Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot And a new king arose in Egypt who knew not Yoseph And he said to his people: Behold! the people of the children of Israel Is more numerous and vaster than we. Come, let us act shrewdly with them, lest they multiply… (Shemot 1:7)   Let us act shrewdly – Let us seek a shrewd path so that they do not multiply (Ibn Ezra, ibid., ibid.) Let us act shrewdly with them – There is positive...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives One of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah. And the midwives feared god And did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them And they let the children live (Shemot 1:15, 17)   To the Hebrew midwives – To the midwives who were Hebrews. (Rashbam, ibid.)   In addition, there were those women who were righteous converts from among...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot So now, go! I will be with your mouth, and I will instruct you what you shall speak. (Shemot 4:12)   The midrash states (Yalkut 183): If it says I will be with your mouth, why does it also say, and I will instruct; and if it says and I will instruct, why does it say I will be with your mouth? Rather, I will be with your mouth refers to the ability to speak, while...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King (Born January 15th 1929) who taught and lived a Torah that speaks justice to power.   They met Moses and Aaron standing before them when they came out from Pharaoh's presence. And they said to them, "May the Lord look upon you and judge, for you have brought us into foul odor in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants,...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE FROM WITHIN THE THORN BUSH, AND BEHOLD, THE THORN BUSH WAS BURNING WITH FIRE, BUT THE THORN BUSH WAS NOT BEING CONSUMED. (Shemot 3:2)   from within the thorn bush But not from any other tree, because of I am with him in distress (Ps. 91:15). (Rashi Shemot 3:2, Judaica Press translation)   An angel of the Lord appeared...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot MOSES WAS PASTURING THE FLOCKS OF JETHRO, HIS FATHER IN LAW, THE CHIEF OF MIDIAN, AND HE LED THE FLOCKS AFTER THE FREE PASTURELAND, AND HE CAME TO THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD, TO HOREB. AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE FROM WITHIN THE THORN BUSH, AND BEHOLD, THE THORN BUSH WAS BURNING WITH FIRE, BUT THE THORN BUSH WAS NOT BEING CONSUMED. SO MOSES SAID, "LET ME...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT HE HAD TURNED ASIDE TO LOOK, GOD CALLED TO HIM OUT OF THE BUSH, AND SAID: "MOSES! MOSES!" HE ANSWERED: "HERE I AM." AND HE SAID, "DO NOT COME CLOSER. REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU STAND IS HOLY GROUND. (Shemot 3:3-5)   Remove your sandals from your feet – While the verse should be understood literally – the wearing of footwear is...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shemot WHEN HE WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY, HE SAW TWO HEBREWS FIGHTING: SO HE SAID TO THE OFFENDER, "WHY DO YOU STRIKE YOUR FELLOW?" HE RETORTED, "WHO MADE YOU CHIEF AND RULER OVER US? DO YOU MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN? MOSES WAS FRIGHTENED AND THOUGHT: THEN THE MATTER IS KNOWN!  (Shemot 2:13-14)   The Oppressed Must be Saved from his Oppressor without Regard for Nationality Two Hebrews – They...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Shemot THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH CAME DOWN TO BATHE IN THE NILE. SHE SPIED THE BASKET AMONG THE REEDS AND SENT HER SLAVE GIRL TO FETCH IT. WHEN SHE OPENED IT, SHE SAW THAT IT WAS A CHILD, A BOY CRYING. SHE TOOK PITY UPON IT AND SAID, "THIS MUST BE A HEBREW CHILD." THEN HIS SISTER SAID TO PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER, "SHALL I GO AND GET YOU A HEBREW NURSE TO SUCKLE THE CHILD FOR...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Shemot THE MIDWIVES, FEARING GOD, DID NOT DO AS THE KING OF EGYPT HAD TOLD THEM; THEY LET THE BOYS LIVE. SO THE KING OF EGYPT SUMMONED THE MIDWIVES AND SAID TO THEM, "WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS THING, LETTING THE BOYS LIVE?"  (Shemot 1 17:18)   Ethical Behavior Is The Criterion For Fear of God … whoever withstands this test, willing to sacrifice his life – prepared to be killed rather than to transgress – definitely has in his heart the Lord, the Lord of...