Shemos – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

“And Yosef died and all the brothers and the whole generation.” (1:6)

The Ohr Hachaim states that the specificity of this posuk is deliberate. The enslavement of the Jewish people evolved gradually in three stages. As long as Yosef was alive the Jews were admired and held in high esteem. After he passed away, the Jews were no longer revered, and were accepted only as equal to the Egyptian citizen. With the passing of Yosef’s brothers this equality disappeared, only to be replaced with contempt and ridicule. However, it was only after the original generation of immigrants passed away that the Egyptians had the audacity to enslave the Jews. From this we…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, Shemos

The name of one was Shifra and the name of the other was Puah. (1:15)

Rashi explains – Shifra, this is Yocheved, she was called so because she made the child beautiful. Puah, this is Miriam, who was called so because she called aloud and murmured to the child, in the manner of women who pacify an infant that cries. Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky Zt”l notes the Torah’s description of the Jewish midwives, Yocheved and Miriam, had imbued them with exemplary character traits who had achieved a high level of spiritual insight and prophetic vision. Their fear of Hashem was the source of the moral courage necessary to save the Jewish babies. The Torah endows…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, Shemos

“And it was, because the midwives feared Hashem, that He made for them houses.” (2:21)

Rashi quotes the Chazal: One says houses of priesthood and of the Levites. This refers to Aharon and Moshe. And the other says houses of royalty, since Dovid Hamelech descended from Miriam. (Sota 11b) Undoubtedly the reward of houses of priesthood and royalty is very great, but why doesn’t the Talmud mention houses of Torah? Did not Moshe and Betzalel, who epitomized the exemplary study of Torah, descend from the midwives? In Tehilim 115, it is stated: “The House of Yisroel shall bless Hashem, the House of Aharon (priesthood) shall bless Hashem, the House of Levi shall bless Hashem,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, Shemos

And a man of the house of Levi went and took the daughter of Levi.” (2:1)

This posuk refers to the marriage of Moshe‘s parents, Amram and Yocheved. Why doesn’t the Torah mention their names. It isn’t until later that their names are revealed. What do we learn from this omission? Often, when parents are blessed with a very bright child who possesses very special qualities and capabilities, they immediately take credit for everything this child accomplishes. This is wrong, for we can not be sure how a child will mature. In Pirkei Avos it is stated, “Do not trust yourself until the day of death” (2:5). This is especially true if a person lives in…

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“And Yosef died and all the brothers and the whole generation.” (1:6)

The name of one was Shifra and the name of the other was Puah. (1:15)

“And it was, because the midwives feared Hashem, that He made for them houses.” (2:21)

And a man of the house of Levi went and took the daughter of Levi.” (2:1)

YEARS

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