YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Va'era
The Torah study is dedicatedin honor of
מנחם בן יהודה
Let us go back in time and see the relevance of water and blood to these events. The Egyptians were appalled by the fertility of the Jewish family. As such, they decreed that Jewish women should not immerse in a mikveh, in which water purifies the body from the effects of blood. In response, Hashem turned Egyptian water into blood (Shemot Rabba). Others say it is related to Paroh’s slaughter of 300 Jewish children in whose blood he bathed. Still others connect it to the decree to throw baby boys into the Nile. Rashi (Shemot 17:7) points out that the Nile was not only the life source of Egypt but also a diety in Egypt. This should not be surprising, as this extremely arid land always had available water, which seemed to miraculously appear in the Nile.
If we put these last facts together, we can uncover some interesting connections. After Paroh lost confidence in his system of killing Jewish males at birth, he decreed to have them thrown into the Nile. His astrologers told him that it was seen in the stars that the Jewish savior would find his demise with water. "How appropriate," Paroh must have thought, "that the Egyptian diety would subdue the Jewish savior." (In fact, not only did the Nile fail to kill the savior, but it protected him, which is the reason that Moshe did not personally bring the plague upon the water (Shemot Rabba 9:10). According to Me’am Loez, once Moshe was put into the Nile, the signs to the astrologers stopped indicating that there was still a danger from the Jews’ savior.) It must have been relatively easy to explain to his people that the Jewish newborns would not be slaughtered in cold blood but would be given over to the Nile to do to them what it would.
If we view matters along these lines, we can appreciate the story of Bat Paroh more fully. Here she was on the Nile, bathing, when she saw a child floating in the Nile. Not only did her father decree that the babies be killed, but it had been explained that the babies were "the property" of the Nile, which would deal with them. By choosing the life of the young Moshe, she was not only choosing mercy over cruelty, but was questioning the rights of the diety that the Nile represented. This is, perhaps, the Torah’s hint to the conversion of Bat Paroh from Egyptian idolatry to Jewish monotheism. Indeed both problems and solutions began with water and blood.
"You shall draw water, in joy, from the springs of salvation."
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)
