Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

  • Reset
Category

Back to Home -> Beshalach -> 5778


Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

והמים להם חמה מימינם ומשמאלם

Sruly Schnair
In Beshalach, 5778

The water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left. (14:29)

Actually, the Red Sea was divided into twelve parts, allowing each tribe to walk though separately. The Sfas Emes explains that Hashem did this to teach them that each individual tribe has its own singular mission and, thus, deserves the miracle of the Splitting of the Red Sea for its own sake. In Sefer Tehillim 136:13, David Hamelech records the miracle, L’Gozeir Yam Suf ligzarim, “Who splits/divides the Red Sea into parts.” Surprisingly, the pasuk is written in the present tense, as if Hashem continually splits the Red Sea. (Veritably, the commentators translate it in the past tense, but l’gozeir…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

תקע בשופר גדול לחרותנו

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

– Teka b’Shofar gadol l’cheiruseiu. Sound the great Shofar for our Freedom.

Horav Levi Yitzchak, zl, m’Berditchev, was known as Klal Yisrael’s advocate, their defender who viewed everything through a positive lens. One Rosh Hashanah, following his derashah, lecture, preceding Tekias Shofar, he turned around, his back to the congregation, his face facing the Aron HaKodesh – and he began to cry bitterly. The congregation obviously waited patiently for their Rav – despite his incessant weeping, which seemed to go on and on. No one could think of a reason why specifically now, of all times, he was crying so passionately. Suddenly, he stopped crying and spoke softly to Hashem, like a…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

וירא ישראל את היד הגדולה אשר עשה ד' במצרים... ויאמינו בד' ובמשה

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

Yisrael saw the great hand that Hashem inflicted upon Egypt… and they had faith in Hashem and in Moshe. (14:31)

Krias Yam Suf, the Splitting of the Red Sea, left an indelible impression of faith in Hashem on the Jewish People. While they had witnessed varied miracles in Egypt, the miracles that accompanied Krias Yam Suf (Yalkut Meam Loaz enumerates fifty miracles) had a compelling effect on the Jewish spiritual mindset. Horav Asher Weiss, Shlita, relates the story of a father and his young son at the Seder table. The father was extolling the miracles connected with the Splitting of the Red Sea, when suddenly, his young, wise son interjected with a question. “Tell me, Father, why are we so…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

וירא ישראל את היד הגדולה אשר עשה ד' במצרים

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

Yisrael saw the great hand that Hashem inflicted upon Egypt. (14:31)

“Great hand” is explained by the Chafetz Chaim, zl, as far-reaching. At times, years could go by before we see the great hand. Things happen; some (apparently) positive, and others which appear to be negative. We do not understand why, but we maintain our faith that these are not haphazard occurrences. Everything is a piece in Hashem’s Divine Plan; everything has its assigned place. When we will be privy to the complete big picture, we will see with clarity how everything fits neatly into the puzzle of reality. Klal Yisrael suffered cruel and bitter persecution at the hand of the…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

Bnei Yisrael raised their eyes and behold! – Egypt was journeying after them. (14:10)

Klal Yisrael saw the united Egyptian Army coming after them. The word nosea, traveling, is written in the singular, rather than in the plural form, nosim. Rashi explains that the Egyptians came after the Jews b’lev echad k’ish echad, “with one heart, like one person.” In a similar exposition in Parshas Yisro, Rashi comments concerning Klal Yisrael’s coming to Har Sinai. Vayichan sham Yisrael, “and Yisrael camped there” (Shemos 9:2). Vayichan is singular, as opposed to vayachanu, which would be the proper plural conjugation form. Rashi expounds, k’ish echad b’lev echad, as one person with one heart. Notably, concerning Klal…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

וחמשים עלו בני ישראל מארץ מצרים

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

And Bnei Yisrael went out from the land of Egypt, (well) armed. (13:19)

What benefit did the Jewish slaves – now turned free men – have from the weapons which they brought with them from Egypt? The commentators interpret chamushim as armed. This then provides proof positive that when Bnei Yisrael battled Amalek they had weapons to use against the enemy. Having weapons and knowing how to use them are quite different matters. Perhaps by the time Amalek attacked them, they had already trained somewhat in weaponry and battle. What would men who knew nothing but slavery for 210 years do with weapons? Why did they take something with them that they did…

Continue Reading

Home -> 5778 -> Beshalach

ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם

Roberto Szerer
In Beshalach, 5778

It happened when Pharaoh sent out the people. (13:17)

Finally, after 210 years of brutal slavery, the Jewish People were free! The Exodus is among the most seminal experiences of our collective Jewish history. Every year we devote an entire festival to commemorating our freedom, our liberation from servitude. Zeicher l’yetzias Mitzrayim, “In remembrance of the exodus from Egypt” is a critical part of many tefillos, prayers. It has been over three thousand years since that auspicious moment of mass exodus from a tyrannical monarchy bent on destroying our people – and we still commemorate that moment. We must, however, sit back for a moment and ask ourselves: Have…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!