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Instructions on How to Prepare for the Giving of the Torah Moshe gathers all of the Elders and relates to them everything that G-d commanded. The people reply in unison that they will do everything that had been commanded. Although their reply was known to G-d, out of respect, on the following day, early inContinue reading “Yitro, 5th Aliyah”

G-d’s Message to the Israelites On the first day of the third month* since the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites arrive in the Sinai desert from Rephidim. They were in a state of repentance. *Side note: The text includes the phrase “on this day” when describing when they arrived. This is to teach us thatContinue reading “Yitro, 4th Aliyah”

Moshe Follows Yitro’s Advice. Yitro Goes Home. Moshe listens to Yitro’s advice (see yesterday’s post) and heeds it. He appoints judges as per the criteria Yitro laid out. They judge the more minor cases while Moshe judges the more major cases. Moshe sends Yitro back home to convert his family. Indeed, we see later onContinue reading “Yitro – 3rd Aliyah”

Yitro Advises Moshe to Appoint Judges There is a dispute over whether or not the previous section dealing with Yitro joining the Israelites was placed in Chumash in chronological order. Some say that Yitro only joined the Israelites after the giving of the Torah, yet some say he joined before. Rashi says that regardless ofContinue reading “Yitro, 2nd Aliyah”

Moshe Reunites With His Family. We Meet Yitro. Yitro was Moshes’s father in law. He was also the priest of Midian. He was called by seven different names: Reu’el*, Yeter**, Yitro***, Chovav****, Chever, Keini and Putiel. *Re’uel may have actually been Yitro’s father, since in Bamidbar 10:29, Moshes’s father in law is called “Chovav, theContinue reading “Yitro, 1st Aliyah”

The Israelites Want Water. The Battle with Amalek The Israelites Want Water The Israelites travel from Sin to Rephidim. There is no water there, yet they set up camp. Although they were not yet thirsty, the Israelites demand that Moshe give them water. Moshe retorts, “Why are you testing G-d like this? Can he giveContinue reading “BeShalach, 7th Aliyah”

Manna from Heaven G-d tells Moshe that He will heed the complaints of the Israelites and will send meat to them in the afternoon and bread in the morning and thus they will know that He is G-d. So evening comes and a flock of quails come and cover their camp. And then in theContinue reading “BeShalach, 6th Aliyah”

Manna and Pheasants The Israelites arrive in an area called Elim where there are 12 springs of water (representing the 12 tribes) and 70 date palms (representing the 70 Elders) and set up camp. On the 15th of Iyar, which was 31 days since they left Egypt, they journey out of Elim to Sin, whichContinue reading “BeShalach, 5th Aliyah”

Song Of the Sea G-d tells Moshe to stretch out his arm over the sea and the sea will go back to it’s original shape and swallow up the Egyptians. And so Moshe stretched out his arm over the sea, and early in the morning, the Egyptians, against their better judgement (for they were inContinue reading “BeShalach, 4th Aliyah”

The Splitting of the Sea Moshe had been praying to G-d on the Israelite’s behalf. G-d tells Moshe that now is not the time to pray at length but rather to act, as the Israelites are in immediate danger. Alternatively, G-d is telling Moshe not to tell Him how to treat His children, as theyContinue reading “BeShalach, 3rd Aliya”