B"H

Wednesday, Tevet 18, 5776 / December 30, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR

This Shabbat we read the first Parsha of the second book of the Torah, Sehmot (Genesis 1:1-6:1).  In this week's Parsha we read how the Egyptians enslave the Jewish people.

Yocheved gives birth to Moshe and after hiding him for three months, places him in a basket and sets it along the banks of the Nile River.  Pharaoh's daughter, Batiya, retrieves him and raises him in the palace of Pharaoh.  When Moshe kills an Egyptian for striking an Israelite, Pharaoh sentences him to death.  But Moshe escapes to Midyan where he meets his future wife, Tziporah. Moshe marries her and becomes a shepherd for his father-in-law, Yitro.

While tending his father-in-law's sheep, Moshe notices a bush that is burning without being consumed.  He approaches and G-d reveals Himself to Moshe, commanding him, "Go to Pharaoh and 'bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt'".  Moshe asks G-d, "What if the children of Israel will not believe me, for they will say the L-rd did not appear to you?" 

G-d then gives Moshe three signs. First, he tells Moshe to throw his staff to the ground.  It immediately turns into a snake. When Moshe recoils in fear, G-d tells him to grab its tail, and it turns back into a staff.  For a second sign, G-d tells Moshe to put his hand into his bosom.  When he takes it out, it is "leprous like snow." Again, G-d tells him to return his hand back in his bosom. This time, when he takes it out, the flesh is back to normal.

G-d tells Moshe, "If they will not believe these two signs, then you shall take of the water of the river and pour it upon the dry land and the water will become blood upon the dry land".

But Moshe still protests that he will not be able to convince Pharaoh. "My L-rd, I am not eloquent.. I am slow of speech..."  G-d reminded Moshe, "Who gave man a mouth? Who makes a person dumb or deaf? Who gives a person sight or makes him blind? Is it not I - G-d? Now go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say." 

Q.  The Torah begins describing G-d's revelation to Moshe with the words, "And Moshe was attending to the flock of his father-in-law, Yitro."  What is the connection between Moshe's attending to the flock and G-d's choosing him as the leader of the people of Israel?

A.The Midrash explains that both Moshe and King David showed extra devotion and care to the individual needs of the sheep in their flocks.  G-d said, "If they are so devoted to the sheep in their flocks, they will certainly care for the individual needs of My people!" This is why G-d chose them to lead the Jewish people.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

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In loving memory of Bessie Miller - Chaya Basya Sima bat Tzvi Hirsh & Miriam - z"l.

Yartzeit is today, Tevet 18.  May her Neshama rest in peace in Gan Eden.  May her memory be a blessing.

From Frances & Gerald Kessner and Family