Vaeira – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

“And the years of the life of Levi were 137 years.” (6:16)

Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, suggests that the secret of this family’s success and virtue is found in this pasuk. Levi, who was four years Yosef’s senior, lived 23 years longer than he. During Yosef’s tenure as viceroy of Egypt, he undoubtedly supervised the complete spiritual education and development of his extended family. After Yosef’s death, which was generally at the same time as the demise of most of his brothers, a spiritual decline among the surviving brothers began. After all, a deterioration was to be expected in light of the loss of Yosef’s spiritual leadership. The exposure to the decadence…

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Sruly Schnair In Vaeira, 5754

“And the frog(s) came up and covered the land of Egypt.” (8:2)

Rashi explains that originally there was only one frog. The Egyptians attempted to kill this frog by beating it. As they continued beating, it divided into swarms and swarms of frogs. Horav Itze’le Voloshiner z.t.l. asks what would have occurred if they had not provoked and beat that original frog? Probably nothing! Why, then, did they foolishly continue the beating, only to see their endeavor “backfire” and produce more frogs? He responds that this lack of self- control is human nature. Every provocation encourages a reciprocal response. Each time the Egyptians saw the frogs’ “response” they, in reaction, kept on…

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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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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

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 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, 5752

“And I will take you to Me for a nation.” (6:7)

With these two words “to Me for a nation”, Hashem expresses the destiny of Am Yisrael for the first time. He simultanously defines the unique quality of Judaism. People tend to classify Judaism under the category of religions in general. They are amazed to discover that so much within the dictates of Judaism lies outside the sphere of ordinary religions. “To Me, to be a nation”. This pasuk declares that Judaism has been founded by Hashem as a way of life and it cannot be described as a religion. The Jewish people are to be a nation unto Hashem. While…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5752

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them to the Bnei Yisrael”. (6:13)

Chazal (Yerushalmi Rosh Hashana 3:5) explain that the special commandment at this time was the dictate concerning the laws of setting one’s slaves free. It seems peculiar that Hashem deemed it necessary to enjoin them with this specific mitzvah at this particular time. We may explain this in the following manner. At various times every individual experiences a moment of such import that it has the potential to transform one’s entire life. When such an experience takes place, it is necessary that he immediately immortalizes those fleeting moments and integrate them into his outlook on life. This concept does not…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5752

“And the river shall swarm (with) frogs which shall go up and enter your home… and into your ovens.” (7:28)

The second plague which Hashem brought against the Egyptians was frogs, which invaded the entire Egyptian community. No place was free of this menace, not even the heated ovens. The Talmud (Pesachim 53b) relates that Chananya, Mishael and Azaria, who entered the fiery furnace in defiance of Nevuchadnezar, had developed a kal v’achomer (a priori argument) from the frogs. If frogs who have no mitzvah to sanctify Hashem’s Name, nevertheless entered the fiery furnaces in order to glorify His Name, how much more so should we who are enjoined in the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem be obligated to do so….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vaeira, 5752

“He that feared the word of Hashem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” (9:20)

In Moshe’s warning to Pharaoh preceding the plague of hail, he explicitly stated that any man or animal who remained outside during the hailstorm would surely perish. Nevertheless, the Torah clearly states that the only ones who went inside were those few individuals who were G-d fearing. In contrast to this select group, the majority of Egyptians disregarded Hashem’s word and left their slaves and animals outside. We must remember that this warning came after Hashem’s warning already had been confirmed through the six prior plagues. Each of these plagues were effected only after three weeks of warning and each…

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“And the years of the life of Levi were 137 years.” (6:16)

“And the frog(s) came up and covered the land of Egypt.” (8:2)

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

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

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

“And I will take you to Me for a nation.” (6:7)

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them to the Bnei Yisrael”. (6:13)

“And the river shall swarm (with) frogs which shall go up and enter your home… and into your ovens.” (7:28)

“He that feared the word of Hashem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” (9:20)

YEARS

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