B"H
Friday, Tevet 29, 5777 / January 27, 2017
This Shabbat, Parshat Va’eira, is Rosh Chodesh Shevat – the first day of the Hebrew month Shevat. (From Rosh Chodesh Shevat until Pesach is exactly 10 weeks).
As mentioned previously, in this Parsha we find seven of the ten plagues with which G-d punished the Egyptians for enslaving the Jewish people.
The first three plagues, blood, frogs, lice, G-d commanded Aaron to do. Aaron raised his staff over the waters of Egypt and brought upon them the plague of blood and frogs. Aaron was commanded to hit the earth and bring the plague of lice. The rest of the plagues were brought on by Moshe.
The first two plagues, the Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate, but they couldn’t create the lice. They said, “This is the finger of G-d.”
Q.Why was Moshe excluded from participating in the first three plagues?
A.One must not pay back bad for good. Because the waters of the Nile saved Moshe as a baby, when his mother placed him in a basket by the river, he was not to punish the river with transforming its waters into blood or with the plague of frogs which came from the river.
As to the plague of lice, because when Moshe killed the Egyptian, he hid him in the sand. Moshe’s life was saved by this, thus he was not to bring on the plague of lice which came as a result of hitting the earth. It teaches how important it is to be thankful when we are the recipient of someone’s kindness.
Q.Why, only by the plague of lice did Pharaoh’s magicians admit that it was,“the finger of G-d”?
A.Pharaoh and his magicians claimed that G-d’s power is limited to water. Just like He brought the Great Flood to punish the world at the time of Noah, so too, He turned the waters of the Nile into blood and brought the frogs from the water. They claimed that G-d could not bring upon Egypt a punishment which originates from the earth. Only by the plague of lice, which originated from Aaron’s hitting the sand, did they admit that G-d’s power is everywhere.
Q.If G-d’s purpose in bringing the plagues was in order that they let the Jewish people go, why did He enable e bring plaguges the magicians to duplicate them, thus weakening Moshe’s and Aaron’s mission?
A.G-d told Moshe at the very beginning of his mission, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh will not listen to you and I will lay My hand upon Egypt…” It was G-d’s plan that Pharaoh not be impressed and refuse to let the people go, so he would receive all the punishments he deserved for enslaving them all these years.
SHABBAT SHALOM & A WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
Montrealcandle lighting time: 4:36 / Shabbat ends: 5:43