B"H

Friday, Shevat 2, 5784 / January 12, 2024

In this week's Parsha, Va’eira, G-d commands Moshe to bring encouragement to the Jewish people who were enslaved in Egypt.  G-d tells Moshe to tell the Children of Israel, "I am the L-rd and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment; and I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a G-d...”

G-d then tells Moshe, "Go speak to Pharaoh, King of Egypt that he shall send away the Children of Israel from his land." When Pharaoh refused, he was punished with ten plagues. 

Q.  How is the above-mentioned verse connected to the four cups we drink at the Passover Seder?

A.  The four cups of wine at the Seder commemorate the four expressions of redemption mentioned in the Parsha in connection with the liberation from Egypt: 1) I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 2) I will deliver you from their bondage. 3) I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment.  4) I will take you to me for a people.

Q.  How many of the 210 years that Jews lived in Egypt were they enslaved by the Egyptians?

A.  116 years. Explanation: The enslavement began only after the last of Yaakov's children died.  Yaakov's third son, Levi, lived the longest.  He died at the age of 137.  He was 43 when he came to Egypt and lived there 94 years.  Thus, if we deduct 94 from 210, we are left with 116. This is the total amount of years that Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians.

However, the very harsh and “bitter” enslavement was 86 years. It began at the time when Miriam was born.  In fact, she was named “Miriam,” which is a combination of two words; Mar & Yam – which means, Bitter & Sea. She was named Miriam for the bitter enslavement and the terrible decree of drowning every male in the Nile River.

Q.   How long was it from the first plague until the Exodus?

A.   Less than one year. 

Q.  Before each plague, Moshe warned Pharaoh about the upcoming plague. How long was the warning time and how long did the actual plague last?

A.   The warning time for each plague was three weeks.  The plague itself lasted one week. Except for the last plague, the death of the first born, which began at midnight and Jews left the next day.

Q.  How old was Moshe, Aaron and their sister, Miriam, when they led the Jewish people out of Egypt?

A.  Moshe was 80; Aaron 83 and Miriam 86.

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 4:15 / Shabbat ends: 5:23