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“A Cup of Coffee
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A Quick Thought”
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Spark Of Jewish Experience
Parshat Bo
January 26, 2012
2 Shevat, 5772 |
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| Parshat Bo Highlights |
| First Portion
* Again, G-d is mentioning that he has hardened Pharaoh’s heart, or as we have said previously, hardened the ability to withstand the impact of the Plagues. Therefore, giving him the freedom of choice, where his true cruel personality has been shown. One may think the storyline, so far, in the book of Shemot, has been the belief in G-d. However, there is an added dimension here, as evident by the constant focusing of ‘hardening the heart’ of Pharaoh, and that is the depth of how low he can go in his handling of fellow human beings.
* Even his advisors suggested to him to release the Israelites, but he refused. Unfortunately, they still followed his command. History often repeats itself; this is the first of many times where ‘they just followed orders’ from their evil leader. One cannot do that; opposition groups should have risen if they thought Pharaoh was wrong; grass roots should have begun. Apparently, it didn’t, and therefore the Egyptian nation is as responsible for their actions just as Pharaoh was.
* Moshe and Aharon threaten to bring another plague, locusts.
* Pharaoh’s response was to let just the men go, and leave the women and children. Moshe obviously refused, setting the stage for the locusts.
Second Portion
* Pharaoh runs to find Moshe to beg him to stop the plague stating, ‘I have sinned to G-d’ only to have him revert back, a short time later, to his stance of refusal to let them go.
* Moshe brought upon Egypt the next plague, “darkness”, through the command of G-d.
* Many of the Israelites who were not following in the way of G-d perished in this plague. The reason why G-d chose this particular plague is because He did not want the Egyptians to say, “We’re not the only ones being punished”. So when the Egyptians arose from the darkness, those Jews were already buried.
Third Portion
* Pharaoh said to Moshe, “You can leave, but only your flock and cattle shall remain”. Moshe retorted back, “We leave with all we have”.
* G-d made it so that the Jews were able to take gold, silver, and clothing from the Egyptians. The Egyptians themselves honored the request of the Israelites.
Fourth Portion
* G-d informs Moshe of the last plague, ‘death of the firstborn of the Egyptians’.
* G-d instructs Moshe and Aharon the first commandment of the Torah. G-d informs them starting with “This month, I will implement a calendar system”. The calendar is based on the moon and is regulated by the sun. The time span between one new moon and the next is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 ½ seconds. Since a month has to be composed of complete days, the months alternate between 29 and 30 days. So a 12-month year contains 354 days as opposed to 365 days of a solar year. In order to make up the eleven days difference which will eventually cause a problem after many years because Nissan, a spring month (Pesach has to be in the spring), will fall in the winter. Therefore, the Torah instituted a leap year, which consists of a 13th month (Adar ll) to the year, seven times every nineteen years. This will ensure Pesach will fall in the springtime each year.
* The Seder night of Pesach, which we commemorate today, is a very powerful night because it was when G-d showed tremendous mercy on our ancestors many years before. On that night, then, we were instructed to perform the Pesach offering, which consists of roasting lamb or sheep (these animals were sacred and considered the Egyptian gods. Therefore, it’s a slap in the face to the Egyptians). The blood from the offering was to be placed on the doorpost. While we were eating the Pesach offering in our homes, G-d skipped over our houses but did not spare the Egyptians where he killed the firstborn.
* We are introduced in this section on how to perform our obligation to the holiday of Pesach.
Fifth Portion
* Interestingly, it says that the Israelites should not leave their homes on the night of “death of the firstborn of the Egyptians, or the angel of death will smite you too.” But wasn’t it understood that G-d himself would kill the Egyptian firstborns? The angel was specifically instructed to kill any Jews who leave their homes. We learn an important lesson, one is not permitted to feel good in watching their enemy being tortured or killed. Although the Egyptians tortured the Jews, G-d stilled made sure not to let them see what was done to the Egyptians.
Sixth Portion
*Pharaoh ran out in his pajamas in the middle of the night to find Moshe and beg him to stop the plagues and leave. He said the whole Jewish nation should leave.
*There were 600,000 men between the ages of 20 and 60 who left Egypt.
*In haste, they left while the bread did not finish baking. This bread is called matzoh.
*The Jews were in exile 210 years.
Seventh Portion
* We conclude the parsha with two passages; one on the firstborn and the other on teaching future generations. As we get prepared to leave Egypt, we are in essence graduating to a nation status. The narrative is directing us from slave status to a bright future where now the father of the household has a say and influence, and will be able to pass down the tradition of the gift that was given by G-d — the Torah. |
| Parshat Bo – Intellect vs. Emotion |
Three people were on an airplane: Henry Kissinger, a boy scout, and a Rabbi. They will find out that the plane is in distress and will crash shortly. There are only two parachutes!! Henry Kissinger grabs a parachute and jumps out of the plane. So, the Rabbi goes to the boy scout ‘take the parachute. Son, I’m a lot older than you. You have a long life ahead of you. Please take the parachute. The boy laughs ‘Don’t worry, Rabbi. There are two left .The smartest man in the world just took my knapsack.’
When situations are such that one is forced to make a decision with great deal of emotions involved, in this case facing life and death on the airplane, a greater amount mistakes will occur. The intellect has to have greater control over the emotions to have a good functional system.
Desire is another emotion that can be devastating, even when one has time on his side; it’s a slow kill. If the desire is strong enough, then chances are it’s not governed by intellect. One may think he’s rational but it’s the emotion that stems from the desire that’s talking. What’s that expression? Don’t confuse me with the facts, I made my decision.
Rashi said Pharaoh refused to be humbled before G-d (Shemot 10:3). When the Egyptians began to enslave the Jews, Pharaoh rationalized that we can really use them and gain from their productivity. However, G-d had other plans and Pharaoh realized himself it wasn’t beneficial to enslave them. His advisers warned him also Egypt will be lost if the enslavement of the Jews continues. Their powerful G-d will destroy us. Pharaoh who was considered very smart knew that these plagues will destroy his kingdom. Yet his ego didn’t allow him to let them go.
But how does one understand Pharaohs behavior? Apparently, it should be the opposite. If Pharaoh was so concerned about his Honor and protect his ego, he would have let the Jews out the first chance he had knowing he’s going to lose his status and wealth. There’s no comparison; it’s a no-brainer. What’s at stake? Pharaoh can lower his head and let them go and still maintain his kingdom and perhaps a good chance of being considered a superpower. Or he would hold firm and continue to enslave the Israelites and inevitably his army would be destroyed and Egypt will never ever gain the glorified position it holds and Pharaoh would be labeled a fool by the world. Let’s not overlook that he sinned in front of G-d and will be accounted for it after his life is over.
Why did he make such a decision? Isn’t it mind boggling?
Pharaohs inflated ego was making the decisions. This desire, which stems from the heart, overrides the intellect. No matter how logical and factual the emotions block out the intellect where even the smartest man in the world will not make a rational decision. Even if his advisors are begging him to let them go and the plague are causing devastation, Pharaoh will feel confident that it’s the right choice. It’s a scary thought, how many decisions people make based on desire; desire for honor and women.
People don’t realize that desire is an emotion because one can be seen as acting normal, however it influences us. When the desire is alleviated even briefly, one can realize the wrong decisions he has made and the time he wasted. The frightening aspect about desire even a most influential friend with sound advice may not be able to get through because his message will be blocked.
This schmooze is based from the teachings of Rav Henoch Liebowitz z’l.
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| Tefillin |
In the memorable inception of becoming a man, I spent time alone in the early morning at my grandparents’ house in Israel, trying on my new pair of Tefillin. Our family visited Israel; my parents thought it would be a great idea for me, the bar mitzvah boy, to put Tefillin on for the first time at the Kotel (Wailing Wall). The Kli Yakar mentions that the Western Wall is where the forming of the souls originates. Perhaps that is why when one visits the Kotel, they feel a burst of spirituality. For this reason, it might be a ‘get off on the right foot’ the first mitzvah that a bar mitzvah boy does would be super.
Even though I’ve been to Israel many times before, it was still a culture shock; perhaps this is why Israelis would label us ‘pampered Americans’. My grandparents lived in an industrial part of Tel Aviv where mini – and I mean “mini” factories would start drilling very early in the morning, which would thump me out of bed, uncharacteristically early. Every place in a person’s life has a certain flavor, scent, look, taste and feel. My grandparents’ neighborhood in Florentine, Tel Aviv will live in my memory bank for a long time with its uniqueness.
The scent of the brand new leather Tefillin straps smelled great although the head Tefillin was a bit large. I was waiting for Pop to come and adjust it. As instructed by my father earlier, the passage that is found in this week’s Parsha, Kadesh lee kol bechor, should be emphasized. Every morning when I say that passage, it reminds me of that morning where the first exploration took place.
The Tefillin has four compartments in the head box and one in the hand. One reason this is so as offered by the Meiri who quotes King David’s (Tehilim119:10) ‘with all my heart I sought you out’, which is defined with all my five senses. The head is the seat of four senses: sight, hearing, taste, and smell, which correspond to the four departments of the head Tefillin. The arm, however, possesses only one sense – that of touch. Hence, the arm Tefillin has only one compartment.
The concept of the five senses is also connected to the Shema (we discussed this a few weeks ago). This is the idea of fusing both the physical world and the spiritual world, and to serve G-d as a whole entity. This can even be applied to any meal or physical act. One would be surprised to how many things he could apply it to. If one is sensitive and conscience of this fusing process, he can reach a level of spirituality to the highest degree.
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| Ask The Jew |
In the article written on the parsha titled ”Intellect vs. Emotion”, I began with a joke mentioning Henry Kissinger. I was reminded of the joke because there was an article written about him in the New York Times. It said that Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Russia, would meet with Kissinger, the former Secretary of State in the Nixon administration, to seek out advice on domestic and world affairs. The two men are old friends; Mr. Putin’s press secretary said Putin values the point of view of such a wise man as Kissinger.
On many occasions over the course of history, great leaders and important noblemen have sought advice from Jews. Advice has been given by Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi (to Mark Anthony, Emperor of Rome), the Lubavitcher Rebbi and even Rav Pinto (currently residing in NYC) to name such a miniscule few.
Jews generally are known to be smart. The medium of entertainment and information, television, which on occasion reflects the unconscious inner thoughts of America, broadcast a conversation of Archie Bunker and his son-in-law Mike Stivic from the #1 popular comedy show of the 1970’s where they were contemplating who to hire for a lawyer. Archie, who played the patriarch bigot and anti-Semite, said if you hire a lawyer, he’s got to be a Jew. They have a greater chance of winning.
We are the chosen people and G-d gave us the gift of intelligence and the opportunity to give advice, but it has to be done carefully with the proper guidance through Torah concepts. The Zohar says the reason we are in the Diaspora is to spread the word of G-d. The responsibility of what to do with that intelligence is on us.
On occasion, Jews have taken the gift of intelligence and placed it in the wrong places. The leaders of the adult entertainment, the producers, and directors are mostly Jews.
The far-reaching influence that we have is amazing. Fredric Nietzsche, the 19th century philosopher, who was an anti-Semite, who orchestrated a modern philosophy of survival of the fittest, said on the topic of Christianity. It’s nothing more than a bad copy of Judaism, where helping the meek and giving charity is rooted from.
Charity and kindness is an innovative Jewish idea based on the Torah. There are many religions that are rooted from Torah concepts, spread by Jews visiting that part of the world at one point or another.
We should be proud of who we are and whom we represent and it’s our duty to be well versed in Torah concepts because the other nations look to us for guidance even though they resent our people. Perhaps taking a sneak peak in our holy books will enable us to make a difference and make this world a better place to live. |
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Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience
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