B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 9, 5779 / January 15, 2019

In this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, we read about many of the miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people, during the first month, since they left Egypt at the time of the Exodus.

The Exodus itself was one of the greatest miracles. After being in Egypt for over two hundred years, where as our sages say, even one servant couldn’t escape, yet millions of Jews were liberated at once.

The Egyptians, who were smitten with the plague of the first-born, made sure that they left as fast as possible. They didn’t even have time to prepare food for their journey. Instead, they took the unbaked dough with them, before it was even able to rise, and it was baked in the hot sun. This is why we eat matzah on Pesach.

G-d sent a pillar of cloud to direct them, and a pillar of fire to provide light for the Jewish people. The pillar of cloud would also provide protection from the Egyptians who were chasing behind them.

The sea split and the Jewish people walked through the sea on dry land, while the Egyptians drowned.

After crossing the sea, they walked for three days in the desert and didn’t have any water. When they finally found water it was bitter and not drinkable. The people complained against Moshe. G-d showed Moshe a piece of wood. He threw it into the water and the water became sweet.

G-d told Moshe to tell the people, “If you will listen to the voice of G-d, your G-d, and you will perform the commandments, and observe all His statutes – then ALL the sicknesses that I have placed upon Egypt I will NOT place upon you, for I am G-d your healer.”   

One month after the Exodus, when their supply of matzah was finished, the people again complained against Moshe and Aaron. They said, “If only we would have died by the hand of G-d in the land of Egypt, when we sat on the pots of meat, when we ate bread to our fill. Instead, you have brought us out into this desert, to starve the entire congregation to death!”

In response to their complaint, G-d told Moshe, “I am going to rain down for you bread from heaven. They will go out and gather what is needed for that day, so that I can test them whether or not they will follow My Torah. On Friday, they will find double the amount of what they will find each other day.”

For the next forty years, the manna came down from heaven each day, except on Shabbat. On Friday they received a double portion, for Friday and Shabbat.

Q. Why do we use two Challahs (breads) when we recite the blessing over the bread on Shabbat?

A. To remember the double portion of manna, which they received on Friday, for Shabbat.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Shevat 11, 5779 / January 17, 2019

This week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, covers the period of six weeks in the history of the Jewish people, between the Exodus and them coming to Mount Sinai, to receive the Torah.

The Parsha begins how Pharaoh and the Egyptians were chasing after the Jewish people.  With the sea in front of them, the desert to the side and the Egyptians behind them, they were trapped and frightened.  They complained to Moshe, “Why did you take us out of Egypt?”

Moshe prayed and G-d told him to tell the people to goforward into the sea.  As soon as the first person jumped into the water, the miracle of the splitting of the sea happened and the Jewish people crossed through and were saved while the Egyptians drowned.

Our sages point to an interesting fact. The miracle didn’t happen until the first person jumped into the water.  Why didn’t G-d perform the miracle before he jumped in?  To teach us that at times G-d waits for us to do our part; to take that leap of faithand then G-d does His part.

Then, they walked in the desert three days and didn’t have any water. They came to Marah, but the water there was bitter and they complained that there was nothing to drink.  G-d showed Moshe a stick, which he threw into the water and the water became sweet.

At Marah, G-d gave them a few mitzvot.  G-d said, “If you will listen to the voice of G-d; and you will do that which is just in His eyes and you will listen to His commandments; and observe His statutes – then all the sickness that I have placed upon Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am G-d your healer.”

Another test in the Parsha is when the food they took with them from Egypt was finished and they had nothing to eat.  Again they complained against Moshe and Aaron for taking them out of Egypt to die of hunger in the desert. G-d then began sending the manna from heaven.  For the next forty years, every day, except Shabbat, a portion of manna came down from heaven.  On Friday there was a double portion; one for Friday and one for Shabbat.

When they came to Refidim and they didn’t have any water.  Again they complained to Moshe, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt only to make us, our children and our livestock die of thirst?”  G-d told Moshe to take his staff and strike the rock which He will show him and water flowed forth from the rock. 

Q.    Why did G-d put the Jewish people through all these tests immediately after the Exodus?

A.    The Hebrew word for “test” is “Nes.”  Nesalso means “to lift up high.”  The purpose of a test is to overcome it.  After passing the test, a person is lifted higher spiritually. This is also the reason for the tests which G-d places before us, sometimes even on a daily basis.  They are intended to strengthen us and elevate us when we pass these tests.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Friday, Shevat 12, 5779 / January 18, 2019

This Shabbat, Parshat B’Shalach, is called "Shabbat Shira" - "Shabbat of Song".  In this Parsha we read about the splitting of the Red Sea and the "Shira," the “song” which Moshe and the Jewish people sang praising G-d for the great miracle which they just witnessed.

Another miracle about which we read in this week's Parsha is how G-d provided for the Jewish people the manna - "bread from heaven" - which came down each morning throughout their forty years journey in the desert. On Friday, they would receive a double portion – for Friday and Shabbat.  

Q.  Why was the “bread from heaven” called “manna”?

A.  When they first found this bread it was unfamiliar to them.  They asked, "Mann Hu” - “What is it?"  In response Moshe told them, "This is the bread which the L-rd has given you to eat... Gather of it one Omer measurement per person according to the number of your people in one's tent shall you take." 

If one collected more or less than an Omer per person, when they brought it home there was exactly one Omer per person. The name "manna" is derived from their expression concerning the heavenly bread, "Mann Hu"- "what is it?"  

G-d commanded that they should take some manna and store it for future generations, “So they can see the bread which I fed you in the desert.” The purpose for this was, so that the Jewish people in future generations will know that sustenance comes from G-d.

Q. Before we eat bread, we recite the blessing, “Hamotzi” – thanking G-d for giving us “bread from the earth.” What blessing did they recite on the manna, which came from heaven?

A. They substituted the words, “from the earth,” with the words, “from heaven.”

Many of the customs we observe each Shabbat remind us of the miracle of the manna.

Custom:  We recite the blessing over two Challot (Shabbat breads) for the Shabbat meals.

Reason:  This symbolizes the double portion of manna which G-d sent on Friday in honor of Shabbat.

Custom:  Why are the two Challot covered?

Reason:  In order to recall the manna, which came down covered with a layer of dew. 

Custom:  Why is it customary to prepare a stew (Cholent) which is placed on the stove before Shabbat in order to stay hot and delicious for the Shabbat day meal.

Reason:To remember the manna which remained fresh, from Friday through the day of Shabbat.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 4:22  / Shabbat ends: 5:31