Parshat Va'erah Flashcards
What 2 reasons did Hashem give Moshe for saving the Jews?
- He remembered His promise to the Avot.
2. He heard the cries of Bnei Yisrael.
What are the four לשונות של גאולה
- והוצאתי I will take you ou
- והצלתי I will save you
- וגאלתי I will redeem you
- ולקחתי I will take you
Where did Hashem say he would take Bnei Yisrael once He redeemed them from Egypt?
The Land of Israel
Why did Bnei Yisrael not listen to Moshe when he repeated the promise Hashem to them?
Because they were out of breath from their hard labor.
What is a קל וחומר?
It is a system of logic. It basically means “how much more so” - if something is true for something small, how much more so for something large.
How many times do we see קל וחומר in the Torah?
10
What קל וחומר does Moshe use?
If Bnei Yisrael will not listen to me, how much more so will Pharaoh not listen to me.
Explain the term ערל שפתים
Speech impediment
What was Aharon’s role?
He was Moshe’s spokesman. Hashem would talk to Moshe, who gave the message to Aharon who told it to Pharaoh.
Why did Hashem plan to harden Pharaoh’s heart?
So Hashem could send the plagues to demonstrate His power.
How old were Moshe and Aharon when they came to talk to Pharaoh?
Moshe was 80, Aharon was 83.
What was the sign that Moshe and Aharon were instructed to perform in front of Pharaoh to prove they were speaking on behalf of Hashem?
Aharon would throw down Moshe’s staff and it would turn into a snake.
What was Pharaoh’s reaction to the stick turning into a snake?
Pharaoh called his magicians and they did the same thing.
What did Aharon’s snake do to the other snakes?
It swallowed them all. According to Rashi, it first turned back into a stick and then swallowed all the snakes.
What was the first מכה?
דם blood
Why did Hashem choose to bring the first plague from the Nile?
Because the Egyptians worshipped the Nile.
Who started the first 2 makkot and why?
Aharon, because the Nile saved Moshe when he was a baby.
What does it mean that there was blood in the wood and the stones?
This meant that there was blood in the wood and stone containers used to hold water.
What three factors made the plague of blood so terrible?
- The fish died
- The river was polluted
- There was no water to drink.
Which plagues were the magicians able to copy?
Blood and Frogs
How did the plague of Frogs begin?
One large frog arose from the river. The Egyptians tried to kill it but every time they hit the frog, it opened its mouth and spit out many small frogs until the land was covered in frogs.
What did Moshe mean when he said: התפאר עלי
Moshe said to Pharaoh: Let me demonstrate Hashem’s power: You choose the time that you want me to get rid of the frogs.
During which three plagues did Pharaoh ask Moshe to Daven to Hashem to take them away?
Frogs, Wild Animals and Hail
What was the Middah Keneged Middah for the plague of Blood?
- The Egyptians threw the Jewish babyboys into the Nile.
2. Killed Jewish babies for their blood.
What was the third plague?
Lice כנים
Was there a warning before lice/
no
Who brought the plague of lice and why?
Aharon because it involved striking the sand and Moshe had buried an Egyptian in the sand.
Were the magicians able to copy the plague of lice?
No, they have no control over anything smaller than a grain of barley.
What did the magicians tell Pharaoh about the plague of lice?
This is the finger of G-d
What was the fourth plague?
Wild animals ערוב
Where was the only place that the wild animals did not enter?
Goshen
Who brought about the plague of wild animals?
Hashem
What was the difference in how the plague of frogs and the plague of wild animals ended? And why?
The frogs lay in piles, rotting and smelling, the wild animals disappeared so that the Egyptians would not benefit from the animal skins.
What was the 5th plague?
Sick animals דבר
Was there a warning before the plague of sick animals?
yes
Which were the only animals that were not killed in the plague of sick animals?
The animals belonging to Jews
Who brought about the plague of sick animals?
Hashem
What was the sixth plague?
Boils שחין
Was there a warning before boils?
No
Who brought about the plague of boils? How?
Moshe and Aharon. Hashem told Moshe and Aharon to each take a cupped handful of soot, and to place the two fistfuls into Moshe’s hand.
What two miracles took place at the start of boils?
Two cupped handfuls of soot could fit into Moshe’s hand and that handful of soot then covered the entire land of Egypt.
Were the Egyptians able to copy the plague of boils?
No, in fact, they were struck with boils so badly they could not stand and they never recovered from the plague.
What was the 7th plague?
Hail ברד
Who brought the plague of hail?
Moshe
What did the G-d fearing Egyptians do with their animals after Moshe warned them about the plague of hail?
They brought their animals inside.
How was the plague of hail miraculous?
Each piece of hail contained fire. The water of the hail did not put out the fire and fire did not melt the hail. Water and fire do not usually mix, but they worked together to do Hashem’s will and punish the Egyptians.
What was the only place that hail did not strike?
Goshen
What did Pharaoh admit at the end of the plague of hail?
“I have sinned this time. Hashem is the righteous one and I and my people are the guilty ones.
