B"H

Monday, Shevat 8, 5782 / January 10, 2022

This Shabbat we read from the Torah Parshat B’Shalach.

This Parsha tells the story of the splitting of the Sea and how the Jewish people crossed through it on dry land while the Egyptians, who were chasing after them, drowned.

The people still weren’t sure whether the Egyptians really drowned, or they may still come out, just as they themselves did, and go on to chase after them. G-d then performed a special miracle and the sea spit them all out and the Jewish people realized that they were all dead and did not fear them anymore.

After this great miracle, Moshe led the Jewish people in a special song, called the Shira. It’s a song praising G-d for his great miracles, after realizing that they were now trulyfree of their Egyptian masters. Because of the special reading of the Shira, this Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Shira” – “Shabbat of Song.” The congregation stands when the Shira is read from the Torah in a special tune.

In this Parsha, the Torah also relates how G-d provided the Jewish people each day with manna - bread from heaven. Jews went out and collected their portion of manna each day. However, on Friday G-d sent a double portion because on Shabbat the manna didn’t come down.

Although the Ten Commandments were given later, at Mount Sinai, we find the mitzvah of observing the Shabbat and resting on Shabbat in this Parsha. On Shabbat the manna didn’t come down. Instead they received on Friday a double portion – one for Friday and one for Shabbat.

Q.  Why didn’t G-d send enough for an entire week or month? Why did they have to collect each day?

A.  The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon explained it to his students, who asked him this question, with the following parable:  A king had a son whom he loved dearly and provided him with all his needs.  At the start of the year, the king would give his son all that he would need for the entire year.  The first few years, the son would visit his father very often, but as time went on, the son began visiting his father less and less, until he ended up visiting only once a year in order to collect his yearly allowance. 

The king wasn't happy with his son's lack of visitation and he decided to  provide food for his son, one day at a time.  From that day on, the son appeared before his father each day!

"The same happened with the people of Israel," explained Rabbi Shimon. "By depending upon G-d for their sustenance each day, the Jewish people were compelled to look skywards, to connect and direct their hearts to their Father in Heaven on a daily basis!"

Lesson: The fact that G-d doesn't give us our needs all at once, may be a sign of His great love toward us. He wants to see us each day.  He wants us to pray each day for His help, thus presenting ourselves before Him and reinforcing our relationship with G-d every day.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 9, 5782 / January 11, 2022

In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, we read the story of how the people of Israel, who only a few days earlier left Egypt, were now being chased by the Egyptians. They were trapped between the Egyptians, behind them; the desert to their sides and the sea before them.

The Israelites and Moshe screamed to G-d for help. G-d told Moshe, “Tell the children of Israel that they should go forward.”

Nachshon, head of the tribe of Yehuda (Judah), was the first to take the plunge. As soon as he did, the sea split and everyone followed him into the sea.

We all know the rest of the story. For the Jewish people the sea split and they walked through it on dry land. For the Egyptians the sea became their death trap and they drowned.

The Torah tells us that after sending the people out of Egypt, Pharaoh and the Egyptians had a change of heart and chased after them.

Q.Why did they have a change of heart?

A.When Moshe pleaded with Pharaoh to let the people go, he told Pharaoh that they will be gone for three daysto serve G-d in the desert. The Egyptians gave them their gold, silver and expensive clothing, as the people requested, knowing that they will get it all back when the people return. But when three days passed and Pharaoh realized that they were not coming back, he and the Egyptians chased after them.

Q.Why was G-d’s final punishment to the Egyptians through drowning them in the sea?

A.This was measure for measure punishment for their decree that every Jewish boy should be drowned by throwing them into the river.

Our sages point out that G-d could have made it much easier for the Jewish people. He could have split the sea as soon as they came there. Then they wouldn’t have to fear the Egyptians, who were chasing after them, and wouldn’t have to “scream” for help.

There is a lesson in this. There are times when G-d waits for usto make that first move and take that plunge of faith in Him. Even when we are in a situation in which we do not see our way out, G-d may be waiting for OURaction to bring about His miracles.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

In memory of Jeno Zoldan Z"L – Yitzchak Yehuda ben Aaron (Yosef).

Gone for 31 years, yet, your memory, kindness  and love is still felt.
By  your family. Andre, Esther, Zachary, Benjamin, Jonah.
May the Neshamah have an Aliyah.

B"H

Wednesday, Shevat 10, 5782 / January 12, 2022

This Shabbat is called "Shabbat Shira" - "Shabbat of Song." This week's Parsha, Beshalach,describes the splitting of the Sea and the "Shira," the song which Moshe and the people of Israel sang praising G-d for this great miracle, that they just witnessed.

The Torah describes this miraculous episode as, "The Children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall on their right and their left.  And Israel saw the great hand which the L-rd brought upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the L-rd; and they believed in the L-rd and in Moshe His servant.  Then Moshe and the children of Israel sang this song to the L-rd..."

Each morning, we recite the Shira, as part of our morning prayers, to remind us thatevery day is a miracle, like the miracle of the splitting of the sea and worthy of G-d's praise.  

The Torah makes special mention of the women singing, dancing, and playing their tambourines in praise of G-d.

Q.  Where did the women get the tambourines after crossing the sea?

A.  According to our sages, the women were more confident than the men, that G-d would perform miracles for the Jewish people and lead them out of Egypt.  While still in Egypt, they made tambourines to eventually help them celebrate the Exodus. They used these tambourines to accompany them as they sang their praises to G-d after crossing the sea.

Today, the 10th of Shevat, is the Yartzeit of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, sixth Rebbe of Lubavitch, of blessed memory and the day when the seventh Rebbe accepted the mantle of leadership. He told the following episode about his grandmother, whose Yartzeit is also today:

"When my grandmother was 18 years old she became very sick.  The doctors ordered her that due to her health condition, she must eat each morning as soon as she wakes up.   My grandmother did not want to eat before reciting her morning prayers.  Therefore, she decided to rise very early, recite her prayers, and later eat. The lack of sleep which she missed because of this arrangement didn't help her health situation.

"When her father-in-law, my great grandfather, found out about this, he said to her: "A Jew must be healthy and strong in order to serve G-d.  Concerning the observance of the mitzvot, the Torah uses the expression: 'Live in them' which means one should bring life and vitality into the performance of mitzvot.  In order to perform mitzvot with vitality, one must be healthy, strong and joyful." He instructed her to listen to the doctors and eat first and pray afterwards. Then he said to her: "It is preferable to eat in order to pray, rather than pray for the purpose of eating!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY