Torah Classes

Chp. 3 verses 1 - 8: Moshe is out tending to the sheep of his father in law and he sees a bush burning but not consumed. He turns to inspect the spectacle. Hashem calls out to him twice from the bush and he answers. He is told to remove his shoes since the place he was at was holy. Hashem introduces Himself as the G-d of his father and the patriarchs. He is told that G-d has seen the affliction of the Jewish nation and He was ready to deliver them from the hands of the Egyptians. He would bring them to the land that flowed with milk and honey,the land of the six/seven nations.

Chp. 3 verses 19 - 22 Chp. 4 verses 1 - 9: Hashem tells Moshe that Pharaoh will not agree to let the people go until He smites him with all His wonders. Also that they would leave Egypt with gold, silver, and clothing that they would borrow from the Egyptians. Chp. 4, Moshe says to G-d that the people would not believe that Hashem had appeared to him. Then G-d gives him three signs, the snake, leprosy, and blood, to present before the people so that they would know that he was the true redeemer and the time for the redemption was now.

Chp. 3 verses 9 - 18: Hashem continues to speak to Moshe. He tells him that He is now ready to take the nation out of Egypt. He tells Moshe which of His names to tell them and the special words to say that would prove to them that he was Hashem's messenger. He assures Moshe that they would believe him and that he and the elders would go before Pharaoh. They were to tell him that the G-d of the Hebrews has appeared to us and wants us to go take a three day journey out to the wilderness where will pray and bring sacrifices to Him.

Chp. 4 verses 10 - 24: Hashem finishes speaking to Moshe, he then politely tells G-d that he has never been able to speak due to his speech impediment. G-d reminds him that speech and all other powers come from Him. Moshe still declines and Hashem gets angry and informs him that Aaron his brother is coming and he would be his spokesman. Hashem tells him to take the staff in his hand with which he would perform the signs. He says good bye to Yisro who wishes him well and he takes his wife and two children puts them on the donkey and he travels to Egypt. G-d warns him that Pharaoh would not listen to his request to let the people go and that the end would be that Hashem would kill the firstborn of Egypt. Moshe stops at an inn where an angel of G-d tries to kill him.

Chp. 1 verse 22, Chp. 2 verses 1 - 6: Chp. 1 ends with Pharaoh commanding his people to cast all male babies into the Nile and all females would live. Chp. 2 begins with a man and a woman from the tribe of Levi marrying. She gives birth to Moshe whom she hides for three months. She then places him in cradle and puts it into the Nile. The daughter of Pharaoh goes down to the Nile and takes the basket.In it she sees a Jewish infant crying and she has compassion for him and she decides to adopt the child as her own.

Chp. 2 verses 15 - 22: Pharaoh hears that Moshe killed the Egyptian and tries to execute him. Moshe escapes to Midian where he meets Yisro and his daughters. He marries Tziporrah and has a son whom he names Gershom. The king of Egypt dies and the Jewish people cry out to Hashem because of the severity of their bondage. He hears their groaning and remembers them in the merit of the forefathers.

Chp. 1 verses 1 - 8: Introduction, portion begins with the names of all the sons of Yaakov. It tells us that there were 70 souls total and that Yosef was in Egypt. That generation died. The next generation was exceedingly fruitful and the land was filled with them. A new king arose who did not know Yosef.

Chp. 48 verses 1 - 9: Yosef is told that his father is on his deathbed. He takes his two sons with him so that his father can bless them before he dies. He tells Yosef that his two sons would each be counted as one of the tribes of Israel, just as Ruevain and Shimon. Yaakov then explains why he buried Rachel on the road to Bethlehem. Yaakov then sees the sons of Yosef and he asks who they are? Yosef assures him that they are his children. Yaakov then asks him to bring then to him so that he can bless them.

Chp. 49 verses 13 - 18: Yaakov continues with the blessing of Zevulun, who were the businessman who traveled on the seas. They supported their brother Yisaachar who were the Torah scholars. They were blessed after Zevulun to be successful in their learning and their service to Hashem. Next he blessed Dan whom he referred to as a "serpent on the road." His blessing was an allusion to Samson who was from the tribe of Dan and would judge them for 20 years. He finishes with a prayer for the generations," for your salvation I have waited O L-rd."

Chp. 49 verses 5 - 12: Yaakov continues with Shimon and Levi,he curses their anger. Then he turns to Yehudah who starts to leave thinking his father would criticize him about his affair with his daughter-in-law. Yaakov sensing his concern changes the direction of his words and Blesses Yehudah with words of praise and promise. He would continue to bless the rest of his sons without any words of condemnation.