This Shabbos we discussed Parsha Beshalach, incdluding commentary by Rav Yeager. And we discussed in general, how we interpret and translate the Torah. David Schlesinger led discussion.
Avenoem talked about how we lose meaning, and our ability to interpret the Torah when we rely on certain English translations. We discussed how translations into different languages, makes it more difficult for us to apply rules of interpretation, such as the special meaning behind the use of the same exact word in more than one place in the Torah.
Ellie commented that we have to apply a lot of “mental gymnastics” in order to believe the Torah. He brought up how we pascan from the Torah not mix meat and milk, yet it seems like Abraham mixes meat and milk. However, Dave W pointed out that in the Torah, Abraham eats dairy and then meat, and not necessarily together.
David S commented that the Torah has layers of meaning which are lost if we take everything literally. He gave as an example that if the Torah states someone is “10 ft tall”, it does not necessarily mean that this person is 10 ft tall. It could mean that the person has strength or dominates in other ways.
We discussed how we really did not want to leave Egypt. We discussed how Pharaoh had to push us out, and we left suddenly. During our journey from Egypt, we did a lot of complaining, and questioned whether life in Egypt was actually better. We discussed how although we complained, Hashem provided for us by providing us bread, quail, and water.
Dave W pointed out that when we asked for meat, we received quail. Although the prohibition between mixing poultry and dairy is considered rabbinic, Dave W pointed out this possible Torah source for this.
We discussed why it says in the Torah that Hashem did not take us by way of the most direct route, “because it was close”. We discussed why it is that the Torah says “because it is close”, rather than “even though it was close”. We discussed that the fact it was close, meant we would traverse it quicker, which would not give us enough time to grow spiritually to the point we were ready to enter the promised land. We discussed how our mission was to receive the Torah in Mt. Sinai, and then go through a long process of becoming ready to enter Israel.
We discussed how Hashem wanted us to see the miracle he would perform for us at the Red Sea, and purposely took our journey in this direction. Harold Katz, a regular reader of these notes, pointed out to me how we sang songs thanking Hashem for this miracle, the same way we praise and thank Hashem in our davening today.
We discussed that although we had not earned our redemption from Egypt, Hashem felt that he had no choice but to redeem us from Egypt. We discussed how Hashem will redeem us in one of two circumstances. In the first circumstances, it is because we are about to perish completely and will absolutely not survive if we are not rescued. This was the case when we were in Egypt. In the second circumstance, we have grown spiritually, follow the Torah, and have earned redemption as a reward. We discussed how the ultimate redemption has not yet come, but will come when we have earned it. The ultimate redemption will be when mashgiach comes and is here.
We discussed how on eruv Shabbos we were given a double portion of bread. This is why we start our meals today on Shabbos with a double portion. The same way we had to have trust in Hashem during the time of the Parsha to provide for us on Shabbos, we have to trust in Hashem today to provide for us on Shabbos. We trust that if we work hard during the week, we do not have to work on Shabbos, and our needs will still be taken care of.
We discussed how we really did not want to leave Egypt. We discussed how Pharaoh had to push us out, and we left suddenly. During our journey from Egypt, we did a lot of complaining, and questioned whether life in Egypt was actually better. We discussed how although we complained, Hashem provided for us by providing us bread, quail, and water.
Dave W pointed out that when we asked for meat, we received quail. Although the prohibition between mixing poultry and dairy is considered rabbinic, Dave W pointed out this possible Torah source for this.
We discussed why it says in the Torah that Hashem did not take us by way of the most direct route, “because it was close”. We discussed why it is that the Torah says “because it is close”, rather than “even though it was close”. We discussed that the fact it was close, meant we would traverse it quicker, which would not give us enough time to grow spiritually to the point we were ready to enter the promised land. We discussed how our mission was to receive the Torah in Mt. Sinai, and then go through a long process of becoming ready to enter Israel.
We discussed how Hashem wanted us to see the miracle he would perform for us at the Red Sea, and purposely took our journey in this direction. Harold Katz, a regular reader of these notes, pointed out to me how we sang songs thanking Hashem for this miracle, the same way we praise and thank Hashem in our davening today.
We discussed that although we had not earned our redemption from Egypt, Hashem felt that he had no choice but to redeem us from Egypt. We discussed how Hashem will redeem us in one of two circumstances. In the first circumstances, it is because we are about to perish completely and will absolutely not survive if we are not rescued. This was the case when we were in Egypt. In the second circumstance, we have grown spiritually, follow the Torah, and have earned redemption as a reward. We discussed how the ultimate redemption has not yet come, but will come when we have earned it. The ultimate redemption will be when mashgiach comes and is here.
We discussed how on eruv Shabbos we were given a double portion of bread. This is why we start our meals today on Shabbos with a double portion. The same way we had to have trust in Hashem during the time of the Parsha to provide for us on Shabbos, we have to trust in Hashem today to provide for us on Shabbos. We trust that if we work hard during the week, we do not have to work on Shabbos, and our needs will still be taken care of.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
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