Articles in Parsha Insights
Yitro- Each to his own Level
Deputizing the Students
In this week’s Parsha we read that Moses descended from Mt Sinai and began to teach G-d’s Torah to the Masses. As Moses sat from morning to evening long queues of query laden students formed up and snaked around his tent for miles. Each sought an answer, each …
Beshalach: Heavenly Bread
Two Loaves of Manna
Every Shabbos table boasts a goblet of wine and two loaves of bread – Challah. Why do we have two loaves of bread? Our Parsha teaches that, in the desert, G-d gave our ancestors a daily portion of Manna. On Friday he gave them two portions, one …
Bo: Battling Complacency
D Day
On June 6, 1944, allied forces launched a major assault against occupied France along the coast of Normandy. In the initial phases of the landing, American forces suffered heavy casualties on Omaha Beach. Communications with headquarters was scant because many radios were either lost in the Channel or destroyed …
Bo: Uncovering Divine Mysteries
In Awe of Pharaoh
G-d commanded Moses to come to Pharaoh and instruct him to release the Jewish people from bondage. Why did G-d tell Moses to come to Pharaoh and not go to Pharaoh? The Zohar answers that Pharaoh’s aura and power overwhelmed Moses and he was afraid to enter …
Bo: The Reluctant Partner
A Permanent Loan
Before Jews left Egypt they were told to “borrow” gold and silver from their Egyptian neighbors. The Egyptians, who understood that this was to be at best a “long term loan,” were reluctant to part with their valuables, but in the end acquiesced to the loan.
Then, just before …
Vaeirah: Proud to be Chosen
Hiding our Culture
There was a time when nations readily acknowledged that the Jews were chosen. There was a time when we openly acknowledged that we were chosen. There was a time when no Jew was ashamed of being chosen. Today’s world is a little different. Jews long to fit in …
Vaeirah: Hiding behind Apathy
Pharaoh and the Frog
In discussing the second of the Ten Plagues the Midrash mentions that every creature plays a role in G-d’s master plan. If not for the frog, says the Midrash, how would the Almighty take retribution against Pharaoh?
Why does the Midrash single out the frog when there were …
Vaeirah: Four Steps
Dynamics of Relationships
In this week’s Parsha we read the four expressions of redemption. “I shall extract you, save you, redeem you and take you”. There seems to be a fascination in Judaism with the number four. At the Seder we drink four goblets of wine, we have four matriarchs, Torah …
