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“Write this as a memorial in the Book… that I will surely erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the Heaven.” (17:14)

Ordinarily, the word “sefer” refers to a book or any form of written memorandum. The word used here is “ba’sefer” which denotes “the” book. Therefore, we must assume that herein Hashem implores Moshe to write this memorial in The Book — the Torah. Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, notes the significance of the fact that the very first command to write anything of the Torah was given for the purpose of exacting retribution from Amalek. This signifies the importance of combatting the enemies of Hashem. Even today when none of Amalek’s descendants are known, we are still implored to remember that…

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“And it was when Moshe held up his hand that Yisrael prevailed .” (17:11)

Rashi comments that Moshe’s hands became heavy as a form of punishment, because he did not personally involve himself in the mitzvah of battling Amalek. According to Rashi these pesukim seem inconsistent with one another. On the one hand, Moshe raised his hand, turning the tide and effecting Klal Yisrael’s victory. On the other hand, Moshe is criticized for his atzlus, indolence, in not personally being involved in the war.  How are these two ideas to be reconciled? Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, z.l., infers from this pasuk a profound insight into the responsibility of a manhig Yisrael, Torah leader. One…

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“And in the morning you will see the glory of Hashem, as He listens to the complaints against Hashem, and what are we that you should incite complaints against us?” (16:7)

The Talmud in Chullin 89 notes that Moshe’s and Aharon’s level of humility surpasses even that of Avraham Avinu. The Patriarch compared himself  to  lowly  dust  (rptu rpg hfbtu), while Moshe and Aharon claimed they were nothing (vn ubjbu). This motivated Rava to declare that the world is sustained only in the merit of Moshe’s and Aharon’s humility, as it is stated, vnhkc kg .rt vk,, “He hangs the earth on nothing (Iyov 26:7). This refers to vn ubjb, “What are we?” the words with which Moshe and Aharon described themselves. Chazal apparently imply that Moshe’s and Aharon’s statement was…

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“And the water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left.” (14:29)

The Midrash, cited by the Daas Zekeinim, comments that when Bnei Yisrael approached the Red Sea, menacing waters confronted them. There seemed to be no hope.  The Angel Gavriel came forth and declared, “Let the waters in front of Bnei Yisrael move aside in deference to the nation who perform the Bris Milah. The waters which are to the right of Bnei Yisrael should likewise defer to the nation that accepted the Torah from Hashem’s ‘right Hand.’ The waters to the left should submit to the nation that puts tefillin on the left arm, and the waters behind them should…

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