Tuesday, Tevet 24, 5782 / December 28, 2021

Questions & Answers on this week's Parsha, Va’eira.

Q.In last week’s Parsha, Shmot, the Torah tells us that Moshe married Tziporah. Whom did Aaron and Miriam marry?

A. In this week’s Parsha, Va’eira, we read, "And Aaron took Elisheva, the daughter of Aminadav, the sister of Nachshon, to himself for a wife" (Exodus 6:23).  Nachshon was the prince of the tribe of Yehuda (Judah).

Moshe’s sister, Miriam. Married Kalev ben Yefunah, of the tribe of Yehuda. He was one of the 12 spies, sent by Moshe, who went to scout the land of Israel before entering it. He and Joshua were the only two who came back with a good report and as a result merited to go into the land.

Q.What is the significance of the Torah telling us that Elisheva’s brother was Nachshon? We would know that after the Torah tells us that she was the daughter of Aminadav, who was the father of Nachshon.

A.According to the Talmudic sage Rava, this teaches us that, "Before one takes a wife, they should check out her brothers; for most children will take after the mother's brothers."  Thus, the fact that she was the sister of Nachshon, who was a righteous person, was a factor in Aaron marrying Elisheva.

Q.   In the Parsha we read about seven of the Ten Plagues, which G-d brought upon the Egyptians.  The first two plagues were blood and frogs.  The Torah says, "And G-d said to Moshe, say to Aaron take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the rivers, over their streams and over their pools and over all their ponds of water so that they will become blood.”  The same was with the plague of frogs which was brought about by Aaron. Why were the waters smitten by Aaron and not by Moshe? 

A.According to Rabbi Tanchum, G-d told Moshe, "Because the waters protected and saved you when your mother placed you in the river, you should not be the one to punish them.”  This is the reason why the first two plagues, blood, and frogs, which came from the river, were brought about by Aaron.

Q.   The third plague which was lice, was also brought about by Aaron: "And G-d said to Moshe, say to Aaron stretch out your rod and smite the dust of the earth and it shall become lice..." (Exodus 8:12).  Why did this plague have to be brought by Aaron?

A.     Here too G-d told Moshe, "You should not be the one to punish the earth, for it protected you when you killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:12).  Aaron should be the one to bring this plague instead." Here we see how important it is to be grateful for a kindness one does for us.  The fact that the river and the earth helped Moshe, he had to be thankful and show gratitude to them.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY