Yitro Text message

Parashat Yitro

Big portion. 10 commandments. Great story.

If you ask any kid (and maybe any adult, too) who was the recipient of the Ten Commandments the answer will probably be, the people of Israel.

That is a good answer but if look carefully at the text you will discover that each one of the 10 Commandments is presented in the singular tense, not in plural.

I am your Lord. You shall not steal. You shall not covet, etc. The Hebrew expression for all of them is in the singular.

Each of us has a responsibility. Do not expect others to do it for you. You should take action.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Beshalach Text message

Parashat Beshalach (When Pharaoh sent out the people)

This portion is well known, especially because it includes the crossing of the Red Sea.

There is a slight detail that makes the tale very interesting.

Before the crossing of the sea, Gd says to Moses: (Exodus 14:16)  ^“As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it”

So Moses uses his staff and opens the sea. He starts with external help, the staff.

But… after crossing the sea, when he needs to finish the task, Gd says to Moses (Exodus 14:26): “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians”

When Moses needs to finish his task it is his responsibility, no external help…

We may need some help to start, but keeping things moving is our responsibility.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Bo Text message

Parashat Bo (Come to Pharaoh)

We read a very strange verse in this section (Exodus 12:22):  “You shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch some of the blood to the lintel [above the doorway] and to the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.”

Gd is going to send the 10^th plague over the Egyptians. The firstborn were in danger, therefore, the B’nai Israel had to mark their homes. Gd was going to pass over the homes of the Israelites, and the Jewish firstborn were to be safe.

So… why can’t anybody go outside? Why couldn’t the rest of the children  play hide and seek outside?

The Torah is teaching us that when one member of the family is in danger, we need to be together, in unity, even though the rest are safe.

Staying together is a good way to pass over the crisis.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Vaera Text message

Parashat Vaera (G-d had revealed himself)

Several times we hear that Gd commands Moses to speak to Pharaoh and convince him to free the people of Israel “Let my people go.”

We usually remember that part of the story, and Moses’ refusal, but there is a verb used in Gd’s commandment that we sometimes forget.

Hashem says to Moses (several times) “Bo el Pharaoh v’amarta”  Go to Pharaoh, approach Pharaoh and then speak.

This teaches us that when we want to establish a dialogue we need to remember that first we need to approach each other.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Shemot Text message

Parashat Shemot (The names)

This parasha opens the book of Exodus, the second book of the Torah.

Moses’ journey in the desert started with curiosity…

So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.” 

Why? Moses wanted to explore, to see why, to investigate, to discover.

A people that doesn’t ask questions, a people that stops asking questions is a people without future.

When we hear voices that tell us “just do it,” let’s do it, but also let’s ask why.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L