B"H
Thursday, Tevet 23, 5785 / January 23, 2025
This Shabbat we read Parshat Va’eira, in which seven of the plagues are found. Three weeks before each plague Moshe warned Pharaoh that G-d was bringing that particular plague if Pharaoh doesn’t send out the children of Israel. Each plague lasted one week.
It was mentioned yesterday that Rabbi Tanchum says, "Because the waters of the Nile protected Moshe when he was placed in the river, he could not be the one to smite the water for the plagues of blood and frogs. Also, the third plague, lice, which came from the sand, was brought by Aaron, because the sand protected Moshe when he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Hillel the Elder was the saintly first-century leader of Jews in Israel. Once Hillel heard that some of his students did not express their gratitude for favors done to them, he then told them the following parable:
A deer chased by hunters ran into a garden and hid amongst its dense bushes. The hunters searched tirelessly for the deer but couldn’t find it. Finally, they gave up.
When the deer saw the hunters leaving the garden, it relaxed. Suddenly, the animal felt hungry and began eating the leaves of the dense bushes which were protecting him. Each leaf which the deer ate called out, “We’re not sad for our fate, but for your foolishness! Don’t you realize that by eating us the hunters will soon see you?”
But the deer did not properly appreciate the kindness which was extended to him by the leaves. The deer continued eating the leaves for he was hungry and all that mattered was to satisfy his hunger. But the more leaves he ate the more he became exposed. Soon the hunters heard the sound of the deer chewing on the leaves. They turned and saw the foolish deer. Before long the deer was captured.”
Hillel concluded, “As the deer lay trapped he exclaimed, ‘Oh, how I deserve my fate. For I have repaid bad for good, because the leaves which did me a favor, I ate.” This concept is called “Hakarat Hatov” - expressing appreciation to those who help us and from whom we have benefited.
Q. Where was Moshe’s wife, Tziporah, and his two sons during all this time?
A. Moshe married Tziporah in Midyan and had two sons there. When G-d told him to go to Egypt and command Pharaoh to let the Jewish people out, he took his wife and children with him to Egypt.
At the same time, G-d commanded Aaron to go out and meet Moshe before he comes to Egypt. Aaron, who didn’t see Moshe for many years and never met Moshe’s family, asked, “Who are these?” Moshe told him that they were his wife and children. “Where are you taking them?” protested Aaron. “We are in great pain over those who are already here, why bring more people to Egypt?” Moshe then sent his wife and children back to her father, Yitro. Only after the Exodus did Yitro bring his daughter and his grandchildren to join their father and husband, Moshe.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW