Let’s Get To Work!
The Jews turned to Moshe and said, “was it due to a lack of graves in Egypt, that you took us out to die in the desert?” [Ex.14:11] From which we learn that sarcasm is an ancient Jewish tradition.
Teaching Torah to our Children
After the plagues had killed the Egyptian's animals and most of their crops, Moses and Aharon tell Pharoah that unless he lets the Jews go into the desert to worship G-d, locusts will be sent to finish off whatever the hail didn't destroy. Pharoah asks them, "exactly...
The Greatness of Gratitude
Did you ever notice that the first three plagues were not performed by Moshe? G-d appoints Moshe to lead the people out of Egypt, and sends him to Pharoah to demand that Pharoah let the Jews go. Moshe impresses Pharoah with his staff, with the signs G-d showed him,...
Getting It Done
This week, I came across a commentary by the Malbim that "spoke to me," and I'd like to share it with you. When Moshe first encounters G-d, in the well-known story of the Burning Bush, G-d tells him that he will lead the Jews out of Egypt, but Moshe responds that they...
Sharing the Burden
The Sages tell us that the tribe of Yissachar distinguished itself through devotion to Torah study. Yaakov foresaw this, and even among the blessings given to his sons, this one is unusual: "Yissachar is a strong donkey, who rests between the borders. And he saw rest,...
The Institution of Jewish Learning
In this week's reading, when Yaakov goes down to Egypt he sends his son Yehudah (Judah) to "show the way" in front of him, down to Goshen where they were to settle [Gen. 46:28]. In the original, the word "l'horos" would more accurately be translated "to instruct" or...
