Lessons on Shmot
The Jewish Mother
As we begin the Book of Exodus in our public Torah readings this coming Shabbat, the Torah tells us that Pharaoh wished to destroy the Jewish Nation even in the maternity wards. He instructed the Jewish midwives, Shifra and Puah, to kill all Jewish male babies, and to allow only the girls to live. However, the Torah tells us, "The midwives feared G-d, and did not do what Pharaoh had told them, and rather let the babies live" (Ex. 1,16). The Midrash asks: "Is it not obvious, if they did not listen to Pharaoh, that they allowed the babies to live? Why must the Torah specify this?" The Midrash answers that the verse offers praise-within-praise to Shifra and Puah...
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 20 5783

What is the provenance & power of Moshe’s staff?
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Tevet 5783

Say My Name, Say My Name
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Tevet 5783

Interactions between Yehuda and Yosef over the Generations
In Sefer Bereishit, the struggle for leadership is between the half-brothers Yosef and Yehuda. Shemot starts with a new chapter in the national story, as Egypt goes from a king who was very close to Yosef to one who did not recall Yosef.
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Tevet 5783
The Divine hand
All of life is a mystery and certainly the Jewish story remains in its base an inexplicable one.
Rabbi Berel Wein | Tevet 5783

Turning Curses into Blessings
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Tevet 5783
Jewish Idealism
There were Jews who were willing to cooperate with the governmental authorities in policing the Jewish slave society. Eventually, these Jews also found themselves to be the victims of the Pharaoh and his cruel decree.
Rabbi Berel Wein | Tevet 19 5782
