Wednesday, Shevat 19, 5777 / February 15, 2017
This week's Torah portion is Yitro. The highlight of this Parsha is the Ten Commandments, which
G-d gave to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.
The name of the Parsha, Yitro, is after Moshe’s father-in-law, Yitro, who was the priest of Midyan. Upon hearing all the miracles G-d performed for the Jewish people, he decided to bring his daughter, Tziporah, and Moshe’s two children to join their father at Mount Sinai. Yitro also joined the Jewish people.
The following are interesting points about the Parsha and the Ten Commandments:
There are only six Parshiot in the Torah which carry a person’s name: Noah, [Chayei] Sarah, Yitro, Korach, Balak and Pinchas.
The Ten Commandments were engraved on two tablets. Both tablets were of equal size, with five commandments on each tablet. Contrary to popular perception, the two tablets were square. They were not rounded on top.
One tablet contained the commandments between man and G-d. The other contained the commandments between man and man.
Although the commandments between man and G-d contained 146 words and the five commandments between man and man totaled only 26 words, they were written on the same size tablet.
Our sages point out an interesting point: The 26 letters took up the same amount of space because they were written in much bigger letters.
Lesson: G-d wanted to make us aware that one should not minimize in the importance of the commandments between man and man.
One cannot claim piety by meticulously performing the mitzvot toward G-d while ignoring the commandments between fellow humans. G-d especially wrote these commandments in LARGER letters to show that our attitude toward others plays a very important role in our relationship with G-d.
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa in Pirkei Avot stresses this point as follows: "Anyone with whom his fellowmen are pleased, G-d is pleased with him; But anyone with whom his fellowmen are not pleased, G-d is not pleased with him!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Tuesday, Shevat 18, 5777 / February 14, 2017
The highlight of this week's Parsha, Yitro, is G-d's giving the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. This great event took place seven weeks after The Exodus.
Q. Why did G-d wait 50 days after the Exodus to give the Torah?
A. During their enslavement in Egypt, a majority of Israelites adopted the ways of the Egyptians. As a result, they had fallen to a very low spiritual level, even to the point of worshipping idols. In order to receive the Torah, they had to elevate themselves spiritually. Only when they achieved that spiritual level did G-d give them the Torah.
The Midrash gives another reason with the following parable: A king had a son who was sick for a lengthy time. When the young prince finally felt a bit better, his teacher asked the king to send the boy to school. But the king replied, "My son has not yet fully recovered. For the next few months let him eat and drink. Only when he is completely recovered, I will send him to school. Similarly, G-d said, My children have just come out of Egypt where they were tortured and enslaved for so many years. How can I give them the Torah so soon? Let them enjoy the manna, the water of the well and the quail. Once they are completely healed, then I will give them the Torah."
Q. What is the significance of the number "Ten" ("Ten" commandments)?
A.Our Talmudic sages tell us that G-d created the world with ten sayings. The TEN Commandments correspond to the TEN sayings with which G-d created the world. "This," say our sages, "teaches us that by keeping the Ten Commandments, one preserves the universe!"
Q. There are 620 letters in the Ten Commandments. What is the significance of this number?
A. They correspond to the 613 Biblical Mitzvot plus 7 Rabbinical laws, which total 620!
The crown placed on top of the Torah scroll is called "Keter." The word "Keter" has the numerical value of 620 (20+400+200=620). This alludes to the 620 biblical and rabbinical mitzvot.
Q. The first letter of the Ten Commandments is "Alef" and the last one is "Chaf" (1+20) which totals twenty one. What is the significance of this number?
A. The first letter of each of the Five Books of the Torah total 21 (2+6+6+6+1). The "Alef" in the beginning and the "Chaf" at the end teaches us that the entire Torah and all the mitzvot were given at Mount Sinai and all mitzvot can be found within the Ten Commandments.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Shevat 14, 5777 / February 10, 2017
As mentioned yesterday, in Parshat B’shalach, we read about some of the miracles which the Jewish people witnessed after leaving Egypt.
The first miracle was the splitting of the sea. Then we have the miracle of the daily manna, which was sent from heaven. The manna lasted for 40 years. Also, Moshe’s hitting the rock, which resulted in flowing fresh water for the entire congregation and their cattle, for the next 40 years.
The Manna came down each day. Moshe told them, “No one should leave over from one day to the next.” But, there were people who didn’t listen to Moshe and they did leave over. The Torah tells us, “It became foul smelling and bred worms.” Moshe was very angry with them for disobeying G-d’s commandment.
Every Friday they received a double portion of manna; for Friday and for Shabbat, as it didn’t come down on Shabbat. The mitzvah of Shabbat, although one of the Ten Commandments found in later in the Torah, was given to them even before coming to Mount Sinai.
Q.How long after the Exodus did they begin receiving the manna?
A. Exactly one month later. The Exodus was on the 15th of Nissan and they began getting the manna on the 16th of Iyar.
Q.What did they eat during that month?
A.G-d commanded them to eat matzot on the night before the Exodus. They had leftover matzah which they took with them. Also, on the day of the Exodus they had no time to bake their dough, so they put it on their shoulders and it was baked by the heat of the sun as they left Egypt. Between the matzah and the dough which baked on their shoulders, they had a supply of food for one month.
Q. Why didn’t G-d send them a supply of manna for a longer period of time? Why every day?
A. This was to instill in them faith in G-d. According to our sages, G-d wanted to strengthen their feeling of reliance and dependence on G-d, each and every day, to know that G-d provides for them.
Rabbi Yishmael states in the Midrash, "From this we learn, that whoever has what to eat today but says, 'What will I eat tomorrow?' lacks faith; for the Torah specifically says that the manna came down daily in order to see whether the people had faith in G-d or not."
Shabbat is Tu B’Shevat – Rosh Hashana L’Ilanot - New Year for Trees.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 4:56 / Shabbat ends: 6:02
B"H
Wednesday, Shevat 12, 5777 / February 8, 2017
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 people and Moshe screamed to G-d for help. G-d told Moshe why are you screaming to Me? Tell the children of Israel that they should go forward into the sea.
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. We all know the rest of the story. For the Jewish people the sea was a life saver, while for the Egyptians the sea became their death trap and they drowned.
Our sages point out that G-d could have made it much easier for them. 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.
Lesson: 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 OUR actions to bring about His miracles.
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. When Pharaoh realized, after three days, 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 eighty years earlier that every Jewish boy should be drowned by throwing him into the river.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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In loving memory of Moe Nadler - Moshe Yitzchak ben Aaron - Yartzeit is today - 12th of Shvat.
May his memory be a blessing & May his soul rest in peace in Gan Eden.
From the family.
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