5782 מרבה בשמחה in Adar Rishon This Shabbos is Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Adar Rishon. There is a discussion as to if משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה in a leap year applies to Adar Rishon as well or only Adar Sheni. Reb Yaakov Emden in his sefer שו"ת שאילת יעב"ץ ח"ב סי' פ"ח says that it only applies in Adar Sheni. He brings a proof from Rashi in Taanis 29b on משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה, Rashi writes משנכנס אדר - ימי נסים היו לישראל: פורים ופסח....
5782 The Reality of the Jewish Experience This week’s Kiddush is sponsored by Simcha Menlo for the Yahrzeit of his grandfather, Mr. Sam Menlo. It is important for Simcha to know that all accomplishments of his grandfather were not self-understood. He wasn’t given anything on a silver platter. He lost his entire family as a young child in the Holocaust, experienced things that are unimaginable, and then came to America with nothing....
5782 The Real You The Parshah begins ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם ולא נחם אלהים דרך ארץ פלשתים כי קרוב הוא כי אמר אלהים פן ינחם העם בראתם מלחמה ושבו מצרימה. ויסב אלהים את העם דרך המדבר ים סוף וכו'. On this Pasuk, the Medrash Rabbah writes ויסב וכו' מכאן אמרו רבותינו אפי' עני שבישראל לא יאכל עד שיסב שכך עשה להם הקדוש ברוך הוא שנאמר ויסב אלהים. The simple meaning of the word of ויסב is as Rashi writes הסיבם מן הדרך הפשוטה לדרך העקומה that Hashem turned the Jews from the straight forwarded path and took them in a roundabout way....
5782 Nachas Ruach from the struggle The Parshah begins with Hashem telling Moshe בא אל פרעה and the reason is כי אני הכבדתי את לבו. It’s interesting that Moshe is being told to come to Pharaoh-כי-because Hashem hardened his heart. On the contrary, כי אני הכבדתי את לבו would be more of a reason for him not to go to Pharaoh. But it’s possible to translate the word כי as “even if” like is found in Parshas Ki Sisa 34:9 ילך נא אדני בקרבנו כי עם קשה ערף הוא וסלחת לעוננו ולחטאתנו ונחלתנו that כי there means even if....
5782 Humble Beginnings The Parshah begins with a discussion between Moshe and Hashem. Hashem tells Moshe to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Jews go and Moshe responds that the Jews have not listened and certainly Pharaoh won’t either. In the middle of this dialogue, the Torah deviates and begins talking about the lineage of the Shevatim beginning with Reuven going down to Moshe and Aharon from Levi....