B"H

Tuesday, Nissan 10, 5781 / March 23, 2021

Today is the 10th day in the month of Nissan– on this day, in the year, 2487 in the Hebrew calendar, Moshe's sister, Miriam, passed away. She was about 125 at the time of her passing 

Miriam was five years older than Moshe. According to the Midrash, when Pharaoh ordered the Egyptians to drown every newborn male, Miriam's father, Amram, didn’t want to have any more children and separated from his wife, Yocheved. 

Miriam, who was only a child of four, told her father, "Your action is even harsher than Pharaoh's!  Pharaoh's decree threatens only boys. However, if everyone followed your decision, there wouldn't be any Jewish children at all!" 

Amram realized that his young daughter was right. He reunited with his wife and Yocheved gave birth to Moshe, who became the leader of his people and who took them out of Egypt.

When, at three months Moshe was placed in the basket on the Nile, it was his sister Miriam who came to the rescue. She looked out for him from the shore. When Pharaoh's daughter pulled Moshe from the river it was due to Miriam’s suggestion that Moshe was given back to his mother for nursing.

During the forty years in the desert, a well which supplied all their water needs, traveled with the people of Israel. The well was in the merit of Miriam. It was called, “Be’eirah shel Miriam” - “Miriam’s well.”

Q.  Why do matzot come with holes in them?

A. After the dough is rolled into a matzah, holes are punctured in them, to prevent the dough from rising. It is an additional precaution to make sure that it doesn’t rise, thus having the potential of becoming leavened (chametz), which is forbidden on Pesach.

Before Pesach, a poor man asked the town Rabbi if he could fulfill his obligation of the Four Cups by drinking milk instead of wine because he didn't have the money to buy wine for the Seder.

"The question you asked will need a lot of research", replied the Rabbi, "and since I don't have the time before Pesach, here is twenty five rubles to buy your needs for the holiday".

After he left, the Rabbi's students asked. "Why did you give him so much? Five rubles would have been enough to buy wine."

"From his question I realized that he also had no meat for the Seder! For if he had meat for the Seder how could he drink milk? It is prohibited to mix milk and meat.  Now, if he has no meat for the Seder, he surely has no meat for the rest of the holiday meals. What's more, his family must be missing many other necessities as well. So I gave him twenty five rubles and hope it's enough."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY