B"H

Friday, Tevet 20, 5779 / December 28, 2018

In Parshat Shemot, the Torah tells us about Pharaoh’s decree to throw every Jewish newborn boy into the river. We read about Moshe’s birth and how his mother, after hiding him for three months, placed him in a basket and put it into the river. Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket. Although it was beyond her reach, she nevertheless stretched out her hand to get it. G-d performed a miracle and her hand reached the basket. Many years later, at the burning bush, G-d chose Moshe as leader of the Jewish people, to liberate them from their Egyptian bondage.

Q.   How old was Moshe’s mother, Yocheved, when she gave birth to Moshe?

A.   She was 130 years old! 

Q. Moshe’s father, Amram, was from the tribe of Levi. His mother, Yocheved, was also from the tribe of Levi. How were they related?

A. Yocheved was Amram’s aunt. She was Amram’s father’s sister. Although, marrying an aunt was prohibited after the Giving of the Torah, it was permitted before the Torah was given.

Q. In the Parsha we read that when G-d revealed Himself to Moshe, at the burning bush and chose him to become the leader of the Jewish people, G-d commanded him, “Take off your shoes from your feet, for the ground upon which you are standing on is holy ground.” What is the connection between Moshe becoming leader of the Jewish people and the removing of his shoes?

A.  When one wears shoes, they are not bothered by small pebbles on the road. G-d tells Moshe, in order to assume leadership of my people, "take off the shoes from your feet." As leader you must feel the pain of the Jewish people and deal even with the small problems that may affect them.

Q.  Why did Pharaoh decree that every male child be drowned in the river? What difference did it make to him how the boys were killed?

A.  Pharaoh’s stargazers told him that the future leader of the Jewish people will be punished through water. Thus, Pharaoh decreed that every boy be drowned. However, their mistake was that what they saw referred to the story, 40 years later, when G-d told him to speak to the rock to give water, instead, he hit the rock. As a result, he was punished to die in the desert and not lead the people into Israel.

Q.  Our sages say that when Pharaoh’s daughter stretched out her hand to reach for the basket with Moshe on the river, it was beyond reach. Why did she even attempt to reach it?

A.  Oursages say this teaches us an important lesson. If ever we are in a situation where someone is in need of help, we shouldn’t give up just because it seems impossible. We have to try our best, and even reach for the unreachable, to help that person. When we try our best, G-d will do His best and help us achieve our goals.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:59 / Shabbat ends: 5:09