B"H

Friday, Shevat 12, 5782 / January 14, 2022

 

This Shabbat we read Parshat B’Shalach. It begins with the Torah relating that after expelling the Jewish people from Egypt Pharaoh had a change of heart and chased after them in order to force them to return.  When the people looked back and saw Pharaoh and his army chasing after them, the Jewish people were frightened and complained to Moshe, "Were there not enough graves in Egypt that you took us out to die in the wilderness? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? It is far better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

 

G-d said to Moshe, "Speak to the children of Israel that they shall go forward.  Lift up your staff and stretch it over the sea and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry land through the midst of the sea." The Jewish people crossed through the sea, while the Egyptians, chasing them, drowned.

 

When the people complained they said, “Were there not enough graves in Egypt that you took us out to die in the wilderness?”

 

When G-d took the Jewish people out of Egypt, He had every intention to bring them into the Promised Land. However, a few months later, after they sent spies to scout the land and then refused to go into the land, G-d decreed that they will stay in the desert and every man over twenty years would die there.

 

Lesson: The Midrash states that from this story we learn that a person must be very careful to use only positive expressions. Unfortunately, their words to Moshe, "You took us out to die in the wilderness," were prophetically fulfilled and most of that generation died in the desert.

 

In this Parsha the Torah relates how G-d provided the Jewish people with manna - bread from heaven. Exactly one month after they left Egypt, their food provisions which they took out with them ended. They complained to Moshe.

 

G-d told Moshe, "I will cause it to rain bread from heaven; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion each day, that I may test them to see whether they will follow my laws or not".

 

The manna came down each morning and they were to gather a measurement of one omer per person. Should someone collect more or less, when they brought it home it was exactly one omer per person. On Friday, they received a double portion - for Friday and for Shabbat. Any other day whatever was left overnight became spoiled, but what they collected Friday could be left overnight for Shabbat.

 

Lesson: Our sages tell us that our sustenance is determined from heaven. We have to do our part and our effort, but in the end, no matter how much a person will try, they cannot make more than has been ordained from heaven. Thus, a person should make time to pray and study Torah each day. The time spent on prayer and study will not diminish from one’s income. 

 

SHABBAT  SHALOM

 

Montreal candle lighting time: 4:18 / Shabbat ends: 5:26