B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 4, 5777 / January 31, 2017

In this week’s Parsha, Bo, we read about the final three plagues; locust, darkness and the death of the first born. The highlight of the Parsha is the Edodus of the Jewish people from Egypt.

Q.How many people came out of Egypt at the Exodus?

A.The Parsha tells us that around 600,000 men left Egypt. However, in addition there were women and children. Although we don’t have an exact figure for the total amount of people, we can assume that a few million people came out of Egypt at the Exodus.

Q.How many years were the Jewish people in the Egyptian Exile?

A.In this Parsha the Torah says, “The Israelites dwelt in Egypt 430 years.”  But this number needs explaining. In other places the Torah says, 400 years. We also know that Jews were physically in Egypt only 210 years. Thus, there are three different periods associated with the exile: 210 years; 400 years; 430 years. It all depends from what point the count begins.

1) The number 430 in this Parsha is when we begin the count from the time G-d made the covenant with Abraham in which He tells him that his descendants will be strangers in a foreign land. This covenant was made when Abraham was 70 years old. Thus, from then to the Exodus was 430 years.

2) The number 400 is when we count from the time Isaac was born, as G-d said to Abraham, “Your descendants will be strangers.” Abraham had his son, Isaac, at the age of 100. Thusit was 400 years from the time that Isaac was born to the time of the Exodus.

3) The number 210 is the actual time they physically spent in Egypt. Yaakov and his entire family moved to Egypt 210 years before the Exodus.   

Q.  Did only the children of Israel leave Egypt at the Exodus?

A.The Torah tells us that, “A mixture of many people came out with them.” There is no figure how many came out of Egypt together with them.

Fifty years ago, during the Communist’s rule of Russia, there were many demonstration against the Soviet Union to let Soviet Jewry out of Russia. The Russian Premier asked his cultural affairs minister, “How many Jews are there in Russia?”  “About six million,” he replied.

“If we open the Iron Curtain, and let Jews out, how many Jews do you think will leave?”

“At least 40 million..” he replied.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY