Beshalach – Page 3 – Peninim on the Torah

ופרעה הקריב וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם וייראו מאד ויצעקו בני ישראל אל ד'

Pharaoh approached, Bnei Yisrael raised their eyes and behold! Egypt was journeying after them, and they were very frightened; Bnei Yisrael cried out to Hashem. (14:10)

Did it have to be this way? Finally, after 210 years of brutal enslavement, the Jews were leaving. It was a happy day, but it did not last very long. A few days later, when the Jews were standing at the banks of the Red Sea, suddenly Pharaoh and his minions were chasing after them. Understandably, the nation broke out in all-consuming fear followed by their audible crying to Hashem. We return to our opening question: Did it have to be this way? Chazal (Shemos Rabbah 21:5) ask this and give a simple, but profound, explanation: Hashem desires the prayers…

Home -> 5779 -> Beshalach

וידי משה כבדים ויקחו אבן וישימו תחתיו וישב עליה

Sruly Schnair In Beshalach, 5779

The hands of Moshe were heavy, and they took a stone, placed it beneath him, and he sat upon it. (17:12)

We can distinguish between those mitzvos that are incumbent upon man in his relationship with Hashem – bein adam laMakom; and those mitzvos that involve interpersonal relationships – bein adam lachaveiro. The basis for mitzvos bein adam laMakom is Hashem. He desires our service. The root of mitzvos bein adam la’chaveiro is V’halachta bidrachav, “You shall emulate His ways” (Devarim 11:22). Hashem interacts with our world by sharing our pain. With regard to interpersonal relationships, this trait is called nosei b’ol im chaveiro, sharing/carrying the burden with one’s fellow. During the Revelation that accompanied the Giving of the Torah on…

Home -> 5779 -> Beshalach

ויושע ד' ביום ההוא את ישראל מיד מצרים וירא ישראל את מצרים מת על שפת הים

Sruly Schnair In Beshalach, 5779

On that day, Hashem saved Yisrael from the hand of Egypt, and Yisrael saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. (14:30)

Pesach and Purim occur a month apart on the Jewish calendar, but the mode of celebration of each differs greatly. This is because each manifested a different mode of celebration, with regard to our emerging triumphant over our enemies. On Purim, we celebrate the day that Haman’s evil decree was annulled, the day asher nacha mei’oyiveihem, “they rested from their enemies”; in contrast, on both the first and seventh day of Pesach, we celebrate the destruction of our enemies. During the seder night, the firstborn of Egypt perished. Nary was there a home that did not reek of death. Our…

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…

Home -> 5779 -> Beshalach

ויבאו בני ישראל בתוך הים ביבשה

Sruly Schnair In Beshalach, 5779

Bnei Yisrael came within the sea on dry land. (14:22)

Did all of the people immediately enter the Red Sea? Nachshon ben Aminadov made the first move. Everybody followed his lead. Chazal (Sotah 36b) quote a debate that takes place between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehudah. Rabbi Meir teaches that when the Jewish People stood at the banks of the Red Sea the tribes began to contend with one another, each one declaring, “I am going in first!” Rabbi Yehudah disagrees. He claims it was the opposite, with each tribe giving the “honor” of entering the water first to the other tribe. In the end, it was Nachshon ben Aminadov…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Beshalach ->

ופרעה הקריב וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם וייראו מאד ויצעקו בני ישראל אל ד'

Pharaoh approached, Bnei Yisrael raised their eyes and behold! Egypt was journeying after them, and they were very frightened; Bnei Yisrael cried out to Hashem. (14:10)

וידי משה כבדים ויקחו אבן וישימו תחתיו וישב עליה

The hands of Moshe were heavy, and they took a stone, placed it beneath him, and he sat upon it. (17:12)

ויושע ד' ביום ההוא את ישראל מיד מצרים וירא ישראל את מצרים מת על שפת הים

On that day, Hashem saved Yisrael from the hand of Egypt, and Yisrael saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. (14:30)

והמים להם חמה מימינם ומשמאלם

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

ויבאו בני ישראל בתוך הים ביבשה

Bnei Yisrael came within the sea on dry land. (14:22)

ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם

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

וחמשים עלו בני ישראל מארץ מצרים

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

וישאו בני ישראל את עיניהם והנה מצרים נסע אחריהם

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

וירא ישראל את היד הגדולה אשר עשה ד' במצרים

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

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

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

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!