B"H
Monday, Tevet 16, 5779 / December 24, 2018
This Shabbat we will begin reading the Second Book of theTorah – S’hmot.
In this week’s Parsha, which is also called S’hmot, we will read about the beginning of the Egyptian Exile and the enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt (Mitzrayim). We will read about the birth of Moshe (Moses), Aaron, and their sister Miriam, who would become the leaders of the Jewish people and would play a major role in the lives of the people, in their Exodus and through their 40 year journey in the desert.
The Parsha begins, “These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt, together with Yaakov, each came with his household…. All the people who came from Yaakov were seventy souls, and Yosef was already in Egypt.”
Q. The Torah had already mentioned in Parshat Vayigash all the names of the descendants of Yaakov who came with him to Egypt, and that their number was seventy. Why does the Torah repeat it?
A. Our sages explain that it is mentioned again in the beginning of the Book of S’hmot, where we will eventually read about the Exodus. The Torah wants to show us that although Jews were oppressed and enslaved for all these years in Egypt, yet, from only 70 who came into Egypt, they multiplied into 600,000 men over the age of 20, besides the woman and children- a total of a few million people.
Q. How many years after Yaakov (Jacob) and his family moved to Egypt did the enslavement begin?
A. As long as one of Yaakov’s sons, especially his son Joseph, who was ruler of Egypt, was alive, the children of Israel were free. Only after the last of Yaakov’s sons passed away did the Egyptians enslave the people.
Of Yaakov’s sons, Joseph lived the shortest. He lived 110 years. Levi lived the longest. He lived 137 years. Levi was 43 when he came to Egypt and he lived in Egypt 94 years. From when Yaakov came to Egypt until the Exodus was 210 years. If we deduct 94 from 210 we are left with 116 years. Thus, the total amount of years of enslavement was 116 years.
Q. How many years after coming to Egypt was Moshe born?
A. Moshe was 80 at the time of the Exodus. If we deduct 80 from 210 we have 130. Thus, Moshe was born 130 years after Yaakov moved to Egypt. Moshe’s mother, Yocheved was born as they entered into Egypt. She was 130 when she gave birth to Moshe.
The name of the Book of Exodus is, S’hmot, which means names. The Midrash says that one of the merits which brought about the Exodus was the fact that throughout all their years in Egypt, they never changed their Hebrew names for Egyptian ones. It teaches us how important it is for us to remember our Hebrew names.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY