Thursday, Shevat 11, 5782 / January 13, 2022

B"H

Thursday, Shevat 11, 5782 / January 13, 2022

 

In this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, we find one of the most amazing miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people, after liberating them from their Egyptian bondage. It was the miracle of the manna - the heavenly food, which descended from heaven each day, except on Shabbat. 

 

The heavenly manna began exactly one month after the Exodus and was to be their daily food for a period of forty years. It stopped one month before they entered into the Promised Land.

 

Another wonderful miracle in this Parsha was the water from a well miraculously embedded in a rock. This rock traveled with them throughout their forty years journey in the desert.

 

Q.  What did they eat during that first month – from the Exodus until the manna came?

 

A.  They had the left-over matzah, which they ate the night before the Exodus. They also had the dough which they took out of Egypt, which was baked from the heat of the sun as matzot.

 

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

 

A.   The Torah says that when they first saw the heavenly bread, the people asked each other, “mann hu,” “what is it.” The name “manna” is from the words “mann hu” – what is it.

 

Q.   Before eating bread we recite the blessing, “Hamotzi lechem min haaretz.”  We thank G-d for bringing forth bread from the earth. What blessing did they make on bread which came from heaven?

 

A.   “Hamotzi lechem min hashamayim” - “for bringing forth bread from heaven.”

 

Q.  The Jewish people witnessed so many great miracles, How is it possible that they rebelled and complained time after time during their 40 years in the desert?

 

A.  When one lives in an environment of constant miracles, after a while one starts taking the miracles for granted, seeing them as a natural phenomenon. Jews were so used to miracles that they took them for granted.  Even the daily manna from heaven became natural to them and they stopped seeing the miracle in it.

 

There is a lesson in this for each of us. We all experience miracles one time or another. There are times when we are in dire need of a miracle and pray to G-d. At that time, we are ready to do anything for Him. Yet, too often, after the miracle occurs and we are helped, we tend to forget that it is G-d who came through, we take it for granted and forget that we owe Him. We must always remember that in truth we owe G-d much more than we are willing to admit. In fact, our sages remind us that we have to thank G-d for every breath we take!

 

If we stop and think about it, we realize that G-d does so much for us. We really do owe Him!

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

 

Wednesday, Shevat 10, 5782 / January 12, 2022

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

Tuesday, Shevat 9, 5782 / January 11, 2022

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.