Test #6 Flashcards
מילים מנחות throughout the פרשה.
ויצעק
וילנו
וירב
נסה
What do בנ”י do at every place?
complain:
Kriyat Yam Suf
The Mitzrim are chasing the Jews and the Jews complain and say, “Why did u bring us here to die??” Hashem then splits the sea for them and the Mitzrim drown in the sea.
Marah
The Jews complain and say, “What should we drink??” (because the water was bitter)
Midbar Sin
The Jews complain and say, “ We had food in Mitzraim did you bring us here to die from starvation??”
Masa U’Meriva
The Jews complain and say, “Give us water, did you bring us here to die of thirst??” ( doubting Hashems existence
War against Amalek
The Jews don’t complain they have a war and have faith in Hashem and self confidence
Which events are referred to as נסיונות?
Marah
Midbar Sin
Masa U’Merivah
Leibtag: Why is G-d a terrible tour guide?
because he brought us to places that were missing things
They are to test and teach the Jews. It was done on purpose.
lacking → complaint → fix → teach
each place is hand selected to teach a lesson.
the tests are to show a transition between “the servants of Pharaoh” → “the servants of Hashem”
Cassuto: Why is this not a full itinerary?
because parshat beshalach only lists 4 places but maasei lists more places that they went to
these four places were chosen to train the jews and teach them a lesson
What was the test (Marah)? רשב”ם כה-כו
to see if they will follow Hashems laws
if you follow my laws I will take care of You, I am the G-d who heals you.
How does a tree sweeten water? ראב”ע vs. חזקוני, Sarna, Cassuto.
ראב”ע
“דבר פלא”- pure neis. no natural explanation.
חזקוני, Sarna, Cassuto
Through natural means
How was it natural means
Chezkuni- it was a sweet branch “דרכו לעשות בדרך העולם”
Sarna- “brita” filter (rock sifter) the water was dirty and the branch was a filter and cleaned the water
Cassuto- the branch absorbed saltiness
Broader discussion about נסים: Rambam vs. Ramban
Ramban- everything is a neis= no nature
Rambam- everything is nature= no nisim→ Hashem programmed nature to do the nisim
שם שם לו חק ומשפט -טו:כה
What laws do they get?
Ramban - two approaches- peshat
- advice on how to live in the midbar, chok= minhag-
- natural law= learn how to be a good person from society without torah= moral laws
Rashi
Shabbos: prep for midbar sin (man collection) because there shabbos is assumed when it says collect two portions for shabbos
Parah Aduma: needed to become pure for pesach shaini
Judges: yitroh criticizes moshe judging the people which means there must of had to been a judging system (judging laws)
What are Midrashic metaphors found in the text
Water= torah
needed torah
lives would be bitter without torah
3 days without water= 3 days without torah
torah reading on monday, thursday, shabbos
What is the lesson? (mara)
depend on G-d
How is the complaint different now? (midbar Seen)
say they rather have died in mitzraim
- mara was just a request
- here they are losing faith in hashem
Are they lying (about having food in Mitzraim) ? Two approaches to פסוק ג: Cassuto
peshat
maybe pharohs servants gave them food
Cassuto
(psychological point of view) it was not true and they were just exaggerating. When something bad is happening you look at the past with a better light and you forget about all of the bad stuff. They were not lying on purpose.
פסוק ד- למען אנסנו. What is the test? רש”י פס’ ד , רמב”ן, רשב”ם, ספורנו
Rashi: following the laws related to the מן
Ramnban: מן= disgusting new strange food–> trusting Hashem to give them what they need and not complain
Sfarno- They are provided for “affluenza” (have it to good) They always have food so the test is what are they going to do with their free time and are they going to appreciate the good
Rashbam- man is a dependency on G-d because he gives them their food everyday so the test is if they will depend on him and connect relationship
Two ways G-d tries to change בנ”י’s behavior
through traumatic events (1-2)
through a change in daily routine (3)
