B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 9, 5779 / January 15, 2019
In this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, we read about many of the miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people, during the first month, since they left Egypt at the time of the Exodus.
The Exodus itself was one of the greatest miracles. After being in Egypt for over two hundred years, where as our sages say, even one servant couldn’t escape, yet millions of Jews were liberated at once.
The Egyptians, who were smitten with the plague of the first-born, made sure that they left as fast as possible. They didn’t even have time to prepare food for their journey. Instead, they took the unbaked dough with them, before it was even able to rise, and it was baked in the hot sun. This is why we eat matzah on Pesach.
G-d sent a pillar of cloud to direct them, and a pillar of fire to provide light for the Jewish people. The pillar of cloud would also provide protection from the Egyptians who were chasing behind them.
The sea split and the Jewish people walked through the sea on dry land, while the Egyptians drowned.
After crossing the sea, they walked for three days in the desert and didn’t have any water. When they finally found water it was bitter and not drinkable. The people complained against Moshe. G-d showed Moshe a piece of wood. He threw it into the water and the water became sweet.
G-d told Moshe to tell the people, “If you will listen to the voice of G-d, your G-d, and you will perform the commandments, and observe all His statutes – then ALL the sicknesses that I have placed upon Egypt I will NOT place upon you, for I am G-d your healer.”
One month after the Exodus, when their supply of matzah was finished, the people again complained against Moshe and Aaron. They said, “If only we would have died by the hand of G-d in the land of Egypt, when we sat on the pots of meat, when we ate bread to our fill. Instead, you have brought us out into this desert, to starve the entire congregation to death!”
In response to their complaint, G-d told Moshe, “I am going to rain down for you bread from heaven. They will go out and gather what is needed for that day, so that I can test them whether or not they will follow My Torah. On Friday, they will find double the amount of what they will find each other day.”
For the next forty years, the manna came down from heaven each day, except on Shabbat. On Friday they received a double portion, for Friday and Shabbat.
Q. Why do we use two Challahs (breads) when we recite the blessing over the bread on Shabbat?
A. To remember the double portion of manna, which they received on Friday, for Shabbat.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY