This Shabbos David Schlesinger led discussion. We started off discussing the week’s parsha, Bo, as well as Rav Yeager’s commentary on the parsha. Dave W brought up how the gematria value of "Bo" is 3, and there are exactly 3 plagues in this week’s parsha. We see the number 2 a lot, man and woman, heaven and earth, spiritual and physical, etc. etc. but it is interesting how sometimes the number 3 comes up as it does in this week's parsha.
We discussed how it was preordained that Pharaoh would not release us until after the plague of the first born. For each of the plagues, Moshe would go through the motions of waiting and seeing how pharaoh would respond, but Hashem had already determined and communicated to Moshe, in a previous parsha, that we would be released following a “plague of the first born”.
We discussed how Hashem actually interfered with the free will of Pharaoh to ensure this is how it would happen. And we discussed how Moshe actually knew when this “plague of the first born” had arrived, as it being the point in which no more specific plagues were communicated. Moshe then had to remember back to what he had been told by Hashem in the past parsha. Having said this, we did discuss an alternate theory, that perhaps Hashem reminded Moshe of the tenth plague by some type of prophecy.
We discussed the special significance of this tenth plague. Up until this point in history there had been a total lack of morality in the world. Power and control was determined by strength and position according to caste systems. “Survival of the fitness” was not only the way of nature, but the way of human kind as well. We know today that this is an immoral system, but this is what existed in Egypt and the world back then. The first born were given certain powers in society, simply because they were the first born, and Hashem wanted to send a message that this type of a system was wrong. So the “plague of the first born” was put into place.
Norm brought up the point that the plagues were also meant to send a message to Pharaoh to not mess with the Jews, and we discussed how we were able to put blood on our door posts in order to be “passed over” by this plague. Dave W brought up the point that although the plagues may not have been meant for us, only 20% of the Jews made it out of Egypt. Dave W mentioned that we who are the descendants of those who did make it out should consider ourselves fortunate.
We discussed how it was the Jews who brought this new morality to the world, that physical strength and power is not what determines right and wrong. We are fortunate to live in a society with the rule of law and rights for everyone, including those who are weak. Brett pointed out that his clients do have certain rights, although they can’t claim to be amoral, like the animals in the animal kingdom. We discussed how animals lack any morality at all, and how they are not immoral but amoral.
The next part of our learning concerned a book that Norm found in his father’s house. Norm talked about how he found this book in his father's house and brought it to David, who had misplaced his copy of the same book. We discussed from the book, how some people may not support a secular Israel, however they are strong believers in the importance and significance of Israel to begin with.
We discussed how Hashem actually interfered with the free will of Pharaoh to ensure this is how it would happen. And we discussed how Moshe actually knew when this “plague of the first born” had arrived, as it being the point in which no more specific plagues were communicated. Moshe then had to remember back to what he had been told by Hashem in the past parsha. Having said this, we did discuss an alternate theory, that perhaps Hashem reminded Moshe of the tenth plague by some type of prophecy.
We discussed the special significance of this tenth plague. Up until this point in history there had been a total lack of morality in the world. Power and control was determined by strength and position according to caste systems. “Survival of the fitness” was not only the way of nature, but the way of human kind as well. We know today that this is an immoral system, but this is what existed in Egypt and the world back then. The first born were given certain powers in society, simply because they were the first born, and Hashem wanted to send a message that this type of a system was wrong. So the “plague of the first born” was put into place.
Norm brought up the point that the plagues were also meant to send a message to Pharaoh to not mess with the Jews, and we discussed how we were able to put blood on our door posts in order to be “passed over” by this plague. Dave W brought up the point that although the plagues may not have been meant for us, only 20% of the Jews made it out of Egypt. Dave W mentioned that we who are the descendants of those who did make it out should consider ourselves fortunate.
We discussed how it was the Jews who brought this new morality to the world, that physical strength and power is not what determines right and wrong. We are fortunate to live in a society with the rule of law and rights for everyone, including those who are weak. Brett pointed out that his clients do have certain rights, although they can’t claim to be amoral, like the animals in the animal kingdom. We discussed how animals lack any morality at all, and how they are not immoral but amoral.
The next part of our learning concerned a book that Norm found in his father’s house. Norm talked about how he found this book in his father's house and brought it to David, who had misplaced his copy of the same book. We discussed from the book, how some people may not support a secular Israel, however they are strong believers in the importance and significance of Israel to begin with.
We discussed from the book how Israel is the center of the world. Of course, the world is spherical and Israel is not at the center, however what happens in Israel is center to the world. We discussed all the amazing scientific discoveries in Israel. We discussed the innovations involved the turning of salt water into drinkable and usable water. When I was in Israel I remember visiting a company that made tiny cameras that are the size of a pill that one would swallow in order to take pictures of their digestive system. My sister is a nurse and I remember her telling me how she works with these cameras.
We discussed the kindness of the people in Israel. David told how Ariav went to the market and only had a credit card. The merchant allowed Ariav to come back the next day and pay. I remember when I was over there talking to people. They were very direct and did not “sugar coat” like they do in Memphis, but the chessed and kindness from them was incredible. Total strangers would treat me like someone they had known for a long time.
This Shabbos we also discussed halakuh from Rav Malamed. There are 39 different types of work that are forbidden on Shabbos. We discussed how these 39 types of works are categories and not necessarily specific. We discussed why it is that the prohibition against fire, is the one halakuh that is mentioned in the Torah. We discussed how fire is the one way – both directly and indirectly - that Man tends to control and have power over things. Shabbos is the one day that we respect that it is Hashem who is really in control.
We discussed the kindness of the people in Israel. David told how Ariav went to the market and only had a credit card. The merchant allowed Ariav to come back the next day and pay. I remember when I was over there talking to people. They were very direct and did not “sugar coat” like they do in Memphis, but the chessed and kindness from them was incredible. Total strangers would treat me like someone they had known for a long time.
This Shabbos we also discussed halakuh from Rav Malamed. There are 39 different types of work that are forbidden on Shabbos. We discussed how these 39 types of works are categories and not necessarily specific. We discussed why it is that the prohibition against fire, is the one halakuh that is mentioned in the Torah. We discussed how fire is the one way – both directly and indirectly - that Man tends to control and have power over things. Shabbos is the one day that we respect that it is Hashem who is really in control.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred. To unsubscribe, send reply email with unsubscribe in the subject line.
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