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B'Shalach / בשלח
B'Shalach / בשלח
And Moshe
said to Yehoshua to
choose men and
engage in war with
Amalek. Later we
find that the hands
of Moshe became
heavy during the
battle. Rashi
comments that the
cause for this was
the laxity on the
part of Moshe in
performing the
mitzvah of the war
against Amalek. He
appointed somebody
else to do it. The
question could be
asked. The חז"ל tell
us many times that
the children of
Amalek will fall
into the hands of
the descendants of
Yosef. In this case,
that would be
Yehoshua of the
tribe of Ephraim.
Furthermore, the
Ramban explains
Moshe’s reasoning.
Moshe would daven
and give the people
a morale boost while
Yehoshua would
fight. Yet, still
Moshe was punished?
Although he would
not fight the
battle, he could
have appointed the
generals. From here
we are taught that
one most carry out
every part of a
mitzvah to his
fullest capacity
before he
relinquishes it to
another person.
Chazal say that the
maidservant saw
great revelations at
the Yam Suf and
exclaimed, “This is
my G-d”. How did the
Chazal know it was
the maidservant, not
one of the leaders
of Klal Yisroel? The
possuk continues,
“The G-d of my
fathers.” Now a Jew
would always
introduce “my
fathers” since they
were the first to
recognize HaShem and
only afterwards say
“my G-d”. Since the
possuk began with
“my G-d” it was
obviously said by a
convert, a
maidservant who
could not proclaim
“G-d of my fathers”.
(M’Shulchan Gevoah).
In the parsha it
tells of the waters
of Mara which were
bitter. Moshe cast a
stick into them and
they sweetened. The
possuk, however,
then refers us to
the mitzvah of Torah
study and the
adherence to mitzvos.
HaShem promises us
that if we keep His
mitzvos none of the
sicknesses of Egypt
will harm us. How do
we understand this
sequence of
statements? The
“Netziv” explains
that the nation at
that time was a
nation of Torah
study. They had not
yet come to Eretz
Yisroel to tend to
their livelihoods.
Moshe told them that
HaShem will care for
them but only the
necessities. They
would be protected
from sickness but
would not enjoy the
luxuries of life.
This is all
understood with the
final statement – “I
am HaShem who heals
you". This is the
way of Torah, bread
and water. He
compares those who
study Torah to the
soldiers of a king
who are provided for
but not in an
extravagant way.
“They complained
against Moshe and
Aaron in the
wilderness”. Why was
the complaint about
the lack of food
denoted with the
extra word “bamidbar”,
in the wilderness?
The Maharil Diskind
explains. Rashi
tells us that it was
just at that time
that the matzos
which they had
brought from Egypt
ran out and they had
no food to eat.
This, then, was
their complaint. Why
didn’t you lead us
to a place where we
could, at least, buy
provisions? At least
to “Eilim” where
they could have cut
dates to sustain
them, not in the
wilderness. They
were insinuating
that the itinerary
for the traveling
was credited to
Moshe and Aaron and
they criticized
them. To this Moshe
answered “you will
see that HaShem took
you from Egypt”. He
will tend to
everything.
With the wind of
HaShem’s power the
waters piled up. The
Vilna Gaon, makes an
astounding
observation. Man is
but a pile of
matter, a pile of
clay. He is
motionless and
unable to think or
reason. HaShem blew
into man the source
of life and he
became animated.
Here also, the wind
of HaShem gave life
to the waters and
they piled up by
themselves. This
then is the meaning
of the targum חכימו
מיא,”the waters
acquired wisdom”.
Why are you davening?
Speak to Bnei
Yisroel and they
should travel,
HaShem was telling
Moshe. Although the
תפלות of a צדיק are
great and effective
on behalf of another
person, the
commitment of the
Bnei Yisroel to move
forward and place
their faith in
HaShem would be even
more beneficial (ר'
יוסף מסלוצק)
Previous Parshos
Tazria
Metzora
Achrei Mos
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukosai
Bamidbar
Shavuos
Naso
Behalosicha
Shilach
Korach
Chukas-Balak
Pinchos
Matos-Masei
Devorim
Voeschonon Ekev
Reah
Shoftim
Ki Seitzei
Ki Savo
Nitzovim
- Vayelech Rosh
HaShana Haazinu-Yom
Kippur Sukkos V'zos
HaBrocha
Breishis
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