Bo – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

“And you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to Hashem, Who passed over the houses of Bnei Yisrael in Egypt.'” (12:27)

It is noteworthy that Hashem’s passing-over the houses of Bnei Yisrael is the source for the name of the festival of Pesach, as well as the sacrifice offered on this holiday. If one were to look at all of the miracles which took place in Egypt up to and including the exodus from Egypt, the “passing-over” might not seem quite as remarkable. Why, then, is it so distinctly represented in the name and motif of the festival? Horav Yeruchum Levovitz z.l., offers a profound insight into the matter. The most significant component of the Exodus, which can be credited solely…

Home -> 5755 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5755

“Because they were thrust out of Egypt, and they were not able to tarry.” (12:39)

Klal Yisrael were not able to remain in Egypt any longer. Chazal teach that if they had remained there even for another moment, they would have sunk to the depths of impurity, reaching the fiftieth level of tumah, spiritual defilement. This statement does not seem consistent with the fact that during their entire exile in Egypt Klal Yisrael continued to adhere steadfastly to their distinct Jewish nationalism. They maintained their manner of dress, and they did not change their names or language. If they had been able to hold closely to their traditional customs, why were they not able to…

Home -> 5755 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5755

“This day you go forth in the month of Aviv (spring).” (13:4)

Rashi interprets this pasuk to be a demonstration of Hashem’s kindness towards Bnei Yisrael. He took them out of Egypt during a climatically propitious time of the year, when it is neither too hot nor too cold, and there is no rain. Indeed, Pesach is the festival of spring. Why did Hashem choose this specific season? Was it only so that Bnei Yisrael would have a comfortable exodus from Egypt — or can a deeper lesson be derived? The Meshech Chochmah suggests that the Exodus took place at the beginning of the season of Aviv, spring, because this season more…

Home -> 5755 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5755

“(These words) shall be a sign on your arm and frontlets between your eyes.” (13:16)

The tefillin shel yad, which are worn on the arm are different from the tefillin shel rosh, which are worn on the head. The one worn on the arm is composed of one compartment, while its counterpart is comprised of four compartments. The Techias Yisrael infers a valuable lesson from this distinction. The tefillin of the head represents the theoretical and hypothetical, while the tefillin of the arm symbolizes action and accomplishment. As long as we are addressing the theoretical, there can be more than one point of view. This is signified by the multiplicity of compartments in the tefillin…

Home -> 5754 -> Bo

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5754

“And Moshe said; so said Hashem, about midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt.” (11:4)

Rashi cites Chazal, who say that Moshe emphasized the word, about midnight, rather than, precisely at midnight. This was so that if Pharaoh’s astrologers had erred in timing, they would not say that Moshe lied in predicting the time for the plague. This seems unnecessary. What if the astrologers did not err and were able to pinpoint the exact time of midnight? They would still say that Moshe lied, since he said about midnight. What benefit was there in attempting to satisfy the perverted Egyptian mindset? We may advance the question further. It seems that had Moshe said, precisely midnight,…

Home -> 5754 -> Bo

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5754

“Draw out and take your lambs according to your families and slaughter the (Korban) Pesach.” (12:21)

The Midrash records a distinctive question asked by R. Elazar. He inquires concerning the necessity for the requirement of the Korban Pesach prior to Am Yisrael’s leaving Egypt. Surely there must have been other mitzvos which would have merited Am Yisrael’s redemption. Indeed, Chazal single out four specific mitzvos for which Am Yisrael merited deliverance. They were morally clean; they spoke no lashon hora; they possessed Jewish pride, retaining their Hebrew names; and they maintained the culture, not changing their national language. Why then was the Korban Pesach an essential prerequisite for their geu’lah, redemption? Chazal respond that they were…

Home -> 5754 -> Bo

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5754

“And it shall be to you a sign upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes.” (13:9)

The Talmud in Menachos 36a derives from this pasuk that one should first put the tefillin shel yad on the arm, then the tefillin shel rosh on the head. When he removes the tefillin he should first remove the shel rosh. For, when the shel rosh is on his head, he should be wearing both tefillin. There are a number of reasons for this halacha. The Chezkuni suggests a novel pedagogic approach. Before one can make an external sign, before he can promulgate his ideas and beliefs, he must initially concretize the beliefs in his own mind. They must become…

Home -> 5754 -> Bo

Sruly Schnair In Bo, 5754

“And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come saying: what is this? You shall say to him, with a strong hand Hashem has brought us out of Egypt.” (13:14)

In this parsha, Rashi attributes this question to the she’eino yodeah lish’ol, the son who is not even able to ask. This response is given to the wicked son in the Hagaddah! What relationship is there between one who knows not to question and one who is wicked? We may suggest that in Torah chinuch, education, there is no room for compromise. If one receives the wrong education it is tantamount to receiving no education. One who is devoid of Torah will ultimately be satisfied with misleading ideas and thoughts. The foundation of the pedagogic process is the ability to motivate…

Home -> 5753 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And they shall take to them (every) man a lamb for their father’s house, a lamb for a household.” (12:3) – “And they shall slaughter it the whole assembly of the congregation of Yisrael… and they shall take of the blood and they shall put it upon the two doorposts and on the lintel.” (12:6,7)

In this pasuk we note the first mitzvah in which Bnei Yisrael are enjoined as they prepare for the Exodus from Egypt. It focuses upon the head of the house, while it also embraces the whole family. Even though there is great need for collective communal involvement, the individual is not absolved of his own personal responsibility. We have become so dependent upon communal institutions that we may have forgotten what it means to fulfill our obligations personally. We send the aged to be cared for by the communal organization and the poor to central tzedaka funds, while we relegate…

Home -> 5753 -> Bo

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“Remember this day (in) which you went out from Egypt. Today you go forth in the month of Aviv.” (13:3,4)

We may question the Torah‘s inclusion of the word vzv – “this day”. Why is it necessary to emphasize “this” day? There is obviously something unique about that day which must be especially remembered. We may suggest the following thought. The Torah seems to accentuate the time of year when the Exodus from Egypt took place. Hence, it is stated, “Today you go forth in the month of Aviv,” which refers to the month of Nissan or the beginning of spring. This is a time of renewal when the young seedlings are beginning to blossom. It is a time of…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Bo ->

“And you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to Hashem, Who passed over the houses of Bnei Yisrael in Egypt.'” (12:27)

“Because they were thrust out of Egypt, and they were not able to tarry.” (12:39)

“This day you go forth in the month of Aviv (spring).” (13:4)

“(These words) shall be a sign on your arm and frontlets between your eyes.” (13:16)

“And Moshe said; so said Hashem, about midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt.” (11:4)

“Draw out and take your lambs according to your families and slaughter the (Korban) Pesach.” (12:21)

“And it shall be to you a sign upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes.” (13:9)

“And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come saying: what is this? You shall say to him, with a strong hand Hashem has brought us out of Egypt.” (13:14)

“Remember this day (in) which you went out from Egypt. Today you go forth in the month of Aviv.” (13:3,4)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!