Parsha Shiur Yisro 2024

What was it exactly that Yisro heard that motivated him to abandon every form of idol worship in the world and embrace Yidishkait?

Sources:

Parshas Yisro opening Possuk

Commentery of Baal Haturim on the Possuk

Shemos Perek 7 Possuk 1

Commentery of Rashi, Daas Zekenim and Noam Elimelech on the Possuk

Masechet Gittin 57 A

Masechet Shabbos 88 A

Parsha Shiur Va’era 2024

Description

Why was Pharoh so astonished when he saw Aaron’s stick swallow the Egyptian sticks? He was worried that the stick would swallow him?!?!

The Midrash compares him at that moment to Achashverosh sitting at his meal in the garments of the Kohen Gadol.

Aaron’s stick didn’t just swallow other Egyptian sticks, it also swallowed the sticks of the other Princes of the tribes of the Jews.

Sources:

Shemos Perek 7 Pesukim 8-12

Commentery of Baal Haturim on Possuk 12

Bamidbar Parshas Korach Perek 17 Pesukim 21 - 24

Midrash Shemos Rabba Parsha 9 Chapter 7

Yalkut Shimoni Parshas Shemos Parsha 247 Chapter 173 ‘V’es Hamateh.’

Biurim L’Pirkei Avos from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Perek 3 Mishnah 2 (page 180)

Short Vort Va’era 2024

If Hashem put us in Golus for only 400 years, why does it require a Divine strong hand and mighty arm to liberate us? Why do we say that if Hashem hadn’t liberated our ancestors from Egypt we would still be there today?

Haggadah Shel Pesach first paragraph after the 4 questions.

Likkutei Sichos Volume 17 Page 88. Footnote 17

Parsha Shiur Shemos 2024

Why does Hashem tell Moshe, that if he (Moshe) doesn’t redeem the Jews, there is no one else to redeem them?

Why does the Baal Haturim compare the cry of the Jews in Egypt to the cry of Sodom?

What is better and more powerful than eradicating darkness completely? - Transforming it to light.

Sources

Shemos Perek 3 Possuk 7

Commentary of Baal Haturim on the Possuk

Medrash Shemos Rabba Chapter 3 section 3

Shemos Perek 1 Possuk 22

Commentery of Rashi on the Possuk

Gemara Sotah Daf 12

Gemara Megilla 12 B

Short Vort Shemos 2024

Elie Wiesel was in Yechidus (Private audience) with the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him: ‘I will teach you to sing.’

Moshe argued with Hashem for 7 days. He insisted that he didn’t want to be the one to take the Jews out of Egypt: ‘They will ask me what is His name? What shall I tell them?’

Likkutei Sichos Volume 26 pages 22 - 25

Gemara Chagiga 15 B

Accompanying a Jew at the beginning of their journey is a Mitzvah. It guarantees that no harm will befall them as they go. Yet as a result of Pharoh walking 4 steps to escort Avrohom, the Jews become enslaved for 400 years in Egypt.

Sources:

Bereishis Vayeshev Perek 37 Possuk 14.

Commentery of Rashi and Baal Haturim

Bereishis Vayechi Perek 50 Possuk 7

Commentery of Baal Haturim

Gemara Sotah 46 B

End of Tosafos Sotah 42 B ‘Meah Popei’

Bartenura begining of Pirkei Avos

Short Vort Yavechi 2023

Why would the Torah conclude the entire Sefer Bereishis with saying that Yosef dies, and was placed in a coffin in Egypt? What happened to ending on a positive note? How is that supposed to inspire us to shout: ‘Chazak Chazak V’nischazek?’

Source:

Sefer Hasichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Vayechi 5747

Yaakov initially doesn’t believe that Yosef is alive. But the image of the wagons convinces him.

The last conversation between Yaakov and Yosef before Yosef gets sold as a slave, becomes the catalyst for all of Jewish history.

Gemara Brachos 31 A

Bereishis Perek 37 Possuk 14 Commentery of Rashi and Baal Haturim

Midrash Movoi Tanchuma Chapter 66

Bereishis Perek 46 Pesukim 26 and 27.

Commentery of Rashi on Possuk 27

Midrash Rabba Bereishis 94 3

Reuven offers Yaakov to kill 2 of his sons, if he does not return Binyomin. Yaakov responds by calling Reuven a first born fool.