AND MOSHE WAS EIGHTY YEARS OLD AND AHARON WAS EIGHTY THREE WHEN THEY SPOKE TO PAROH (Shmos 7:7).
What is the relevance of the ages of Moshe and Aharon?
In spite of their advanced age they enthusiastically did G-d's will (Sforno).
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Shmos
THE WOMAN CONCEIVED AND GAVE BIRTH TO A SON. SHE SAW THAT HE WAS GOOD AND SHE HID HIM FOR THREE MONTHS (Shmos 2:2).
What woman does not see her baby as good? How is this relevant to the ordinary inclination to save a child's life?
She saw in Moshe a unique spiritual quality which portended a miracle would save him (Ramban).
"Good" means well behaved. He was quiet and easy to hide during the first three months. Even Paroh's daughter did not notice a crying baby until she opened the basket. The baby was then startled, having never previously seen a strange face, especially with Egyptian features (Rav SR Hirsch).
"Good" means the baby was viable. This was surprising since Moshe was born prematurely (see Rashi). This gave his mother three months to hide him, as the Egyptians expected the baby to be born at the normal due date (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky).
What woman does not see her baby as good? How is this relevant to the ordinary inclination to save a child's life?
She saw in Moshe a unique spiritual quality which portended a miracle would save him (Ramban).
"Good" means well behaved. He was quiet and easy to hide during the first three months. Even Paroh's daughter did not notice a crying baby until she opened the basket. The baby was then startled, having never previously seen a strange face, especially with Egyptian features (Rav SR Hirsch).
"Good" means the baby was viable. This was surprising since Moshe was born prematurely (see Rashi). This gave his mother three months to hide him, as the Egyptians expected the baby to be born at the normal due date (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky).
Vayechi
IN THEIR ANGER THEY KILLED A MAN...CURSED IS THEIR [shimon's and levi's] ANGER (Bereshis 49:6-7).
Why did Yaakov criticize them for executing the town of Shechem? Rambam and Ramban say Shechem was liable to the death penalty!
They acted in anger. They were not purely concerned with the town's guilt (Ramban).
MAY THE ANGEL WHO REDEEMS ME FROM ALL EVIL BLESS THE YOUNGSTERS [efraim and menashe]...MAY THEY MULTIPLY LIKE FISH WITHIN THE LAND (48:16).
How can Yaakov speak of fish on land?
Fish are a world apart in the water. The beauty of the Jewish people is that they too are a world apart, but are so in the midst of the earth, participating in earthly life (Rav SR Hirsch).
Why did Yaakov criticize them for executing the town of Shechem? Rambam and Ramban say Shechem was liable to the death penalty!
They acted in anger. They were not purely concerned with the town's guilt (Ramban).
MAY THE ANGEL WHO REDEEMS ME FROM ALL EVIL BLESS THE YOUNGSTERS [efraim and menashe]...MAY THEY MULTIPLY LIKE FISH WITHIN THE LAND (48:16).
How can Yaakov speak of fish on land?
Fish are a world apart in the water. The beauty of the Jewish people is that they too are a world apart, but are so in the midst of the earth, participating in earthly life (Rav SR Hirsch).
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