YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Shmot
He also is the first to call us an "ahm," an independent nation of our own, thus asserting that we are a nation within a nation, a "5th column" that will only seek to subvert the glorious Egyptian nation and ultimately subdue it. "They will either join with our enemies and wage war against us, or they will leave the land," he charges, and so while they can't leave - that would cause a "brain-drain" of valuable Jewish know-how - they also can't stay on as full-fledged citizens.
After accusing us of a lack of patriotism to Egypt, Paro "invites" the Hebrews to join in a national work project, to show our loyalty to the king. We eagerly join the party, but, say Chazal, little by little, Paro dismisses the Egyptians until the Jews alone are left doing the work, ushering in the brutal Age of Slavery for more than a century.
Perhaps the most devious of Paro's machinations is to employ a "divide and conquer" strategy. He appoints "shotrim," Jewish policemen, to supervise the Israelites and make sure that they meet their quota of bricks. This results in a Jew vs. Jew scenario. Instead of focusing on our primary oppressor - the Egyptians - the average Hebrew now resents and blames their brother overseers. The supervisors, in turn, blame Moshe and Ahron for "pushing the envelope" vis a vis Paro and making their lives more difficult. This causes Moshe to cry out bitterly to Hashem, "Why have You made things worse for Your people; why have You sent me?" The overall result is that our unity breaks down, as Paro planned, and we are consumed with divisive "in-fighting" that saps our strength.
Moshe will struggle to bring us back together, but it will be a difficult, uphill battle. There will always remain elements within the population - Datan and Aviram, Korach, the Meraglim, etc. - who subvert the nation's brotherhood for their own self-aggrandizement. It is a fatal flaw that has plagued us throughout history, to this very day - the inability to close ranks and join together in unison, rather than accentuate our differences and snipe away at one another.
The Pharoahs of the world are overjoyed when they hear us shouting at one another; but they fear and respect us when we speak with one voice. It is that voice that we must learn to master, so that no other country can be master over us.
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
