Recap for 8 Sh'vat 5773

This Shabbos we discussed the idea that Hashem wants the Jewish people to act collectively and why it is preferable to daven in a minyan.  If we daven with a minyan our prayers will be accepted by Hasem.  They will have an affect somewhere, somehow, although we may not know what this is.  It is a special mitzvah to be one of the first 10 people who show up to daven.  Each of these first 10 people are necessary in order to have the minyan.  However it is important to keep in mind that none of these first 10 are sufficient by themselves.

In some cases it is not possible to daven with a minyan.  We will then have to daven with kuvanah in order that our prayers be accepted.  We discussed specific cases in which it is permissible to daven on our own.   If one would suffer great economic harm it may be permissible to daven on one’s own.  We also discussed if one is a teacher of Torah it may be permissible to daven on one’s own.  If we can’t daven with a minyan we should try to do it at the same time as the minyan that we are usually a part of.  Of course if we are in a different time zone, we may need to say prayers at a different time.  I remember on a plane ride to Israel we davened at the time the sun “came up” relative to the plane.  It was still dark at the shul near my house.

This Shabbos we also discussed the week’s parsha.   After 9 Plagues, pharaoh still refuses to let the Jewish people go.  In the parsha, Mosha seems to already know what is coming next, what the 10th plague will be, and how Pharaoh will react to this final plague.  How can Mosha already know what is going to happen?  We remember back to an earlier parsha where Hashem spoke to Moses about this.

In the parsha, Hashem hardens pharaoh’s heart which makes it even more likely the Jews will be freed.  Why would Hashem do this?  It seems to be planned out in advance that there will be 10 plagues, and exactly which plague will be the last.  We remember the conversation at the burning bush, but what is so special about the 10^th plague in which the first born are killed.

The first born, held special status in Egypt.  We learn that it is not status or physical strength that should determine power, but morality and spiritual principles.  Egypt should free the Jews because it is the right thing to do, not because something that is powerful in the physical world compels them to do so.  There are many different types of power in the world.  Power that comes from strength, and power that comes from status.  But the most important power is doing what is right.  And knowledge of this, comes from Hasem and our Torah.

This is a summary of what we discussed this Shabbos.  No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.