Bo – Peninim on the Torah

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5756

“You shall tell your son on that day saying, ‘It is because of this that Hashem did for me when I went out of Egypt.'” (13:8)

The Talmud in Pesachim 116b states, “In every generation it is one’s duty to regard himself as though he personally had gone out of Egypt. As it is written in Shemos 13:8, ‘You shall tell your son on that day, saying, It is because of this that Hashem did for “me” when I went out of Egypt.’” In the Haggadah, Chazal expound upon these words, emphasizing the idea of a personal liberation. A question immediately comes to mind upon reading this pasuk. How can one feel that he went out of Egypt, if he was not actually there? Can we…

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Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5756

“And there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt.” (10:22)

Chazal state that only one fifth of the Jews enslaved in Egypt actually went out during the Exodus. The other four fifths perished during the three days of darkness which engulfed Egypt. It is perplexing that such a large number of people would actually desire to stay in Egypt. They were beaten incessantly; their basic freedoms were totally restricted; their daily ritual consisted of pain, affliction and persecution. Yet, they chose to stay in Egypt rather than leave with Moshe! Did this represent a rational choice? Why were these enslaved Jews not inspired by the wonderful miracles which Hashem wrought…

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Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5756

“Stretch out your hand toward Heaven, and there shall be darkness over the land of Egypt.” (10:21)

Hashem commanded Moshe to stretch out his hand towards the heavens in order to create a thick darkness over the land of Egypt. This plague lasted for three days, during which time people were unable to move about and were unable to see anything. Rashi cites Chazal who explain that in addition to punishing the Egyptian people, this plague also served a practical purpose. There were reshaim, wicked Jews, who refused to leave Egypt. These evil Jews perished during the three days of makas choshech, so that the Egyptian populace would not see Jews dying and say, “They are also…

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“You shall tell your son on that day saying, ‘It is because of this that Hashem did for me when I went out of Egypt.'” (13:8)

“And there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt.” (10:22)

“Stretch out your hand toward Heaven, and there shall be darkness over the land of Egypt.” (10:21)

YEARS

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