VortFinderKesav Sofer
1815-1871
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer (1815-1871) was a leading rabbi of Hungarian Jewry and Rosh Yeshiva of the Pressburg Yeshiva. He was the son of the Chasam Sofer and a grandson of Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
Divrei Torah by Kesav Sofer
Bereishit
Bereishit 1:3
Bereishit 1:3 — Kesav Sofer
Midrash Rabba: Tohu = acts of reshaim; light = acts of tzaddikim. If rasha is bad, mitzvot are harder for him, so his reward should be greater. Rasha gets his reward in this world, so his good deeds are for success in this world; that's all he gets.
Bereishit
Bereishit 1:26
Bereishit 1:26 — Kesav Sofer
Midrash: Moshe: Why allow room for heretics? Hashem: One interested in making a mistake can; better to teach: even the great should consult w/ those lower. Before starting building, consult experts, or may need to destroy. Hashem asked only at day 6.
Bereishit
Bereishit 1:26
Bereishit 1:26 — Kesav Sofer
Rashi: We see Hashem's humility. Maharam Baneta - Being prideful is like idol worship, because he hasn't learned from Hashem here. KS: If he is prideful about his own wisdom or strength, he is denying Hashem giving him those gifts. (Not in online version 10/2023)
Bereishit
Bereishit 2:16
Bereishit 2:16 — Kesav Sofer
Why were they told to eat fruit before being told not to eat the etz hada'at? After tasting fruit, they get more reward for not eating those fruits. Therefore Adam's response is "acholti ve-ochel."
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:1
Bereishit 3:1 — Kesav Sofer
Was Chava told not to eat the fruit or just Adam? The snake wants to marry Chava (Rashi), so he asks Chava this. She answers in plural, so he convinces her to try it and give some to Adam (who he knew was prohibited), and he can have Chava to himself.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:6
Bereishit 3:6 — Kesav Sofer
Midrash: The tree and fruit of the etz hada'at tasted the same. People only desire something once they taste it. Snake had her try the tree, then she desired the fruit. She did the same with Adam.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:12
Bereishit 3:12 — Kesav Sofer
How is blaming Chava a defense? Rashi: If Adam is one, one might think he is a god, so Hashem made Chava. Since the command to not eat came before Chava, he thought it no longer applied. It's a mistake to use logic to be lenient with the mitzva.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:16
Bereishit 3:16 — Kesav Sofer
There is pain in birth and pain in raising children. Sometimes a person will bear pain knowing that after it will be fine. But that isn't true if after the pregnancy she knows she will still be in pain.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:17
Bereishit 3:17 — Kesav Sofer
Adam did 2 sins: eating the fruit & listening to Chava. His defense: she gave it to him. The command to not eat sounds like don't pick its fruit, but allowed if it fell off. Adam: I ate b/c it was already picked. Hashem: You ate b/c Chava told you to.