Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Lech Mishpatim "When a man opens up a pit" – one already dug. This possibility is included because God does not want an animal to die needlessly, and also, the animal's owner will suffer damage. (Ibn Ezra, Shemot 21:33) The Responsibility of the "Pit's" Owner Our Sages taught: One may not transfer stones from his private property to public domain (reshut harabim). A man once moved stones from his property to public domain. A chassid saw him, and said: Scoundrel, why do you move stones from...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Yitro "You Shall Not Covet" Said Rav Huna: We find that Israel was not exiled from their land until they transgressed "They covet fields and seize them; houses, and take them away." (Micha 2:2) (Psikta Rabbati, Chap. 24) "You Shall Not Covet": The Seal of the Holy One Is Upon the Mitzvot "Between Man and His Fellow Man" Know that the prohibition "You shall not covet" and "You shall not desire" is the seal of God imprinted on the section of mitzvot between man and...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Beshalach (link to original page) Parshat Beshalach ". . . had fled (ki barach)" – According to the Masora, this appears twice – "that Yaakov had fled" and "that the people had fled". The midrash relates that Amalek divulged Yitzhak's escape to Lavan and also reported Israel's flight to Pharaoh. "Ki barach" is the numerical equivalent (Gematriya) of "Amalek". (Baal Haturim, Bereishit 31:22) "Now the king of Egypt was told that the people fled" — Who told him? " . . .that the people fled." Did they flee?! It was...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Bo Rabbi Yossi HaGalilli said: From where do we learn that on the Passover in Egypt the prohibition on hametz was in effect for only one day? It is written: "Hametz shall not be eaten" and immediately following: "This day you are leaving. . ." Why was the prohibition of hametz on the Pesach in Egypt in effect for only one day? On the Pesach in Egypt the hametz prohibition lasted only one day. The Sages further taught us that the first Pesach was not...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Vaera "Say to Aharon . . . take your staff . . . and let them become blood!" "Say to Aharon" – Because the Nile protected Moshe when he was cast into it, its affliction by blood and frogs was not by the hands of Moshe, but by those of Aharon. (Rashi, Shemot 7:19) The Purpose of the Plagues of Egypt: Punishment or Instrument for Education Everything which the Egyptians planned to do to Israel, the Holy One did to them. They thought the Israelites would...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Shemot "Now let me turn aside that I may see . ." – I will observe and see 'why the bush does not burn up' – why , with all their beatings cannot the Egyptians prevail, similar to "and they shall burn it and devour it." (Sforno, Shemot 3:3) "There Is No Place Where He Is Not" Said Rabbi Eliezer: Just as the bush is the lowliest of all the world's trees, so were the Israelites low and degraded in Egypt, therefore the Holy One revealed...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Vayechi "He crossed his arms" – as its translation (in Targum) 'Achaminun" – with understanding and wisdom he knowingly crossed his hands, for he knew that the firstborn was Menashe, and even so, he did not place his right hand upon him. (Rashi, Bereishit 48:14) "Crossed his arms" – as in 'sachal' – referring to a crooked and twisted person. (Rashbam, Bereishit, ibid.) "Crossed his hands;" He understood through touch, without looking." (Sforno, ibid.) "Crossed his hands, for Menashe was the firstborn" – there are those...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Vayigash (link to original page) Parshat Vayigash "Pray let your servant speak a work in the ears of my lord." This is an appropriate expression for one offering his words for consideration by the other. I am appealing not to your emotions but to the breadth of your intelligence. (Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch, Bereishit 44:18) Yehuda's Pacifying Toughness "My lord asked his servant saying" –Know that you libel us; how many nations came here to purchase food – did you interrogate them as you did us? Were we seeking your daughter,...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Miketz 'And Pharaoh dreamt': Doesn't everyone dream? A puzzlement!? But, a king's dream is the dream of the entire world. (Bereishit Rabba, 89) Rabbi Yochanan said: The wicked exist on their gods, 'Pharaoh dreamt: here, he was standing on the Nile,' but the righteous – their gods exist on them, as is written, 'Behold, God is standing upon him and He said: I am God, Lord of Avraham.' (Bereishit Rabba 69) At first it would seem that both Pharaoh and Yaakov, who represent in the midrash...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Vayeshev Birthday and Independence Day as Rebirth "And thus it was, on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a great drinking-feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker amidst his servants." (Bereishit 40;20) "Let this New-Moon shall be for you the beginning of New-Moons." – By way of example: A son was born to a king, and the king made a celebration. The son was taken into captivity for many...