Esnoga Bet Emunah

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Triennial Cycle (Triennial Torah Cycle) / Septennial Cycle (Septennial Torah Cycle)

Three and 1/2 year Lectionary Readings	Second Year of the Reading Cycle
Heshvan 20, 5770 – Nov. 06/07 , 2009	Second Year of the Shmita Cycle

Candle Lighting and Havdalah Times:

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:23 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:19 PM	San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:26 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:20 PM
Baton Rouge & Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:56 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:50 PM	Sheboygan & Manitowoc, Wisconsin US Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:18 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:20 PM
Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:26 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:23 PM	Brisbane, Australia Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:51 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:47 PM
Chattanooga, & Cleveland, Tennessee, US Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:25 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:21 PM	Bucharest, Romania Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:42 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:44 PM
Miami, Florida, US Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:19 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:11 PM	Jakarta, Indonesia Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:29 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 6:19 PM
Murray & Paducah Kent., & Paris, Tenn. U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:35 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:32 PM	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 6:39 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 7:29 PM
New London, Connecticut USA Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:13 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:12 PM	Manila & Cebu, Philippines Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 5:08 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:59 PM
Olympia, Washington, U.S. Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:31 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:35 PM	Singapore, Singapore Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 6:32 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 7:22 PM
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA Friday Nov. 06, 2009 – Candles at 4:36 PM Saturday Nov. 07, 2009 – Havdalah 5:34 PM

For other places see: http://chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.asp

Roll of Honor:

This Torah commentary comes to you courtesy of:

His Honor Rosh Paqid Adon Hillel ben David and

beloved wife HH Giberet Batsheva bat Sarah

His Honor Paqid Adon Mikha ben Hillel

His Honor Paqid Adon David ben Abraham

Her Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah & beloved family,

His Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann & beloved family,

His Excellency Adon John Batchelor & beloved wife,

His Excellency Adon Ezra ben Abraham and

beloved wife HE Giberet Karmela bat Sarah,

Her Excellency Giberet Alitah bat Sarah

His Excellency Adon Stephen Legge and

beloved wife HE Giberet Angela Legge

His Excellency Adon Yoel ben Abraham and

beloved wife HE Giberet Miryam bat Sarah

His Excellency Rev. Dr. Adon Chad Foster and

beloved wife HE Giberet Tricia Foster

His Excellency Adon Yisrael ben Abraham and

beloved wife HE Giberet Elisheva bat Sarah

Her Excellency Giberet Laurie Taylor

For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing the best oil for the lamps, we pray that G-d’s richest blessings be upon their lives and those of their loved ones, together with all Yisrael and her Torah Scholars, amen ve amen!

Also a great thank you and great blessings be upon all who send comments to the list about the contents and commentary of the weekly Torah Seder and allied topics.

If you want to subscribe to our list and ensure that you never lose any of our commentaries, or would like your friends also to receive this commentary, please do send me an E-Mail to benhaggai@GMail.com with your E-Mail or the E-Mail addresses of your friends. Toda Rabba!

This Torah Seder Commentary and readings are dedicated in the memory of the mother of Her Honour Giberet BatSheva bat Sarah (the beloved wife of His Honour Rosh Paqid Adon Hillel ben David) who passed away peacefully this week. Barukh Dayan Emet! May Her Honour and loved ones be comforted together with all the mourners of Zion as we extend our most sincere condolences and prayers of consolation.

We also dedicate this Torah Seder commentary and readings in honour of the birthday of Her Excellency Giberet Norma the beloved mother of Giberet Laurie Taylor. May she be blessed with ample provisions, very good health, and with the ability to perform many and great deeds of loving-kindness as befits a daughter of Yisrael, amen ve amen! We join together to wish her a most happy Yom Huledet Same'ach!

Shabbat Ki Y’Daber:

Shabbat	Torah Reading:	Weekday Torah Reading:
כִּי יְדַבֵּר
“Ki Y’Daber”	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 7:8-13	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 8:16-19
“When will speak”	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 7:14-18	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 8:20-23
“Cuando os respondiere”	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 7:19-25	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 8:24-28
Shemot (Exodus) 7:8 - 8:15	Reader 4 – Sh’mot 7:26-29
Ashlamatah: Joel 3:3 – 4:6, 16	Reader 5 – Sh’mot 8:1-4
	Reader 6 – Sh’mot 8:5-11	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 8:16-19
Psalm 46:1-12	Reader 7 – Sh’mot 8:12-15	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 8:20-23
	Maftir – Sh’mot 8:12-15	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 8:24-28
N.C.: Mark 6:30-32	Joel 3:3 – 4:6, 16

Rashi & Targumim for: Sh’mot (Exodus) 7:8 – 8:15

RASHI	TARGUM PSEUDO JONATHAN	TARGUM NEOFITI
8. Ad-noy said to Moshe and Aharon, saying:	8. And the Lord spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,	8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, saying:
9. "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Give yourselves [credibility by displaying] a marvel;' you [Moshe] should then say to Aharon, 'Take your rod and throw it down before Pharaoh.' It will become a serpent."'	9. When Pharaoh talks with you, saying, Give us a miracle, you will say to Aharon, Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a basilisk‑serpent; for all the inhabitants of the earth will hear the voice of the shriek of Mizraim when I shatter them, as all the creatures heard the shriek of the serpent when made naked at the beginning. [JERUSALEM. And throw down before Pharaoh.]	9. "When Pharaoh speaks with you, saying: 'Give a sign for yourselves,' you will say to Aaron: ‘Take your staff and cast i it before Pharaoh'; and it will become a serpent.”
10. Moshe and Aharon came to Pharaoh and they did exactly as Ad-noy commanded [them]. Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent.	10. And Mosheh and Aharon went in unto Pharaoh, and did as the Lord had commanded. And Aharon threw down the rod before the sight of Pharaoh, and before the sight of his servants, and it became a basilisk.	10. And Moses and Aaron went in to Phraoh and did thus, as the Lord had commanded them. And Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and before his servants; and it became a serpent.
11. Pharaoh too called [his] wise men and magicians. The sorcerers of Egypt also did likewise with their magic art.	11. But Pharaoh called the hachems and magicians; and they also, Janis and Jamberes, magicians of Mizraim, did the same by their burnings of divination.	11. And Pharaoh also called his wise men and his sorcerers, and they also - the sorcerers of the Egyptians - did likewise by their sorceries.
12. When each man threw down his rod they (the rods) became serpents, and Aharon's rod swallowed their rods.	12. They threw down each man his rod, and they became basilisks; but were forthwith changed to be what they were at first; and the rod of Aharon swallowed up their rods.	12. And each one cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
13. Pharaoh's heart [remained] hard and he did not listen to them, just as Ad-noy had foretold.	13. And the disposition of Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said.	13. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken.
14. Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Pharaoh's heart is heavy [unmoved]. He refuses to let the people go.	14. And the Lord said to Mosheh, The disposition of Pharaoh's heart is obdurated in refusing to release the people.	14. And the Lord h said to Moses: "The heart of Pharaoh is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.
15. Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water, and stand there to meet him by the bank of the river. The rod that was turned into a snake, take in your hand.	15. Go unto Pharaoh in the morning: behold, he comes forth to observe divinations at the water as a magician; so will you prepare yourself to meet him on the bank of the river, and Aharon's rod that was changed to be a serpent you will take in your hand. [JERUSALEM. To refresh himself at the river.]	15. <Go to > Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to refresh himself by the river; and you will place yourself before him on the bank of the river, and the staff that was turned into a serpent take in your hand.
16. Say to him, "Ad-noy, G-d of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say [to you], 'Send out My people that they may worship Me in the wilderness. Behold, thus far you have not listened.	16. And you will say to him, The Lord God of the Jehudaee has sent me unto you, saying Release My people, that they may serve Me in the desert; and, behold, as yet you have not hearkened.	16. And you will say to him: 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say: "Let My people go, that they may worship before Me in the wilderness; for behold, thus far you have not listened."
17. This is what Ad-noy has said, 'By this you will know that I am Ad-noy. Behold, with the rod that is in my hand, I will strike the water of the river and it will turn into blood.	17. Thus says the Lord: By this sign you will know that I am the Lord. Behold, with the rod that is in my hand, I will smite the waters of the river, and they will be changed into blood.	17. Thus said the Lord: in this will you know that I am the Lord: behold, I strike the water which is in the river with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood.
18. The fish that is in the river will die, and the river will become polluted. The Egyptians will weary themselves [trying to purify] drinking water from the river.' "	18. And the fish that are in the river will die, and the river will become foul, and the Mizraee will desist from drinking water from the river.	18. And the fish that are in the river will die, and the river will become foul, and the Egyptians will weary themselves (in vain) to drink the waters of the river."
19. Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Say to Aharon, 'Take your rod and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt--- over their rivers, over their canals, over their lakes, and over every place where their water is gathered, and it [the water] will become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, [even] in [vessels] of wood and [vessels] of stone."	19. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Tell Aharon, Take your rod and stretch forth your hand over the waters of the Mizraee over their rivers, Over their trenches, over their canals, and over every place for collecting their waters, and they will become blood; and there will be blood in all the land of Mizraim, and in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone. [JERUSALEM. In vases.]	19. And the Lord said to Moses: "Say to Aaron: 'Take your staff and incline your hand over the waters of the Egyptians, over the rivers, and over their springs, and over their canals, and over every gathering of their waters; and they will become blood in all the land of Egypt, in (vessels of) wood and (of) stone.'"
20. Moshe and Aharon did exactly as Ad-noy commanded them. He [Aharon] lifted the rod and struck the water in the river before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his [Pharaoh's] servants, and all the water of the river turned into blood.	20. And Mosheh and Aharon did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters of the river in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters of the river were turned into blood;	20. And Moses and Aaron did thus, as the Lord had commanded; and he raised his staff and struck the waters that were in the river before Pharaoh and before his rulers; and all the waters of the river were turned into blood.
21. The fish that were in the river died, and the river became so polluted that the Egyptians were unable to drink the water from the river. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.	21. and the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Mizraee could not drink of the waters, of the river and the plague of blood was in all the land of Mizraim.	21. And the fish that were in the river died, and the river turned foul, and the Egyptians were not able to drink the water from the river; and there was blood in all the land of Egypt.
22. The sorcerers of Egypt did likewise with their magic art. Pharaoh's heart remained hardened and he did not listen to them, just as Ad-noy had spoken.	22. But so (also) did the astrologers of Mizraim by their burnings, and turned the waters of Goshen into blood. And the design of Pharaoh's heart was strengthened, and he would not hearken. to them, as the Lord had said.	22. And the sorcerers of the Egyptians did likewise with their sorceries; and the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken.
23. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and paid no attention even to this [miracle].	23. And Pharaoh did what was needful to him, and went unto his house, nor did he set his heart upon this plague.	23. And Pharaoh turned and entered within his house and did not pay attention even to this plague.
24. The Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they could not drink from the waters of the river.	24. And the Mizraee dug about the river for water to drink, but could not find them pure; for they were not able to drink of the water from the river.	24. And all the Egyptians dug round about the river <for water to drink, for they could not> drink from the water of the river.
25. Seven full days [passed] after Ad-noy had struck the river.	25. And seven days were completed after the Lord bad smitten the river, and the Word of the Lord had afterward healed the river.	25. And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the waters of the river and He healed it.
1. Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what Ad-noy has said, "Send out my people so they may worship Me.	1. And the Lord spoke to Mosheh, Go in unto Pharaoh and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Emancipate My people, that they may serve before Me.	1. And the Lord said to Moses: "Enter to Pharaoh and say to him: 'Thus said the Lord: Let the people go that they may worship before Me.
2. If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.	2. But if you refuse to set them free, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs.	2. If you decline to let them go, behold, I will blot out all your territory by frogs.
3. The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.	3. And the river will multiply frogs, and they will ascend and come up into your house, and into the bedchamber where you sleep, and upon your couch; and into the house of your servants, and among your people, and into the ovens, and into your baking-troughs,	3. And the river will swarm with frogs, and they will come up and go into your house and into the bed-chambers of your sleeping quarter, upon your bed and in the houses of your rulers, and in your people <and in all your rulers>, and in your ovens and in your kneading troughs.
4. Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.	4. and upon your body, and upon the bodies' of your people, and upon all your servants, will the frogs have power.	4. And the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your rulers.”
5. Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Say to Aharon, 'Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.' "	5. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Lift up your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the trenches, and over the canals, [JERUSALEM. Pools,] and I will bring up the frogs upon the land of Mizraim.	5. And the Lord a said to Moses: "Say to Aaron: 'Incline your hand with your staff over the rivers and over the pools and over the swamps, and make frogs come upon the land of Egypt."
6. Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.	6. And Aharon uplifted his hand over the waters of Mizraim, and the plague of frogs came up and covered the land of Mizraim. But Mosheh (himself) did not smite the waters, either with the blood or with the frogs because through them (the waters of the Nile) he had (found) safety the time that his mother laid him in the river.	6. And Aaron inclined his hand over the waters of the Egyptians, and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
7. The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.	7. And the astrologers did likewise by their burnings, and brought up frogs upon the land of Mizraim.	7. And the sorcerers did likewise by the sorceries, and they made frogs come upon the land of Egypt.
8. Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, "Pray to Ad-noy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Ad-noy."	8. And Pharaoh called to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, Pray before the Lord, that He may remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will release the people to offer the sacrifices of a feast before the Lord.	8. And Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said: "Pray before the Lord that the frogs may cease from me and from my people; and I will let the people go that they may sacrifice before the Lord."
9. Moshe said to Pharaoh, "Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river."	9. And Mosheh said to Pharaoh, Glorify yourself on account of me. At what time do you request that I should pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, that the frogs may be destroyed from you and from your house, and be left only in the river?	9. And Moses said to Pharaoh: "Give me a sign and trust me, until when will I pray for you and for your rulers and for your people, to blot out the frogs from you and from the men of your house? Only those which are in the river will be left."
10. [Pharaoh] said, "By tomorrow." [Moshe] said, "As you say. You will then know that there is none like Ad-noy, our G-d.	10. And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, According to your word: that you may know that there is none like the Lord our God. [JERUSALEM. Give a sign, and keep at a distance, till I will have prayed for you.]	10. And he said: "Tomorrow." And he said: "(Be it done) according to your words, so that you may know that there is none like the Lord our God.
11. The frogs will be removed from you, from your houses, from your servants and from your people. They will remain only in the river.	11. And the frogs will depart from you, and from your house, and from your servants, and from your people; and those only that are in the river will remain.	11. And the frogs will go from you and from the men of your house and from your rulers and from your people; only those which are in the river will be left."
12. Moshe and Aharon left Pharaoh, and Moshe cried out to Ad-noy concerning the frogs that He had set upon Pharaoh.	12. And Mosheh and Aharon went out from Pharaoh, and Mosheh prayed before the Lord respecting the frogs, as he had proposed to Pharaoh.	12. And Moses and Aaron went out from the presence of Pharaoh; and Moses prayed before the Lord concerning the frogs which he had sent to Pharaoh.
13. Ad-noy did as Moshe said, the frogs died, [those that were in] the houses, the courtyards, and the fields.	13. And the Lord did according to the word of Mosheh; and the frogs died from the houses and from the courts and from the field,	13. And the Lord did according to the words of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses and out of the courtyards and out of the fields.
14. They gathered them into [many] heaps, and the land was polluted.	14. and they collected them in heaps and heaps, [JERUSALEM. Heaps, heaps,] and the land was corrupted.	14. And they gathered them into heaps and heaps, and the land stank.
15. [When] Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as Ad-noy had spoken.	15. And Pharaoh saw that he was refreshed from his molestation, but hardened his heart, and would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said.	15. And Pharaoh saw that there was an hour of respite, and he hardened his heart and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken.

Reading Assignment:

The Torah Anthology: Yalkut Me’Am Lo’Ez - Vol IV: Israel in Egypt

By: Rabbi Ya’aqob Culi

Published by: Moznaim Publishing Corp. (New York, 1978)

Vol. IV – “Israel in Egypt,” pp. 176-204.

Welcome to the World of P’shat Exegesis

In order to understand the finished work of the P’shat mode of interpretation of the Torah, one needs to take into account that the P’shat is intended to produce a catechetical output, whereby a question/s is/are raised and an answer/s is/are given using the seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel and as well as the laws of Hebrew Grammar and Hebrew expression.

The Seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel are as follows

[cf. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=472&letter=R]:

1. Ḳal va-ḥomer: "Argumentum a minori ad majus" or "a majori ad minus"; corresponding to the scholastic proof a fortiori.

2. Gezerah shavah: Argument from analogy. Biblical passages containing synonyms or homonyms are subject, however much they differ in other respects, to identical definitions and applications.

3. Binyan ab mi-katub eḥad: Application of a provision found in one passage only to passages which are related to the first in content but do not contain the provision in question.

4. Binyan ab mi-shene ketubim: The same as the preceding, except that the provision is generalized from two Biblical passages.

5. Kelal u-Peraṭ and Peraṭ u-kelal: Definition of the general by the particular, and of the particular by the general.

6. Ka-yoẓe bo mi-maḳom aḥer: Similarity in content to another Scriptural passage.

7. Dabar ha-lamed me-'inyano: Interpretation deduced from the context.

Rashi’s Commentary for: Sh’mot (Exodus) 7:8 - 8:15

9 a sign-Heb. מוֹפֵת, a sign to make [it] known that there is power in the One who is sending you.- [from Onkelos]

a serpent Heb. לְתַנִּין, a serpent.

11 with their magic-Heb. בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם [Onkelos renders B’LACHASHEHON], [meaning] with their incantations. It [the word בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם has no similarity in the [rest of] Scripture. It may, however, be compared to “the blade of (לַהַט) the revolving sword” (Gen. 3:24), which seemed to be revolving because of a magic spell.

12 but Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs-After it had again become a staff, it swallowed them all.-[from Shab. 97a]

14 is heavy (stubborn) Heb. כָּבֵד. Its Aramaic translation is YIQIR [heavy], and not ITYAQAR [has become heavy], because it is the name of a thing [an adjective and not a verb], as in for the matter is too heavy (כָּבֵד) for you (Exod. 18:18).

15 behold, he is going forth to the water-to relieve himself, for he had deified himself and said that he did not need to relieve himself; so, early in the morning he went out to the Nile and there he would perform his needs.-[from Mid. Tanchuma, Va’era 14; Exod. Rabbah 9:8]

16 until now Heb. עַד-כֹּה, [meaning] until now [Onkelos]. Its midrashic interpretation is: Until you hear from me [the announcement of] the plague of the firstborn, which I will introduce with “So (כֹּה) said the Lord, ‘When the night divides…’” (Exod. 11:4).-[from an unknown midrashic source]

17 and it will turn to blood Since there is no rainfall in Egypt, and the Nile ascends and waters the land, so the Egyptians worship the Nile. He therefore smote their deity and afterwards He smote them.-[from Sifrei, Devarim 38; Exod. Rabbah 9:9; Tanchuma, Va’era 13]

18 and the Egyptians will weary-Heb. וְנִלְאוּ [I.e., the Egyptians will become weary trying] to seek a remedy for the waters of the Nile so that it would be fit to drink.-[from Jonathan]

19 Say to Aaron-Since the Nile protected Moses when he was cast into it, it therefore was not smitten by him, neither with blood nor with frogs, but was smitten by Aaron.-[from Tanchuma, Va’era 14]

their rivers They are the rivers that flow, like our rivers.

their canals-Heb. יְאֹרֵיהֶם. These are man- made pools and ditches, [extending] from the riverbank to the fields. [When] the waters of the Nile increase, it [the Nile] rises through the canals and irrigates the fields.-[from Othioth d’Rabbi Akiva

their ponds-Water that does not spring [from beneath the ground] and does not flow [to any other place] but stands in one place. It is called estanc [in Old French], pond.

throughout the entire land of Egypt-Even in the bathhouses, and in the bathtubs in the houses.

even in wood and in stone-Water in wooden vessels and in stone vessels.-[from Onkelos, Jonathan, Exod. Rabbah 9:11]

22 with their secret rites-Heb. בְּלָטֵיהֶם, an incantation which they uttered silently and in secret (בְּלָט). [This follows Onkelos.] Our Rabbis, however, said: בְּלָטֵיהֶם means acts of demons. B’LAHATEIHEM means acts of magic.-[from Sanh. 67b] [See above commentary on verse 11.]

and Pharaoh’s heart was steadfast-saying, “You are doing this through sorcery. ‘You are bringing straw to Aphraim,’ a city that is full of straw. So too you bring magic to Egypt, which is [already] full of magic.”- from Exod. Rabbah 9:11, Men. 85a]

23 even to this-Neither to the sign of the staff that had turned into a serpent nor to this one of blood.

25 Seven full days passed-Heb. וַיִּמָּלֵא, literally, seven days were filled. Since the word וַיִּמָּלֵא is singular, Rashi explains: The number of seven days that the Nile did not return to its original state [was filled], for the plague would be in effect for a quarter of a month, and for three quarters [of the month], he [Moses] would exhort and warn them.-[from Tanchuma, Va’era 13, Exod. Rabbah 9:12, as explained by Mizrachi and Gur Aryeh].

2 But if you refuse-Heb. מָאֵן, [which means] and if you are a refuser. מָאֵן is like מְמָאֵן, refuses, but Scripture calls the person by his action, like “tranquil (שָׁלֵו) and still (וְשָׁקִט) ” (see Job 16:12) 4; “sad and upset (וְזָעֵף)” (I Kings 20:43).

smite all your borders-Heb. נֹגֵף, [means] smite. Similarly every expression of מַגַּפָה, plague, [also means a smiting,] “and they strike (וְנָגְפוּ) a pregnant woman” (Exod. 21:22), does not mean [striking to] death. Similarly “before your feet are dashed (יִתְנַגְּפוּ)” (Jer. 13:16); “lest your foot be dashed (תִּגֹּף) on a stone” (Ps. 91:12); “a stone upon which to dash oneself (נֶגֶף) ” (Isa. 8:14).

3 and they will go up-from the Nile.

into your house -and afterwards, into the house of your servants. He [Pharaoh] introduced the plan first, [as it is written:] “He said to his people…” (Exod. 1:9), and with him the retribution started.-[from Sotah 11a]

4 and into you and into your people and into all your servants-They [the frogs] would go into their intestines and croak.-[from Tanna d’vei Eliyahu, Seder Eliyahu Rabbah, ch. 7]

6 and the frogs came up Heb. וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ, literally, and the frog came up. It was one frog, and they [the Egyptians] hit it, and it split into many swarms of frogs. This is its midrashic interpretation (Tanchuma, Va’era 14); for its simple meaning, it can be said that the swarming of the frogs is referred to as singular, and likewise, “and the lice were (וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָּם) ” (verse 13), the swarming, pedoiliyere in Old French, swarming of lice, and also וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ, grenoylede in Old French, swarming of frogs.

9 Boast [of your superiority] over me Heb. הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, similar to “Shall the axe boast (הֲיִתְפָּאֵר) over the one who hews with it” (Isa. 10:15). It praises itself, saying, “I am greater than you,” vanter in Old French. Similarly, הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, [Moses says to Pharaoh,] “you praise yourself by acting cleverly and asking a difficult thing and saying that I will be unable to do it.”

For when shall I entreat for you- לְמָתַי. That which I will entreat for you today regarding the extermination of the frogs [tell me,] when do you wish them to be exterminated? And you will see whether I fulfill my words for the time that you set for me. If it were stated, מָתַי אַעְתִּיר לְךָ it would mean “When shall I pray?” Now that it says, לְמָתַי [and thus it means:] Today I will pray for you that the frogs will be exterminated at the time that you set for me. Tell me, on which day do you want them to be exterminated? [The Torah uses three words:] אַעְתִּיר, I will entreat; הַעְתִּירוּ (verse 4), entreat (command form); וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (verse 25), and I will entreat [all in the “hiph’il,” causative conjugation], and it does not say, אֶעְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, and וְעָתַרְתִּי [in the “kal,” simple conjugation], because every expression of עתר means to pray very much, and just as one says עַרְבֶּה, I will increase, הַרְבּוּ, increase [command form], וְהִרְבֵּיתִי, and I will increase, in the “hiph’il” conjugation, so does one say: אַעְתִּיר, I will increase, הַעְתִּירוּ (verse 4), increase [command form] וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (verse 25), and I will increase words, and the “father” [i.e., the main proof] of them all is: “וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם your words” (Ezek. 35:13), and you have multiplied.

10 And he [Pharaoh] said, “For tomorrow”- Pray today that they should be exterminated tomorrow.

12 And Moses and Aaron went away from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out- immediately that they be destroyed on the morrow.

14 many heaps-Heb. חֳמָרִם חֳמָרִם, many piles, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: D’GORIN, heaps.

15 he hardened his heart-Heb. וְהַכְבֵּד. It is the infinitive form, like “continually traveling” (הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ) (Gen. 12:9); “and similarly, and slew (וְהַכּוֹת) the Moabites” (II Kings 3:24); “and by inquiring (וְשָׁאוֹל) of God on his behalf” (I Sam. 22:13); “striking and wounding (הַכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ)” (I Kings 20:37).

as the Lord had spoken-Now at what point did He speak? “But Pharaoh will not hearken to you” (Exod. 7:4).

Ketubim: Targum Tehillim (Psalms) 46:1-12

Judaica Press	Targum on the Psalms
1. For the conductor, a song of the sons of Korah, on alamoth.	1. For praise, by the sons of Korah, through the spirit of prophecy when their father was hidden from them, but they were saved, and they recited this song.
2. God is for us a shelter and a strength, a help in troubles; He is very accessible.	2. God is for us security and strength; a help in distress we shall find indeed.
3. Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes and when mountains totter into the heart of seas.	3. Because of this we will not be afraid in the time our fathers passed from the land, when the mountains totter in the depth of the great sea.
4. His waters shall stir and be muddied; mountains shall quake from His pride forever.	4. His waters shake, they become muddy from their dust; the mountains tremble in Your pride forever.
5. But as for the river-its rivulets shall cause the city of God, the holy place of the dwellings of the Most High, to rejoice.	5. Peoples like rivers and their fountains come and make glad the city of the Lord, and they pray in the Lord’s sanctuary, His exalted dwelling.
6. God is in its midst that it should not totter; God shall help it as morning approaches.	6. The presence of the Lord is within it, it will not be shaken; the Lord will help her for the merit of Abraham who prayed on it at the morning hours.
7. Nations have stirred, kingdoms have tottered; He let out His voice, the earth shall melt.	7. When the Torah was given to His people, the Gentiles trembled; kingdoms shook when He raised His voice; and when He gave the Torah to His people, the inhabitants of the earth melted.
8. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress forever.	8. The Word of the Lord Sabaoth is our help; the God of Jacob is a stronghold for us forever.
9. Go and see the works of the Lord, that He has wrought devastation in the earth.	9. Come, see the deeds of the Lord who has put devastation on the wicked/lawless of the land.
10. He puts a stop to wars until the end of the earth; He will break the bow and cut the spear [to pieces]; wagons He will burn with fire.	10. He annuls war to the ends of the earth; He will break the bow and shatter the lance; the round shields He will burn with fire.
11. Desist, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted upon the earth.	11. Cease from war, and know that I am the Lord, exalted among the peoples, exalted over the inhabitants of the earth.
12. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress forever.	12. The Word of the Lord Sabaoth is our help; the God of Jacob is a stronghold for us forever.

Rashi’s Commentary for: Psalm 46:1-12

1 on alamoth The name of a musical instrument in Chronicles (I Chron. 15:20).

3 when the earth changes in the future, on the day concerning which Scripture states (Isa. 51:6): “and the earth will rot away like a garment.” The sons of Korah saw the miracle that was performed for them, that all those around them were swallowed up while they [the sons of Korah] stood in the air and said to Israel, through the holy spirit, that a similar miracle would be performed for them in the future.

4 His waters will stir and be muddied Heb. יֶחְמְרוּ, they shall cast up mud, clay (חמר), and dirt as is their wont. Menachem (pp. 90f.), however, associated it with (Lam. 1:20), “my reins have shriveled (חֳמַרְמָרוּ),” regrezeliront in Old French, have shriveled.

mountains will quake from His pride [The pride] of the Holy One, blessed be He, Who is mentioned in the beginning of the psalm (verse 2).

5 But as for the river its rivulets Heb. פְּלָגָיו, ses ruisseaux in French, its rivulets.

the river of Paradise.

6 as morning approaches at the end of the redemption.

7 Gentiles have stirred Heb. הָמוּ, an expression of stirring.

will melt Will melt - so explained Menachem, similar to (Exod. 15:15), “all the inhabitants of Canaan melted (נָמֹגוּ),” and to (Ezek. 21:12), “every heart will melt.” But Dunash explained it as an expression of movement, as in (I Sam. 14:16), “the multitude was wandering (נָמוֹג), and it was coming closer,” and so in every instance.

9 that He has wrought devastation That He has made the lands of the Gentiles desolate.

10 He puts a stop to wars from upon us.

until the end of the earth that all the lands of the nations shall be at peace with us.

the bow of the Gentiles He will break.

wagons He will burn with fire The war chariots of the nations of the world. [The war chariots of the star worshippers.]

11 Desist all nations from further marching upon Jerusalem.

and know that I am God That I will execute judgment upon you.

I will be exalted among the Gentiles I will be exalted with My vengeance which I will wreak upon those Gentiles.

Ashlamatah: Joel 3:3 – 4:6, 16

JPS Version	Targum of the Minor Prophets
1. And it will come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions;	1. After that I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.
2. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit.	2. I will even pour out my [Holy] Spirit upon menservants and maidservants in those days.
3. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.	3. I will set signs in the heavens and on earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke.
4. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.	4. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and terrible day which will come from the Lord.
5. And it will come to pass, that whosoever will call on the name of the LORD will be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those that escape, as the LORD has said, and among the remnant those whom the LORD will call.	5. But everyone who prays in the name of the Lord will be delivered, for there will be deliverance on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord said. They will be delivered whom the Lord appoints.
1. For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I will bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,	1. For behold in those days and at that time, when I end the captivity of the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
2. I will gather all the Gentiles, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the Gentiles, and divided My land.	2. I will gather all the Gentiles together and bring them down to the valley of judicial decision, and I will call them to account there over My people and My heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations; and they divided up My land,
3. And they have cast lots for My people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and have drunk.	3. and cast lots for My people. They gave a boy over for a harlot's hire, and sold a girl for wine to drink.
4. And also what are you to Me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you render retribution on My behalf? And if you render retribution on My behalf, swiftly, speedily will I return your retribution upon your own head.	4. What are you reckoned before Me O Tyre and Sidon, and all the districts of the Philistines? Are you paying back before Me for something? If you are paying back before Me, I will make your deeds recoil on your own heads swiftly and speedily.
5. Forasmuch as you have taken My silver and My gold, and have carried into your temples My goodly treasures;	5. For you have taken My silver and My gold and carried off My precious treasures to your temples.
6. the children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have you sold unto the sons of Jevanim, that you might remove them far from their border;	6. And you have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, so that you have removed them far from their own territory. 7.
7. behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither you have sold them, and will return your retribution upon your own head;	7. Behold, I will bring them back openly from the place where you sold them, and I will make your deeds recoil on your own heads.
8. And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off; for the LORD has spoken. {P}	8. I will deliver your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away. For by the Memra of the Lord has it been decided so.
9. Proclaim this among the Gentiles, prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.	9. Proclaim this among the Gentiles, prepare the fighters. let the warriors come openly, let all the fighting men draw near and go up.
10. Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say: 'I am strong.'	10. Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your sickles into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong.”
11. Haste, and come, all you nations round about, and gather yourselves together closer, cause Your mighty ones to come down, O LORD!	11. Let all the Gentiles gather together and come from round about, and draw near; there the Lord will destroy the power of their warriors.
12. Let the nations be stirred up, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the Gentiles round about.	12. Let the Gentiles come openly, and go up to the valley of judicial decision; for there 1 will reveal Myself to judge all the Gentiles round about.
13. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness/Lawlessness is great.	13. Put the sword into them, for the time of their end has arrived; go down and tread their warrior dead like grapes that are trodden in the winepress; pour out their blood for their wickedness (Lawlessness) is great.
14. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.	14. Army, upon army in the valley of judicial decision; for near is the day which will come from the Lord in the valley of judicial decision.
15. The sun and the moon are become black, and the stars withdraw their shining.	15. Sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their brightness.
16. And the LORD will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a refuge unto His people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.	16. And the Lord will call from Zion, and from Jerusalem He will lift up His Memra, and the heavens and the earth will tremble. But the Lord is a support to His people and a help to the children of Israel.
17. So shall you know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain; then will Jerusalem be holy, and there will no strangers pass through her any more. {S}	17. And you will know that I the Lord your God have caused My Shekhinah to dwell in Zion, My holy mountain; and Jerusalem will be holy and strangers will never again pass through it.

Mark (Mordechai) 6:30-32

Delitzsch Hebrew Rendition

30וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ הַשְּׁלִיחִים אֶל־יֵשׁוּעַ וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לִמֵּדוּ׃

31וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם בֹּאוּ אַתֶּם לְבַדְּכֶם אֶל־מְקוֹם חָרְבָּה וְנוּחוּ מְעָט כִּי רַבִּים הָיוּ הַבָּאִים וְהַיֹּצְאִים עַל־לְאֵין־עֵת לָהֶם לֶאֱכוֹל׃

32וַיֵּלְכוּ מִשָּׁם בָּאֳנִיָּה אֶל־אַחַת הֶחֳרָבוֹת לְבָדָד׃

Murdoch’s Peshitta Translation

30. And the legates assembled before Jesus, and told him all they had done, and all they had taught.

31. And he said to them: Come, let us go into a desert by ourselves, and rest a little. For there were many going and coming, and they had not opportunity even to eat bread.

32. And they went by ship to a desert place by themselves.

Etheridge’s Peshitta Translation

30. And the disciples gathered unto Jeshu, and told him all whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.

31. And he said to them, Come and let us go into the desert alone, and rest a little while; for there were multitudes going and coming, (so that) they had not space even to eat;

32. And they went to a wilderness district in a vessel by themselves.

Hakham’s Rendition:

30 And the envoys (apostles) synagogued before Yeshua, and told him all things, even what they did and what they taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come, let us go apart [privately] into a deserted place, and rest a little. For there were many going and coming to him, and they did not even have opportunity to eat bread.

32. And they departed by boat into a desert place apart.

Commentary:

Last week we explained about the Markan sandwich following the Torah’s example

TORAH	PSALM	PROPHETS	N.C.	EPISODE
Exodus 3:1-4:17	43	Isaiah 40:11-18, 21-22	Mark 6:6b-13	Empowering Talmidim and Sending them two by two
Exodus 4:18-6:1	44	Isaiah 55:12 – 56:8 2 Samuel 15:7-15, 37	Mark 6:14-16	Messiah = Eliyahu?
Exodus 6:2-7:7	45	Isaiah 42:8-16, 21 Isaiah 52:6-13 + 53:4-5	Mark 6:17-29	Death of Yochanan the Immerser
Exodus 7:8-8:15	46	Joel 3:3 – 4:6, 16	Mark 6:30-32	Debrief of the Talmidim’s Mission

And this Sabbath we conclude with the narrative that started in Mark 6:6b-13 (i.e. 6:30-32 – the debrief of the Master’s Talmidim). So that you can easily remember what has gone before, following we put together the whole narrative.

6. And he (Yeshua) was travelling through the villages while teaching.

7. And he (Yeshua) called his twelve [Talmidim] and began to send them two by two. And he gave them authority over unclean spirits, [to cast them out].

8. And he (Yeshua) commanded them that they should not carry anything for the journey, except only a staff, no bag and no bread and no money in their purses,

9. But [that] they should wear sandals and not wear two Tallits (Prayer Mantles).

10. And he said to them, “Into that house, which you enter, there be until you depart from there.

11. And whoever does not receive you and does not hear you when you leave from there, shake off the dust that is under the sole of your feet for their witness. Amen, amen I say to you, it will be more bearable for Sodom or Gomorrah in Judgment Day than for that city/village [that did not give you hospitality and help as agents of King Messiah].

12. And they went out and proclaimed that [men] repent/return [and observe Torah].

13. And many demons were cast out. And they were anointing with oil many sick [people] and were healing [them].

Sandwich of Mark 6:14-29

30 And the envoys (apostles) synagogued before Yeshua, and told him all things, even what they did and what they taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come, let us go apart [privately] into a deserted place, and rest a little. For there were many going and coming to him, and they did not even have opportunity to eat bread.

32. And they departed by boat into a desert place apart.

v. 30 - And the envoys (apostles) synagogued before Yeshua, and told him all things, even what they did and what they taught. - The word “Apostle” needs to be understood in Jewish the environment in which this work was written contrary to the majority opinion of Christian scholars. The definition of an “Apostle” is given to us in Mishnah Berakhot 5:5 – “A person’s representative (Hebrew: SHALIACH = ‘sent-out-one’) is as the person himself.” Thus, we have used the word “envoy.” Wherever the Apostles went they were going as “plenipotentiary agents” of His Majesty Messiah King Yeshua of all the Jewish people. Here we have the often Semitic idea that politics and religion are intimately intertwined.

Therefore, we as Sh’LIACHIM of His Majesty Messiah King Yeshua of all the Jewish people, are not into the business of critizising or meddling into the good or bad policies of the Gentile powers and governments, but our main thrust is to establish communities/colonies of people who accept in truth, sincerity and love the whole governance of G-d. And where such exist normally the powers that be do not bother us. We need to remember this, that our message is both political religious, ethical and legal, all at the same time, harmoniously intertwined.

And these Sh’liachim came and “SYNAGOGUED” before their and our Master. There Greek here has: συναγονται - SUNAGONTE (Strng’s G4863 συνάγω – SUNAGO – To lead/assemble together) normally translated as “congregated” but nevertheless a derivative word of Synagogue.

v. 31 - And he said unto them, Come, let us go apart [privately] into a deserted place, and rest a little. – At this point, Marcus[1] makes the following comment:

“Since Wellhausen (Wellhausen, J. (1909) Das Evangelium Marci übersetzt und erklärt. 2^nd ed. Berlin:Georg Reimer, p. 48), the suggestion has frequently been made that Jesus’ withdrawl from public activity was motivated by his fear that Herod Antipas, who linked him with John the Baptist (6:14-16), would treat him in the same brutal way he treated John. But nothing is said about such a motivation in our passage, and it seems more in keeping with the sequence of events and with Markan theology in general to suggest that John’s death prompts Jesus to devote more concentrated attention to the disciples who will take his place after his own death (see Davies W. D. & Allison D.C. (1988) A Crtical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Matthew – 3 vols., Edingburgh: T&T Clark, vol. II, p.486).”

We must totally concur with this line of thought. For the Jewish principle is that a Hakham’s “real” Talmidim are as his own sons and therefore come first before anyone else. The main objective of a Hakham is to produce Talmidim (Rabbinic Disciples) that are better scholars and human beings than he is, otherwise it is said and thought that the Hakham has failed miserably in the discharge of his calling.

One of the main techniques used in Psychology, Intelligence and many other areas is the “Debrief.” The “Debrief” affords the person/s the opportunity to learn what they did wrong and how to improve, as well as what they did right or excelled at doing, and at the same time prevents “burn-out” and generates a general sense of well being and pride in being a member of a team with a good leader. Many are the books and articles in the Christian world about ministerial or professional “burn-out” and the reason for this is that the work is not collegial (i.e. at least, “two by two”), and there is no leader to lead a “Debriefing Session.” But, where the wise counsel of our Sages is thrown out as useless and despised, what else can be expected? Lawlessness indeed has its own nefarious reward.

To be a genuine Disciple of the Master requires much work in parallel within and without the individual and this should be done in teams, not by oneself, as it is most dangerous and lethal to your faith and mental wellbeing. Also regular sessions of debriefing should be conducted as these when done by a skilled practitioner result in much perfectioning of skills and promotion of pride, camaraderie, and overall sense of wellbeing. Discipleship, from this perspective have nothing to do with people warming pews, but active agents of the Master carefully carrying out his mission with precision and effectiveness, whilst at the same time promoting best practices and personal wellbeing.

Some Questions to Ponder:

1. After diligently reading and studying the different readings for this Shabbat what reading especially touched your heart and fired your imagination?
2. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 7:9?
3. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 7:11?
4. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 7:14?
5. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 7:19?
6. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 7:22?
7. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 8:2?
8. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 8:3?
9. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 8:9?
10. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 8:14?
11. What questions/s were asked of Rashi regarding Shemot (Exodus) 8:15?
12. Which of the 7 Hermeneutical Laws of R. Hillel is more often used by Rashi (cf. for example Rashi on Shemot 7:11)?
13. What is a “snake” in the Peshat a symbol of?
14. What academic and ambassadorial protocol was observed in Shemot 7:10
15. What critical principle did Pharaoh understand when “Aharon’s staff swallowed up the other staffs of Pharaoh’s magicians”?
16. What is the implication of G-d’s statement to Mosheh: “Lekh El Par’o BaBoqer” (Shemot 7:15)?
17. What word/words/phrase/concept of the Torah fired the imagination of our Psalmist this week?
18. How is our Ashlamatah of Joel 3:3 – 4:6, 16 related to our Torah Seder?
19. How is Mark 6:30-32 related to our Torah Seder, Psalm and Ashlamatah?
20. In your opinion what is the basic teaching of Mark 6:30-32?
21. In your opinion and taking altogether our Torah Seder, Psalm, Ashlamatah and the Pericope of Mark for this week, what do you think is the prophetic statement for the week?

Next Shabbat:

Shabbat Mevar’chim HaChodesh Kislev

Sabbath of the Proclamation of the New Moon for the Month of Kislev

(Evening Monday Nov. 16^th – Evening Wednesday Nov. 18^th)

Shabbat	Torah Reading:	Weekday Torah Reading:
נְטֵה אֶת-מַטְּךָ
“N’teh Et-Mat’kha”	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 8:16-21	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 10:1-3
“Stretch out your staff”	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 8:22-28	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 10:4-7
“Extiende tu vara”	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 8:29-32	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 10:8-11
Shemot (Exodus) Ex 8:16 – 9:35 Num. 28:9-15	Reader 4 – Sh’mot 9:1-7
Ashlamatah: Isaiah 34:11 – 35:2, 10 Isaiah 66:1,23	Reader 5 – Sh’mot 9:8-12
	Reader 6 – Sh’mot 9:13-21	Reader 1 – Sh’mot 10:1-3
Psalm 47:1-10	Reader 7 – Sh’mot 9:22-35	Reader 2 – Sh’mot 10:4-7
	Maftir – B’Midbar 28:9-15	Reader 3 – Sh’mot 10:8-11
N.C.: Mark 6:33-44	Isaiah 34:11 – 35:2, 10 Isaiah 66:1,23

Reading Assignment:

The Torah Anthology: Yalkut Me’Am Lo’Ez - Vol IV: Israel in Egypt

By: Rabbi Ya’aqob Culi

Published by: Moznaim Publishing Corp. (New York, 1978)

Vol. IV – “Israel in Egypt,” pp. 198-227.

Please always remember:

The above questions are not about how many you can answer right or wrong, or how many you have answered at all, that is NOT the purpose of this exercise! The REAL merit is in making an effort to attempt to answer as many as you can and the best as you can! We run no competitions here! The competition if any is a matter between you and Ha-Shem, most blessed be He! The questions are given to help you grasp the mechanics of the Peshat level of Hermeneutics and to help you understand Scripture from a legitimate Jewish perspective. So far, only few brave souls have attempted to answer the questions posed. For those who have not yet jumped into the pool of the brave, why not give it a try, even if you answered a few questions that would be great and most encouraging for you and the honourable members of this list!

Shalom Shabbat!

Hakham Dr. Yosef ben Haggai

Paqid Mikha ben Hillel

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[1] Marcus, J. (2000), The Anchor Bible: Mark 1-8 – A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, New York: Doubleday, p. 405.