Yitzi's Parshah Preview-Beshalach

This week’s Parsha Preview is co-dedicated to the refuah of Menachem Mendel Ben Faigie Ruchel, Yocheved Bat Leah, Simcha Bat Mazel, Ofek Ben Tali, Shimon Ben Miriam, Sara Bat Hodda, Avraham Moshe Ben Miriam Tova, Baruch Kalman ben Leiben Jacobs and Kyla Chaya Bat Sarah Polson may Hashem grant them all a speedy recovery and a complete healing.

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Happy Birthday to my friends who will celebrate Birthday’s this coming week:

Happy Birthday to:

Maureen Landy

“Ad Meyah Vesrim Shannah”

Beshalach

Exodus 13:17-17:16

Candle Lighting in Toronto 5:06 P.M.

Candle Lighting in Thornhill 5:06 P.M.

Shabbat Shira

Tu Beshvat

Main characters of this week’s Parsha

Moses

Miriam

Joshua

After Pharaoh sent the Israelites from his land, Hashem did not allow them to take the most direct route to the Promised Land, fearing that any confrontation would then frighten the Israelites, causing them to return to Egypt via this short route. Instead Hashem had them take a longer more circular route through the desert, leading them with a pillar of cloud during daytime and a pillar of fire after dark. Hashem then commanded the Israelites to backtrack and encamp along the Red Sea. They would thus appear to be hopelessly lost, which would prompt the Egyptians to pursue them. The Israelites followed these instructions, and, indeed, the Egyptians armies set out after the "lost" and cornered Israelites.

The Israelites noticed the approaching Egyptian armies, and they panicked. "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert?" they wailed at Moses. "Don't be afraid," Moses reassured. "Stand firm and see Hashem’s salvation that He will wreak for you today . . . Hashem will fight for you, and you shall remain silent."

Hashem instructed Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel!" Hashem told Moses to stretch out his staff over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites should then proceed through the split sea. "And the Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem, when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen." Meanwhile, the pillar of cloud that normally led the Israelites moved to their rear, insulating the Israelites and plunging the Egyptian camp into darkness. Moses stretched out his staff and the sea divided, and the Israelites walked on the seabed, on dry land. The Egyptians quickly pursued them into the sea. (The Midrash relates that when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, it did not automatically part. The Israelites stood at the banks of the sea and wailed with despair, but when Nahshon Ben Aminadav entered the waters. Once he was up to his nose in the water, the sea parted in his merit.

Moses stretched his hand over the sea and the waters that had been standing like walls now fell upon the Egyptians, drowning them all. Moses then led the Israelites in song, praising Hashem for the wondrous miracle that had transpired. Miriam, Moses' sister, then led the women in song and dance, with musical accompaniment. They sang the song of Az yashir-This is why this Shabbat is known as “Shabbat Shira”. The Israelites traveled on in the desert, journeying three days without encountering water. They then arrived in Marah, where there was water—but bitter water. Moses miraculously sweetened the water.

One month after the Exodus, the Israelites' provisions ran dry. They complained to Moses, mentioning nostalgically "the fleshpots of Egypt," that they left behind. Hashem responded that He will rain down bread from heaven in the mornings, and meat will be provided every night.

The meat, in the form of quails, appeared in the evening and covered the Israelite camp. In the morning, bread – called manna – fell from heaven, encased between layers of morning dew. Moses told the Israelites to gather one omer (a biblical measure) of manna per household member every day. Miraculously, no matter how much manna one picked, he arrived home with precisely one omer per head. Furthermore, Moses commanded the Israelites not to leave any manna over from one day to the next. Some disregarded this instruction, and next morning found their manna worm-infested. On Friday everyone gathered two omers. Moses explained that the second portion was to be prepared and set aside for Shabbat—when no manna would fall. The midrash tells us that the manna fell in distance from their homes based on the individuals righteousness. The closer to their dwelling place the holier the individual. The manna could also assume the taste of any dish the consumer wished. Again some disregarded Moses' directive, and went out pick manna on Shabbat. Hashem was angered by this disobedience. Hashem instructed Moses to take a jar of manna and place it in the (yet to be constructed) Tabernacle, as a testament for all future generations.

The Israelites journeyed further and as they arrived in Rephidim their drinking water ran out again. The Israelites complained, and Hashem instructed Moses to smite a certain rock with his staff. Water came pouring out of the rock and the people drank. The Amalekites then came and attacked the Israelites. Moses directed his student Joshua to assemble an army and battle Amalek. Joshua did so, and the Israelites were victorious—aided by Moses' prayer atop a mountain. Hashem told Moses to record in the Book that He will "surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens."

Number of Mitzvot in this week’s Parsha: 1

Mitzvah of lo Tasseh (Negative Commandment)

“Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat” (Exodus. 16:29)

“See that God gas given you the Shabbat, and therefore He gave you bread for two days on the sixth day; every person must remain where he is, one may not leave his designated place on the seventh day.”

A strict reading of this text could lead to the view that one should not leave one's house on Shabbat. However, the Talmud interprets the passage as meaning only that one should not travel far from one's residence on Shabbat (b. Eruvin 51a).

Rabbinic tradition established clear limits to such travel: within a city one could go any distance, whereas beyond city limits one could go two thousand cubits amot (about three quarters of a mile). This was the measurement used in the desert of the camp of the Israelites.

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Shabbat Shalom Umevorach-A peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Yitzchak Alloul

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