers to the aron.– The shavua and curse is what’s being added in