Vaeira – Peninim on the Torah

“And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.” (8:9)

The second plague to strike Egypt was frogs which swarmed all over the land. They found their way into every house, into the bedrooms, even into the ovens and kneading troughs. The Midrash extolls the virtue of these frogs. Their devotion to serving Hashem at the expense of their own lives has served as a paradigm of exemplary Kiddush Hashem. Their willingness to enter the burning hot ovens was totally alien to their natural instincts for survival. Yet, they overcame their very nature to serve Hashem. When the day arrived for that plague to subside, the frogs from all over…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5753

When Pharaoh will say to you. deliver a proof, then say to Aharon; take your staff and cast it before Pharaoh and it will turn into a crocodile.” (7:9)

In the Midrash, Chazal ask, “Why specifically did this miracle of the staff turning into a crocodile occur?” They respond that Pharaoh is compared to a crocodile. They cite the following pasuk in Sefer Yecheskel (29:3) – uhruth lu,c .curv kusdv ohb,vw A great animal of the sea which rests peacefully in its stream. Pharaoh said, “If the son of Abraham will come to me, I shall kill him.” When Moshe came to him, Pharaoh at once became as ineffective as a staff. We suggest that Chazal’s comparison of Pharaoh to a crocodile, who lies peacefully in the water awaiting…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5753

“And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh.” (7:3)

We are taught that every person has before him two paths: the path of good and life, and the path of evil and death. One of our prime tenets of faith is that we the have the freedom to choose between these contrasting paths. Pharaoh was evidently so evil that this opportunity was denied to him. There is a divergence of opinions among the commentaries regarding this denial. A unique insight offered by Horav Simcha Zissel, z.l., of Kelm sheds light upon this problem. He explains that by increasing Pharaoh’s obstinacy, Hashem was revealing the true character of evil-doers who…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5753

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, and he charged them to (lead) Bnei Yisrael (6:13)

Rashi explains that Hashem enjoined Bnei Yisrael‘s first “leadership” to guide them gently and patiently. The Midrash is more explicit in demanding forbearance from Bnei Yisrael’s leadership. Regardless of the people’s reluctance to obey, even if they respond to their leaders with animosity and impudence, the leaders must, nonetheless, patiently accept their behavior. Community service is demanding and may become demeaning. It can literally destroy a lesser individual. One who cannot maintain his composure in stressful situations is not qualified for a position of community leadership. Horav Shlomo Wolbe, Shlita, emphasizes that patience and forbearance are necessary attributes for…

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“And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.” (8:9)

When Pharaoh will say to you. deliver a proof, then say to Aharon; take your staff and cast it before Pharaoh and it will turn into a crocodile.” (7:9)

“And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh.” (7:3)

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, and he charged them to (lead) Bnei Yisrael (6:13)

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