Bo – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

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…

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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…

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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…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And you shall tell your son on that day saying: It is because of this that Hashem did for me when I went forth from Egypt. And it shall be for you a sign upon your hand… In order that the law of Hashem may be in your mouth.” (13,8,9,10)

We may wonder why, particularly in the chapter dealing with consecrating the first-born, the “children” would question our spiritual practice. Indeed, there were other mitzvos which they could have found enigmatic. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers a homiletic appreciation of this pasuk. The “children” questioned the need for the first-born to be consecrated from birth, to be immediately inducted in Hashem’s service. Would it not have been more appropriate for them first to mature both emotionally and spiritually before choosing to serve Hashem? The response to this question is “It shall be for you a sign upon your hand.” As…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And it shall be when Hashem will bring you into the land of the Canaanites as He swore unto you and your fathers, and He shall give it to you.” (13:11)

Rashi explains that Bnei Yisrael should feel that Eretz Yisrael was being given to them anew on that very day, rather than as an inheritance bequeathed to them by their ancestors. This special appreciation of Eretz Yisrael is more than a reflection of our love towards the land. It is also an essential prerequisite for its procurement. As we study Torah daily, we are reaffirming our acceptance of it, and we are obligating ourselves to its mandate. We likewise view Eretz Yisrael as our land. Horav Yerucham Levovitz, z.l., remarks that although Eretz Yisrael was pledged to our ancestors, it…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And Yisrael saw the great hand (might) of Hashem… and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe His servant. (14:31)

What was unique about these miracles that stimulated Bnei Yisrael’s faith in Hashem more strongly than did the miracles wrought in Egypt? What provoked Bnei Yisrael to finally express gratitude to Hashem through the vehicle of “shirah,” song of praise? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers a profound homiletic response to this question. Historical events are all part of a great portrait created by Hashem as the master artist. These seemingly isolated incidents all fit in to make up a beautifully crafted and brilliantly designed mosaic. In order to appreciate the total project, man must be able to stand back and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And Hashem said to Moshe. Behold I am about to cause to rain for you bread from the Heaven, and the people will go out daily to collect (their daily portion) so that I can test them if they will follow in My Torah or not.” (16:4)

The Divine gift of manna was essentially the last of the great miracles which surrounded the Egyptian Exodus. These wonders were designed to illuminate our path and guide us in our belief in Hashem. Indeed, Chazal view the manna as the ultimate miracle which nurtured our emunah and stimulated our bitachon in Hashem. Hashem brought us through the desert in a long, circuitous way. He nourished us with manna from Heaven and water from the Well in order to imbue Torah into our bodies and souls. Relying upon Hashem to provide “parnasah,” livelihood, and believing in His “ability” to sustain…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5753

“And Amalek came and (he) battled with Yisrael in Refidim.” (17:5)

The Ramban writes that when Bnei Yisrael went forth to wage war with Amalek, Moshe feared the worst. He prayed intensely to Hashem on their behalf. The Ramban questions Moshe’s concern. Had not Hashem performed miracles for them? Was there any reason for Him to neglect them at this stage of their redemption? The Ramban explains that Moshe feared Amalek particularly because he was Eisav’s grandson. Eisav had been assured of the blessing of “by your sword you shall live.” This blessing accorded him great physical might, which assured him of success in his battles. This blessing was the source…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5752

“And that you shall tell in the ears of your son and your son’s son… that you should know that I am Hashem” (10:2)

The end of this pasuk “and you should know” seems to be inconsistent with its beginning. The purpose of teaching about the exile and exodus to our children is that these fundamental experiences become an intgral part of our nation’s heritage. They will be employed as a vehicle to emphasize and imbue our children with faith in Hashem. Thus, it should have stated, “And they shall know.” Obviously, we may note that the lessons to be derived are not only for the children, but also for the parents. When these pivotal experiences are taught with an air of complacency and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bo, 5752

“This month shall be to you the beginning of the months.” (12:2)

The Sforno explains that from this point forward the months of the year shall be yours, to do with them as you will. During the bondage, however, “time” did not belong to you. Rather, slaves spend their time fulfilling the will of others. A slave has no time which he can consider his own. He lacks freedom of choice due to his subservience to his master, who determines his complete schedule. In contrast, freedom grants the individual mastery over his own time, enabling him to decide the most effective course for its utilization. Perhaps we may suggest a more profound…

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“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)

“And you shall tell your son on that day saying: It is because of this that Hashem did for me when I went forth from Egypt. And it shall be for you a sign upon your hand… In order that the law of Hashem may be in your mouth.” (13,8,9,10)

“And it shall be when Hashem will bring you into the land of the Canaanites as He swore unto you and your fathers, and He shall give it to you.” (13:11)

“And Yisrael saw the great hand (might) of Hashem… and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe His servant. (14:31)

“And Hashem said to Moshe. Behold I am about to cause to rain for you bread from the Heaven, and the people will go out daily to collect (their daily portion) so that I can test them if they will follow in My Torah or not.” (16:4)

“And Amalek came and (he) battled with Yisrael in Refidim.” (17:5)

“And that you shall tell in the ears of your son and your son’s son… that you should know that I am Hashem” (10:2)

“This month shall be to you the beginning of the months.” (12:2)

YEARS

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