B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 13, 5785 / February 11, 2025

Highlights of this week’s Parsha, Yitro, in which we will read about the Giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah.

The Parsha begins with the story of how Yitro, who resided in Midyan, upon hearing of the miracles which G-d performed for Moshe and the Jewish people, decided to join them. He also brought with him his daughter, Moshe’s wife, Tziporah, and her two sons, who, as explained yesterday, stayed with Yitro when Moshe returned to Egypt.

Q.  What were Moshe’s children’s names?

A.  The older one was, Gershom. “Gershom” is a combination of two words, “Ger–shom,” which means a “stranger” (Ger) I was “there” (Shom). The Torah explains that Moshe named him Gershom, because Moshe had run away from Egypt and was a stranger in a foreign land when Gershom was born.

Moshe’s second son, Eliezer, is also a combination of two words; “Eli-Ezer, which means “My G-d” (Eli) “Is my help” (Ezer).

Q.  Which factor caused G-d to give the Torah to the Jewish people when they came to Mount Sinai?

A.  When the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai, there was great unity among them, as never before.  In the words of our sages, “They were as one person with one heart."  As a result, G-d gave them the Torah. Peace and unity amongst us brings holiness and G-dliness.

Q.   Why did G-d choose Mount Sinai as the mountain upon which to give the Torah?

A.  Our sages explain that Mount Sinai was one of the lowest mountains.  Rather than giving the Torah on a taller and more distinguished mountain, G-d chose Mount Sinai. G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people that Torah is acquired and internalized only through humility.

This is also the reason that Torah is compared to water. Just as water will always flow to a lower level, so too Torah is found with those who are humble.

Unity and humility go together. Strife and intolerance is caused by selfishness and haughtiness.  When the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai and realized that this particular mountain was chosen by G-d because it is a small mountain, they too practiced humility, which brought them to unity! 

Humility is the key to unity! The Rabbi of Koshnitz would say, "If all of Israel would join hands together in unity they would blend into one big hand which would reach all the way to the Heavenly Throne and bring down many many blessings!"

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

B"H

Monday, Shevat 12, 5785 / February 10, 2025

This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the fifth Parsha in the Book of Exodus (Shmot).  In Yitro we read about

G-d’s Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

The name of this Parsha, Yitro, is after Moshe’s father-in-law. He was the priest of Midyan. When he heard of the great miracles which G-d did for the Jewish people, he decided to join them. The Torah tells us that he also brought with him Moshe’s wife, Tziporah, and Moshe’s two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.

Q.How long after the Exodus did G-d give the Torah to the Jewish people?

A.Seven weeks after the Exodus. During these weeks they witnessed the following miracles:

1) The splitting of the sea through which they crossed, and the Egyptians drowned.

2) They came to Mara and there was no water fit for drinking. G-d told Moshe to throw a branch into the water and the water miraculously became sweet.

3) Exactly one month after the Exodus, their food supply, which they brought out of Egypt, was finished.  From then on, for the next forty years, G-d gave them manna from heaven.  Every day (except Shabbat), the manna came down and they would go out and collect their daily supply.

4) They came to a place called Refidim and had no water to drink.  G-d told Moshe to take his staff and strike a certain rock.  Moshe did so and water came flowing from the stone.  This rock traveled with them throughout their forty years in the desert and supplied them with all the water they needed.

5) While still in Refidim, the people of Amalek came and waged war against the Jewish people.  Moshe sent his faithful disciple Yehoshua (Joshua), to fight the Amalekites.  While Yehoshua and his men fought the physical battle, Moshe helped them through his prayers. Joshua and his men were victorious.

Now, after all their past experiences, the Jewish people were ready to accept the Torah.

Q.The Torah tells us that when Moshe went to Egypt to command Pharaoh to let the people go, he took his wife and children with him.  How is it that Yitro brought them with him now over a year later?

A.On his way to Egypt Moshe met up with his brother Aaron, whom he didn’t see for many years, since the time Moshe escaped from Egypt.  Moshe introduced his wife and children to Aaron.  Aaron asked him, “Where are you taking them?”

“I’m taking them with me to Egypt,” Moshe replied. Aaron wasn’t pleased.  “We are trying to get our brethren, who are already in Egypt out of there and you’re bringing more people into Egypt?” Moshe realized that Aaron was right.  He sent his wife and children back to her father, Yitro, while he continued on with Aaron to perform their G-dly mission to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt.  Now, it was Yitro’s turn to bring his daughter and his two grandchildren with him to Moshe. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE FREED NOW

B"H

Thursday, Shevat 8, 5785 / February 6, 2025

Parshat B’shalach,which we will read this Shabbat,relates some of the great miracles the Jewish people witnessed after leaving Egypt.

First was the miracle of the splitting of the sea, through which the Jewish people were saved and the Egyptians drowned. After witnessing this great miracle, Moshe and the people sang the Shira – a song of praise to G-d for this great miracle.

It is for this reason that this Shabbat is called, Shabbat Shira, because of the SHIRA – SONG about which we read this Shabbat.

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 the people feared G-d; and they believed in G-d and in Moshe His servant. Then Moshe and the children of Israel sang this song to the L-rd..."

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

This song which was sung by the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago, praising G-d for this great miracle, was incorporated into our daily morning prayer.

The miracle of the daily manna, their daily food supplement which was sent from heaven each day for forty years, is also recorded in this Parsha. Each day they received a certain measurement of manna, which they had to go out and collect. On Friday they received a double portion, also for Shabbat.

Another miracle we read about in the Parsha is when the people didn’t have any water to drink. They complained to Moshe; “Why did you bring us out from Egypt to kill us, our children and our cattle in the desert? G-d told Moshe to take his staff and hit the rock and much water would come forth. Moshe did so and water came forth for everyone to drink. This rock travelled with them throughout their forty year journey in the desert and provided them with the water they needed.

At the end of the Parsha we read about the nation of Amalek, who came to wage war against the Jewish people. Moshe told Joshua to select brave and pious men to fight Amalek. Joshua did so and they weakened Amalek. 

Q.Why do we recite each morning the Shira-song they sang after the miracle of crossing the sea?

A.To remind us thatEVERY DAY is a great miracle, no less than the miracle of the sea, and worthy of G-d's praises. The daily miracles are “hidden” miracles and most of them seem like natural events. Yet, if we open our eyes and minds… we will realize them and even see them as miracles.

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