All of the nations in the world heard about the wondrous miracles that G-d had performed for the Jewish people during the Exodus. Yet none of these nations were inspired to make any changes as a result of what they had heard. Yisro was Moshe's father-in-law. He was a seeker of truth, and as such had experimented with all the known religions of the time. Upon hearing about the Exodus from Egypt and how the Egyptians had been repaid measure for measure, he was impressed by the precision and truth, and decided to join the Jewish people.
The Torah relates how Yisro saw the people waiting to hear Moshe's rulings and judgment, from early morning until night. Yisro felt it was not respectful for the people to have to wait all day to have their questions answered. Furthermore, he was concerned that Moshe would get worn out. He suggested to Moshe that they set up a different type of system, with lower courts where people could present their minor disputes and queries, and higher courts for the more difficult cases. Moshe asked G-d and was instructed to heed his father-in-law's advice. This incident also portrays the truth of Judaism, because even the advice of a newcomer could be heeded.
Seven weeks after the Exodus, the Jews experienced the Revelation at Sinai. G-d offered all the nations His Torah, but only the Jewish people answered in unison "We will do and we will hear," thereby putting their full trust in G-d. Moshe helped prepare the people to receive the word of G-d. G-d gave the Torah at Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning and the sounding of the Shofar. The world came to a standstill as G-d communicated the commandments to the people.
Although the Ten Commandments were only a sampling of the six hundred and thirteen mitzvos in the Torah, the commentaries explain that all the commandments are alluded to in these ten. The ten include mitzvos between man and G-d, and between man and man; mitzvos associated with thought, speech, and deed.
After the commandments were given, Moshe himself climbed to the top of the mountain to receive all of the mitzvos and their details. He was to remain there for forty days. These mitzvos would be instructed to the Jewish people throughout the forty years in the desert.
G-d also dictated all of the Torah until this point to Moshe, who then transcribed it. The remainder of the Torah was transcribed throughout the forty-year journey in the Sinai desert.
"I am the L-rd your G-d who has taken you out of Egypt..." (Ex. 20:2)
A Jew came to Rav Yisrael of Ruzhyn to pour out his woes. The Rebbe comforted him that he must believe G-d would help.
"Fine," the man answered, "But why should I do until He helps me?"
"Don't worry," the Ruzhyner assured him, "Until He helps, G-d will also help!"
It is not sufficient to merely believe in G-d's assistance in one's mind. A person must believe in one's heart that G-d assists even before he actually witnesses it.
Did You Know...
There is a mitzvah to light at least two candles each week before Shabbos. Some add an additional candle for each child. This mitzvah was given especially to the woman, although if a man lives alone he must light for himself. Nevertheless, it is proper that a husband help his wife prepare the candles for lighting. Some have the custom that the husband lights the candles and then extinguishes them, thus making them easier to light. The custom that a groom buys his bride candlesticks is also for the same reason, to allow him a part in the Shabbos candles. If a woman forgot to light candles one week, she should light an additional candle each week, for the rest of her life.
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January 27, 2005
January 20, 2005
Parshas Beshalach 5765
Although Pharaoh had chased the Jewish people out of Egypt, his intentions were only that they leave for three days to offer sacrifices to G-d, and then return to slavery. This, however, was not the intention of G-d. As such, the Jews were by no means safe yet. There was still the danger that Pharaoh would pursue them to return to slavery.
G-d had another concern too. Were the people to leave by a route that was within easy access of Egypt, they would want to return at the first sign of difficulty. For this reason He led them on a roundabout path through the Sinai Desert, where it would be difficult for them to return to Egypt.
The nation encamped by the Red Sea. Pharaoh realized that the Jews were not returning, and began to pursue the nation, overtaking them at the sea. The people found themselves in a terrifying situation. The Red Sea spanned before them, a dangerous wilderness surrounded them, and the Egyptian armies were bearing down on them from the rear. G-d commanded Moshe to lead the people into the sea. The Jews trusted in G-d and marched directly into the Sea, which split before them. The Midrash describes how the sea actually split into twelve transparent walls. Each tribe crossed through their own section on dry land, in the midst of the water. Many other miracles also occurred at that time. The Egyptians followed the Jews straight into the sea, at which point the water returned to its original state. The Egyptian soldiers all drowned in he sea.
The people recognized G-d's great miracle, and they broke into a song of praise. The Talmud relates that at that time, the simplest Jew had a revelation of G-d that would not be experienced by the greatest prophets in later times. The song, called Oz Yashir, was later incorporated into the daily prayers. Shortly after their ascent from the sea, the Jews were attacked by the nation of Amalek. Although all of the other nations were in awe of the miracles at the sea, Amalek remained unmoved. When Moshe lifted his hands towards heaven, the Jews' faith in G-d was strengthened and they were victorious in battle. Because of Amalek's brazen antagonism towards G-d, the Jews were commanded to wipe out the memory of Amalek.
"... and what are we?..." (Ex.16:7)
The Talmud says that Moshe's humility ("What are we?") was greater than that of Abraham ("I am but dust and ashes"). Rav Meir Shapiro explains how we see Moshe's greatness with a story. Rav Yonasan Eybshitz visited a city for Yom Kippur and was impressed by an individual who was praying intensely, crying that he was worth nothing before G-d. He was thus surprised when he later heard the man complaining why he hadn't been called to the Torah, when he deserved it more than another man. Rav Yonasan asked the man, "I thought you considered yourself worthless!" The man replied, "Before G-d I might be worthless, but compared to that person...!" It's more difficult to be humble before man than it is before G-d. Moshe who expressed his humility before other people was greater than Abraham who expressed it to G-d.
Did You Know...
It is prohibited to transfer an object on Shabbos from a private domain to a semi-public domain such as from an apartment into the common hall or stairwell, or vice-versa. This applies whether the object is in one's hand or pocket, or even rolled or thrown from one domain to another. To avoid this prohibition one can make an eiruv chatzeiros, which involves taking a loaf of bread or the like, and requesting a second person to acquire the bread for all the tenants in the building. A blessing is also recited. The common ownership of the bread makes the apartment building a large private domain, thus allowing all the tenants in the building to carry from their apartments into the hall or into one another's apartment.
G-d had another concern too. Were the people to leave by a route that was within easy access of Egypt, they would want to return at the first sign of difficulty. For this reason He led them on a roundabout path through the Sinai Desert, where it would be difficult for them to return to Egypt.
The nation encamped by the Red Sea. Pharaoh realized that the Jews were not returning, and began to pursue the nation, overtaking them at the sea. The people found themselves in a terrifying situation. The Red Sea spanned before them, a dangerous wilderness surrounded them, and the Egyptian armies were bearing down on them from the rear. G-d commanded Moshe to lead the people into the sea. The Jews trusted in G-d and marched directly into the Sea, which split before them. The Midrash describes how the sea actually split into twelve transparent walls. Each tribe crossed through their own section on dry land, in the midst of the water. Many other miracles also occurred at that time. The Egyptians followed the Jews straight into the sea, at which point the water returned to its original state. The Egyptian soldiers all drowned in he sea.
The people recognized G-d's great miracle, and they broke into a song of praise. The Talmud relates that at that time, the simplest Jew had a revelation of G-d that would not be experienced by the greatest prophets in later times. The song, called Oz Yashir, was later incorporated into the daily prayers. Shortly after their ascent from the sea, the Jews were attacked by the nation of Amalek. Although all of the other nations were in awe of the miracles at the sea, Amalek remained unmoved. When Moshe lifted his hands towards heaven, the Jews' faith in G-d was strengthened and they were victorious in battle. Because of Amalek's brazen antagonism towards G-d, the Jews were commanded to wipe out the memory of Amalek.
"... and what are we?..." (Ex.16:7)
The Talmud says that Moshe's humility ("What are we?") was greater than that of Abraham ("I am but dust and ashes"). Rav Meir Shapiro explains how we see Moshe's greatness with a story. Rav Yonasan Eybshitz visited a city for Yom Kippur and was impressed by an individual who was praying intensely, crying that he was worth nothing before G-d. He was thus surprised when he later heard the man complaining why he hadn't been called to the Torah, when he deserved it more than another man. Rav Yonasan asked the man, "I thought you considered yourself worthless!" The man replied, "Before G-d I might be worthless, but compared to that person...!" It's more difficult to be humble before man than it is before G-d. Moshe who expressed his humility before other people was greater than Abraham who expressed it to G-d.
Did You Know...
It is prohibited to transfer an object on Shabbos from a private domain to a semi-public domain such as from an apartment into the common hall or stairwell, or vice-versa. This applies whether the object is in one's hand or pocket, or even rolled or thrown from one domain to another. To avoid this prohibition one can make an eiruv chatzeiros, which involves taking a loaf of bread or the like, and requesting a second person to acquire the bread for all the tenants in the building. A blessing is also recited. The common ownership of the bread makes the apartment building a large private domain, thus allowing all the tenants in the building to carry from their apartments into the hall or into one another's apartment.
January 13, 2005
Parshas Bo 5765
The last three plagues that were visited upon the Egyptians were locusts, darkness, and the Plague of the Firstborn. The locust devoured all remaining vegetation from the earlier hail. The darkness was actually divided in two parts.
The first three days were pitch black, and nothing whatsoever could be seen. The latter three days of the plague the darkness was so thick that the Egyptians were frozen in their positions. The darkness did not affect the Jews, though. They were able to see where the Egyptians had hidden all of their treasures; yet nothing was taken. Although the Jews may have had legitimate claims against the Egyptians, they took nothing. Before leaving Egypt the people were ordered to ask the Egyptians to give them their valuables; miraculously, they complied willingly.
In the final plague, every Egyptian firstborn died exactly at midnight. As the plague began to take its toll, Pharaoh feared for his own life, for he too was a firstborn. He ran through the streets looking for Moshe, pleading that he leave Egypt with the nation.
Shortly before the last plague, the nation was given the mitzvah of the Jewish calendar. The month of Nissan was to be the "beginning of the months". Because this month marked the birth of the Jewish nation, it would also mark the beginning of the months of the year. Although Rosh Hashana marks the anniversary of Creation, and thus the beginning of the year, Nissan, the month of the Exodus, is called the first month.
The people were also given the mitzvah of the Pesach offering. They were instructed to take a lamb--the Egyptian deity--and slaughter it before the eyes of the Egyptians. This took a tremendous amount of courage and trust in G-d. The blood of the sacrifice was smeared on the doorposts of every Jewish home to protect them from the plague. Although G-d, of course, needed no reminders of who was Jewish and who was not, the blood served as witness to the courage of the Jews and in this merit they were saved.
The Pesach offering had to be eaten with certain stipulations. The people had to arrange groups to eat the offering before it could be slaughtered. Once the animal was slaughtered nobody else was allowed to join in the eating. The sacrifice also had to be eaten roasted and not cooked. None of the bones were allowed to be broken during the course of the eating.
The portion ends with some of the other mitzvos which were meant as reminders of the Exodus. The firstborn son has a special sanctity about him, and must be redeemed by the Kohain. The firstborn sheep and cow also had a special sanctity and had to be given to the Kohain. Tefillin are worn on a man's arm and head to recall G-d's taking out the Jewish people with an "outstretched arm."
You should guard the matzos... (Exod. 12:17)
There is a mitzvah to be especially careful to bake the matzos for Pesach properly. Many great rabbis were meticulous in this area--but they kept things in perspective. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was once supervising a matzah bakery when a colleague suggested he reprimand one of the bakers who was slacking off. The Rav responded, "Just because I want special matzos doesn't justify getting angry at someone."
Rav Moshe Feinstein baked matzos at a certain bakery for many years. One year a new bakery opened, where additional stringencies were adhered to. A friend tried to convince Reb Moshe to try the new, better bakery, but Reb Moshe refused, concerned that his changing might affect the first bakery's livelihood.
Did You Know...
Although Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) is only a minor holiday and work is permitted, it is proper to have a festive meal, or at least some special food. Some have the custom not to take a haircut or cut their nails on Rosh Chodesh. It is also customary for women not to engage in certain activities on Rosh Chodesh, such as laundry, sewing, and ironing. Other activities such as cooking are permitted. This was meant as a reward for the women who did not take part in the sin of the Golden Calf. If a woman works as a seamstress and there is concern she might lose her job, she may sew on Rosh Chodesh.
The first three days were pitch black, and nothing whatsoever could be seen. The latter three days of the plague the darkness was so thick that the Egyptians were frozen in their positions. The darkness did not affect the Jews, though. They were able to see where the Egyptians had hidden all of their treasures; yet nothing was taken. Although the Jews may have had legitimate claims against the Egyptians, they took nothing. Before leaving Egypt the people were ordered to ask the Egyptians to give them their valuables; miraculously, they complied willingly.
In the final plague, every Egyptian firstborn died exactly at midnight. As the plague began to take its toll, Pharaoh feared for his own life, for he too was a firstborn. He ran through the streets looking for Moshe, pleading that he leave Egypt with the nation.
Shortly before the last plague, the nation was given the mitzvah of the Jewish calendar. The month of Nissan was to be the "beginning of the months". Because this month marked the birth of the Jewish nation, it would also mark the beginning of the months of the year. Although Rosh Hashana marks the anniversary of Creation, and thus the beginning of the year, Nissan, the month of the Exodus, is called the first month.
The people were also given the mitzvah of the Pesach offering. They were instructed to take a lamb--the Egyptian deity--and slaughter it before the eyes of the Egyptians. This took a tremendous amount of courage and trust in G-d. The blood of the sacrifice was smeared on the doorposts of every Jewish home to protect them from the plague. Although G-d, of course, needed no reminders of who was Jewish and who was not, the blood served as witness to the courage of the Jews and in this merit they were saved.
The Pesach offering had to be eaten with certain stipulations. The people had to arrange groups to eat the offering before it could be slaughtered. Once the animal was slaughtered nobody else was allowed to join in the eating. The sacrifice also had to be eaten roasted and not cooked. None of the bones were allowed to be broken during the course of the eating.
The portion ends with some of the other mitzvos which were meant as reminders of the Exodus. The firstborn son has a special sanctity about him, and must be redeemed by the Kohain. The firstborn sheep and cow also had a special sanctity and had to be given to the Kohain. Tefillin are worn on a man's arm and head to recall G-d's taking out the Jewish people with an "outstretched arm."
You should guard the matzos... (Exod. 12:17)
There is a mitzvah to be especially careful to bake the matzos for Pesach properly. Many great rabbis were meticulous in this area--but they kept things in perspective. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was once supervising a matzah bakery when a colleague suggested he reprimand one of the bakers who was slacking off. The Rav responded, "Just because I want special matzos doesn't justify getting angry at someone."
Rav Moshe Feinstein baked matzos at a certain bakery for many years. One year a new bakery opened, where additional stringencies were adhered to. A friend tried to convince Reb Moshe to try the new, better bakery, but Reb Moshe refused, concerned that his changing might affect the first bakery's livelihood.
Did You Know...
Although Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) is only a minor holiday and work is permitted, it is proper to have a festive meal, or at least some special food. Some have the custom not to take a haircut or cut their nails on Rosh Chodesh. It is also customary for women not to engage in certain activities on Rosh Chodesh, such as laundry, sewing, and ironing. Other activities such as cooking are permitted. This was meant as a reward for the women who did not take part in the sin of the Golden Calf. If a woman works as a seamstress and there is concern she might lose her job, she may sew on Rosh Chodesh.
January 6, 2005
Parshas Va'eira 5765
G-d instructed Moshe to inform the Children of Israel that he was ready to redeem them from bondage. Four different expressions of redemption are used in the passage, "I will take you out...I will save you...I will redeem you...and I will take you to me for a nation.." These four expressions represent four different stages of the redemption.
Because Pharaoh refused to heed Moshe and let the Jewish people go, ten plagues were brought upon the Egyptians. These accomplished two goals. First, they served as punishment for the Egyptians' mistreatment of the nation. But they also served as an opportunity for the Jewish people to recognize G-d's mastery over the world, and His constant involvement in nature.
Moshe warned Pharaoh that if he would not let the people go, all the water throughout Egypt would be turned into blood. The Nile River was actually considered to be one of the gods in Egypt, because of its importance in assisting agricultural growth. By first afflicting the Egyptian god, it proved G-d's superiority over their idols. That which was considered a source of life had now become a source of death for the Egyptians. This was also the significance of the fourth plague, pestilence, which killed the Egyptian cattle, another god of the Egyptians.
In the second plague, frogs invaded every area of the Egyptians' lives. The third plague of lice afflicted covered the entire land of Egypt. The fourth plague of wild animals also invaded the entire Egypt. In the fifth plague all the Egyptian domestic animals died in a plague of pestilence. The sixth plague was an epidemic of boils that affected the Egyptians' bodies. The final plague discussed in this week's portion was a miraculous mixture of hail and fire that consumed most of the vegetation in Egypt.
Each of these plagues lasted for one week. Most of them were preceded by a warning to Pharaoh that if he would not let the people go, the plague would affect his country. Time and again, Pharaoh refused to be impressed by the miracles that Moshe and Ahron performed. He tried to counter their miracles by having his magicians do the same. After a while, though, he realized that his magicians could not duplicate G-d's miracles. Yet, even when he saw that, he hardened his heart and would not let the people go. After Pharaoh had hardened his heart during the first five plagues, G-d Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart in order that he receive his due punishment with the latter five plagues. As punishment for his excessive cruelty, the gift of free will was taken from him.
... the frog rose and covered the land of Egypt... (Exod. 8:2)
The Midrash relates that initially only one frog appeared, but as the Egyptians continued to beat it, it multiplied into swarms of frogs. When Rav Mordchai Gimpel Yaffa was appointed rabbi in Ruzhnai, his Rebbe, Rav Itzele Volozhiner, offered him sound advice. "As the leader, don't spend your time fighting the troublemakers in your community. We see in Egypt when the Egyptians tried to fight the single frog, it only made matters worse for them. Rather, spend your time productively, strengthening the community in their faith and protecting them from the negative influences."
Did You Know...
Kiddush must be recited on a cup that holds at least a revi'is (between 3.3 and 4.4 fluid ozs.) of wine or grape juice. Although only a majority of that amount must be drunk, the cup should be filled to the top, even if it contains more than a revi'is. At the Pesach seder a person must drink the majority of the cup regardless of its size. If other beverages such as liquor, are used, some opinions still require the cup to contain a revi'is, while others hold that a smaller cup, like a shot glass, is sufficient, since that is the normal way liquor is drunk. At Havdalla, after Shabbos, it is customary to fill the cup of wine until it overflows, as a sign of overflowing success.
Because Pharaoh refused to heed Moshe and let the Jewish people go, ten plagues were brought upon the Egyptians. These accomplished two goals. First, they served as punishment for the Egyptians' mistreatment of the nation. But they also served as an opportunity for the Jewish people to recognize G-d's mastery over the world, and His constant involvement in nature.
Moshe warned Pharaoh that if he would not let the people go, all the water throughout Egypt would be turned into blood. The Nile River was actually considered to be one of the gods in Egypt, because of its importance in assisting agricultural growth. By first afflicting the Egyptian god, it proved G-d's superiority over their idols. That which was considered a source of life had now become a source of death for the Egyptians. This was also the significance of the fourth plague, pestilence, which killed the Egyptian cattle, another god of the Egyptians.
In the second plague, frogs invaded every area of the Egyptians' lives. The third plague of lice afflicted covered the entire land of Egypt. The fourth plague of wild animals also invaded the entire Egypt. In the fifth plague all the Egyptian domestic animals died in a plague of pestilence. The sixth plague was an epidemic of boils that affected the Egyptians' bodies. The final plague discussed in this week's portion was a miraculous mixture of hail and fire that consumed most of the vegetation in Egypt.
Each of these plagues lasted for one week. Most of them were preceded by a warning to Pharaoh that if he would not let the people go, the plague would affect his country. Time and again, Pharaoh refused to be impressed by the miracles that Moshe and Ahron performed. He tried to counter their miracles by having his magicians do the same. After a while, though, he realized that his magicians could not duplicate G-d's miracles. Yet, even when he saw that, he hardened his heart and would not let the people go. After Pharaoh had hardened his heart during the first five plagues, G-d Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart in order that he receive his due punishment with the latter five plagues. As punishment for his excessive cruelty, the gift of free will was taken from him.
... the frog rose and covered the land of Egypt... (Exod. 8:2)
The Midrash relates that initially only one frog appeared, but as the Egyptians continued to beat it, it multiplied into swarms of frogs. When Rav Mordchai Gimpel Yaffa was appointed rabbi in Ruzhnai, his Rebbe, Rav Itzele Volozhiner, offered him sound advice. "As the leader, don't spend your time fighting the troublemakers in your community. We see in Egypt when the Egyptians tried to fight the single frog, it only made matters worse for them. Rather, spend your time productively, strengthening the community in their faith and protecting them from the negative influences."
Did You Know...
Kiddush must be recited on a cup that holds at least a revi'is (between 3.3 and 4.4 fluid ozs.) of wine or grape juice. Although only a majority of that amount must be drunk, the cup should be filled to the top, even if it contains more than a revi'is. At the Pesach seder a person must drink the majority of the cup regardless of its size. If other beverages such as liquor, are used, some opinions still require the cup to contain a revi'is, while others hold that a smaller cup, like a shot glass, is sufficient, since that is the normal way liquor is drunk. At Havdalla, after Shabbos, it is customary to fill the cup of wine until it overflows, as a sign of overflowing success.
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