Weekly Parsha

Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

Va'eira, Va'era, or Vaera (וָאֵרָא‎ — Hebrew for "and I appeared," the first word that G-d speaks in the parashah, in Exodus 6:3) is the fourteenth weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the Book of Exodus. 

Here begins the story of the Ten Plagues which G-d put upon the Egyptians not only to effect the release of the Jewish people from bondage, but to show the world that He is the G-d of all creation and history. The first nine plagues are divisible into three groups:

1) the water turning to blood, frogs, lice 2) wild beasts, pestilence/epidemic, boils 3) hail, locust, and darkness.

These were punishments measure for measure for afflicting the Jewish people with slavery:

1) The first of each group reduced Egyptians in their own land to the insecurity of strangers. 2) The second of each group robbed them of pride, possessions and a sense of superiority. 3) The third in each group imposed physical suffering.

In speaking with Moshe, the Almighty says:

"Also, I have heard the outcry of the Children of Israel."

What do we learn from the seemingly superfluous word "also"?

The word "also" indicates that not only G-d, but the people also hear one another's cries. Even though the entire Jewish people were enslave and afflicted, they did not forget the plight of their fellow man.

Never say to someone, "I have my own problems. I don't want to hear about yours." If two people are in a hospital, each should take an interest in the other's condition.

When a Rabbi heard that his wife died, he felt deep anguish. Immediately afterwards, however, he asked about the welfare of the other woman who was hospitalized in the same room. He expressed his hope that the death of her neighbor would not aggravate her illness.

The mother of a Rabbi had a custom to collect money for the poor at funerals. At the funeral of her only daughter, she also collected charity. When asked how she was able to compose herself in the summit of her grief, she replied, "Just because I am suffering does not mean that the poor have to suffer also."

Pharaoh's daughter said the boy taken from the water (Moses) was Jewish because she saw his older brother (Aaron) crying for him.

We must learn how to hear the crying and feel the pain of our brothers (fellow), so we can grow as a Kehilat (community). 

In real life, you don't stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing! 

We must seek happiness on a daily basis and not only wait for a happy hour on Fridays.  Be happy with who you are and not only with things you have.

Shabbat Shalom Kodesh!

Rabbi Tank

Prayer list

"Seth (Stephen) ben Sarah"
"Shaina Elisa bas Esther"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

Pray for the  "Refuah Shleima"  (rapid recovery) of "  our community" . May G-d deliver us from this crisis quickly and grant a full recovery to those who are sick, Amen!

Covid won't stop our learning 

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