Exploring Kotzk

Shabbos Parshas Beshalach: February 4, 2023

Written by

Avrohom Meir Morgenstern

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Shabbos Parshas Beshalach:

February 4, 2023

Bubi Blanche June 22, 1926 – January 29, 2023

Why didnโ€™t Hashem take the Jews the shorter route to Israel

What does ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื mean in Shmos Verse 13:18 

Verse 13:19 – Moshe took up the bones of Joseph – Pelah Atzum on the Meciltah

On Tuesday January 31, 2023 we drove back from Toronto.  The Sheva was over on the previous Thursday, January 26, 2023.  Toronto is over.  

My mind thinks back to the 2 and a half months Serka and I spent with Bubi Jean with my wife taking care of her mother and giving her a quality of life even in the last few months of life.  Look at these pictures with her grandchildren.

February 1, 2023

Went back to Yeshiva and was welcomed by Rabbi Revah.  I am out of the Sugya and it was very getting back into the Sugya. I really do not want to go back to Yeshiva but Rabbi Revah keeps motivating me.

February 2, 2023

Went to Purim Spiel practice by Chabad of East Lakeview.  They actually want me to be the narrator.

February 3, 2013

Cold day.  Davened at the Base Ment Friday night.

Shabbos – February 4, 2023

Davened at Mishne Gemara.  It was a great feeling that the Misugayim who were part of the Shul are all gone and normal people are running the Shul.  Kiddush was great.

Torah from this Shabbos:

Torah #1:

 Verse 13:17 is the opening Passuk in the Sedra:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดึ—ื™ ื‘ึฐึผืฉึทืืœึทึผึฃื— ืคึทึผืจึฐืขึนื”ึฎ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืขึธืึ’ ื•ึฐืœึนืึพื ึธื—ึธึฃื ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ—ื™ื ื“ึถึผึšืจึถืšึฐ ืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผึ”ื™ื ื›ึดึผึฅื™ ืงึธืจึ–ื•ึนื‘ ื”ึ‘ื•ึผื ื›ึดึผึฃื™โ€‰ื€ ืึธืžึทึฃืจ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ—ื™ื ืคึถึผึฝืŸึพื™ึดื ึธึผื—ึตึฅื ื”ึธืขึธึ›ื ื‘ึดึผืจึฐืึนืชึธึฅื ืžึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธึ–ื” ื•ึฐืฉึธืึฅื‘ื•ึผ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึฝื™ึฐืžึธื”ืƒ

Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, โ€œThe people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.โ€

Question:  How do you understand this Pasuk.  Just like Hashem fought with the Jewish people at Yam Suf, so he would fight with them against the Pelishtim.  Additionally, the next Pasuk says they left Egypt armed.

I do not have an answer.

Torah #2

Second Pasuk – Verse 13:18 –  

ื•ึทื™ึทึผืกึตึผึจื‘ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึงื™ืโ€‰ื€โ€‰ืึถืชึพื”ึธืขึธึ›ื ื“ึถึผึฅืจึถืšึฐ ื”ึทืžึดึผื“ึฐื‘ึธึผึ–ืจ ื™ึทืึพืกึ‘ื•ึผืฃ ื•ึทื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื ืขึธืœึฅื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ึพื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืžึตืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึฝื™ึดืืƒ

So God led the people round about, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Now the Israelites went up ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื out of the land of Egypt.

What does ื•ึทื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื mean?

There are at least five explanations of  ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื and some variations.

  1. Armed  – Onkelys, Rashi, Meciltah, Baโ€al HaTurim, Or HaChaim

      1a) Armed with 5 weapons – Baโ€™al Haturim

  1. One of 5; one of 50; one of 500 – Rashi, Meciltah
  2. Every family had five children – Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel
  3. Every person was armed with good deeds – Targum Yerushalmi
  4. Kli Yaker – the merit of the five books of Moses
  5. For the Israelites went out with a high hand (Ex. 14:8), with weapons of war and not like fleeing slaves

This is the Pshat and you will dance.

The word ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื clearly means armed.  This Is how  Onkelys translateโ€™s it.  This Is corroborated by the Pasuk in Joshua 1:14 “ื•ืืชื ืชืขื‘ืจื• ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื”.  How do we get other translations?   On Shabbos February 11, 2023 as I was walking to Chabed of East Lakeview the answer came to me and I was very excited.

There are three Hebrew words for armed. ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื,  ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื, and  ืžึฐื–ึปื™ึธึผื ึดื™ื.  They are synonyms of each other but they have different meanings.    As in all Hebrew words, different words that have similar meaning convey different thoughts.

ืžึฐื–ึปื™ึธึผื ึดื™ื means armed with weapons.

ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื means armed and being the vanguard of the army.

 ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื means not only armed, but armed with confidence.    Armed with the self confidence that you will be successful in future challenges and battles.  You are confident because of the arms you carry,  your are confident in your training, you have God with you because he has given you the Torah, your leadership is faithful and strong, you have a family with kids to fight for, you have done charitable deeds, that God will look  upon you favorably, and you know you are on  the right side of history.    

This is why the Torah choose ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื to describe being armed as it means being armed  in every sense of the word.  This allows for all the different interpretations. It also could be that all the explanations agree that they were armed for battle, but they differ in the source of their confidence.  The second Pshat in Rashi that 1 in 5 left Egypt and 4/5ths died in Egypt tells us that the individuals who lacked this awareness and confidence were killed during the three days of darkness, so as not to demoralize the Jewish people.

Explanation #1

Armed:

Rashi 

ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื. ืึตื™ืŸ ื—ึฒืžื•ึผืฉึดืื™ื ืึถืœึธึผื ืžึฐื–ึปื™ึธึผื ึดื™ื; (ืœึฐืคึดื™ ืฉึถืื”ึฑืกึดื‘ึธึผืŸ ื‘ึทึผืžึดึผื“ึฐื‘ึธึผืจ ื”ื•ึผื ื’ึธึผืจึทื ืœึธื”ึถื ืฉึถืืขึธืœื•ึผ ื—ึฒืžื•ึผืฉึดืื™ื, ืฉึถืืึดืœึผื•ึผ ื”ึฑืกึดื‘ึธึผืŸ ื“ึถึผืจึถืšึฐ ื™ึดืฉึผืื•ึผื‘, ืœึนื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืžึฐื—ึปืžึธึผืฉึดืื™ื ืœึธื”ึถื ื›ึธึผืœ ืžึทื” ืฉึถึผืืฆึฐึผืจึดื™ื›ึดื™ืŸ, ืึถืœึธึผื ื›ึฐึผืึธื“ึธื ืฉึถืืขื•ึนื‘ึตืจ ืžึดืžึธึผืงื•ึนื ืœึฐืžึธืงื•ึนื ื•ึผื‘ึฐื“ึทืขึฐืชึผื•ึน ืœึดืงึฐื ื•ึนืช ืฉึธืื ืžึทื” ืฉึถึผืื™ึดึผืฆึฐื˜ึธืจึตืšึฐ

What is the ื™ึดึผืฆึฐื˜ึธืจึตืš that they would purchase during  their travel?  I would say it means food, not arms. I do not think that the cities on their route would be able to equip an army traveling to Israel.   No one is going to sell 600,000 men arms.Why this big deal about arms? 

, ืึฒื‘ึธืœ ื›ึฐึผืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ืคึผื•ึนืจึตืฉื ืœึทืžึดึผื“ึฐื‘ึธึผืจ ืฆึธืจึดื™ืšึฐ ืœึฐื–ึทืžึตึผืŸ ืœื•ึน ื›ึธึผืœ ื”ึทืฆึนึผืจึถืšึฐ; ื•ึผืžึดืงึฐืจึธื ื–ึถื” ืœึนื ื ึดื›ึฐืชึทึผื‘ ื›ึดึผื™ ืึดื ืœึฐืฉึทื‚ื‘ึตึผืจ ืึถืช ื”ึธืึนื–ึถืŸ, ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ืชึดืชึฐืžึทื”ึผ ื‘ึฐึผืžึดืœึฐื—ึถืžึถืช ืขึฒืžึธืœึตืง ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึดืœึฐื—ึถืžึถืช ืกึดื™ื—ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื’ ื•ึผืžึดื“ึฐื™ึธืŸ ืžึตื”ึตื™ื›ึธืŸ ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืœึธื”ึถื ื›ึฐึผืœึตื™ ื–ึทื™ึดืŸ ืฉึถืื”ึดื›ึผื•ึผ ืื•ึนืชึธื ื‘ึทึผื—ึถืจึถื‘) ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ “ื•ึฐืึทืชึถึผื ืชึทึผืขึทื‘ึฐืจื•ึผ ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืื™ื” (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื’), ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืชึดึผืจึฐื’ึฐึผืžื•ึน ืึปื ึฐืงึฐืœื•ึนืก “ืžึฐื–ึธืจึฐื–ึดื™ืŸ”, ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน “ื•ึทื™ึธึผืจึถืง ืึถืช ื—ึฒื ึดื™ื›ึธื™ื•” (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™”ื“) โ€“ ื•ึฐื–ึธืจึตื™ื–. ื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ ืึทื—ึตืจ, ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืื™ื ืึถื—ึธื“ ืžึตื—ึฒืžึดืฉึธึผืื” ื™ึธืฆึฐืื•ึผ ื•ึฐืึทืจึฐื‘ึธึผืขึธื” ื—ึฒืœึธืงึดื™ื ืžึตืชื•ึผ ื‘ึดึผืฉึฐืืœึนืฉึถืืช ื™ึฐืžึตื™ ืึฒืคึตืœึธื” (ืžื›ื™ืœืชื):

  ื•ึผืžึดืงึฐืจึธื ื–ึถื” ืœึนื ื ึดื›ึฐืชึทึผื‘ ื›ึดึผื™ ืึดื ืœึฐืฉึทื‚ื‘ึตึผืจ ืึถืช ื”ึธืึนื–ึถืŸ, ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ืชึดืชึฐืžึทื”ึผ ื‘ึฐึผืžึดืœึฐื—ึถืžึถืช ืขึฒืžึธืœึตืง ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึดืœึฐื—ึถืžึถืช ืกึดื™ื—ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื’ ื•ึผืžึดื“ึฐื™ึธืŸ ืžึตื”ึตื™ื›ึธืŸ ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืœึธื”ึถื ื›ึฐึผืœึตื™ ื–ึทื™ึดืŸ ืฉึถืื”ึดื›ึผื•ึผ ืื•ึนืชึธื ื‘ึทึผื—ึถืจึถื‘ .  This is called a โ€œKashah Af A Maasahโ€.  We would not have wondered how the Jews got arms.  If we wondered about it, we would answer that as Egypt was on its knees after the tenth plague, the Jews took armaments or they got it at the Yam Suf when the Egyptian army was wiped out.  The armaments ended up on the seashore along with the riches of Egypt.

The Or HaChaim answers the question why the armaments were important.

ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื•ื’ื•’. ื•ืื•ืœื™ ื›ื™ ื–ื•ืœืช ื”ื™ื•ืชื ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื‘ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ืœื ื™ื•ืขื™ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ืกื‘ ื”’ ืื•ืชื ืœื‘ืœ ื™ื—ื–ืจื• ื‘ืจืื•ืชื ืžืœื—ืžื” ื›ื™ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืคื ื™ื ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ืžืฆืจื™ืžื” ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ื“ื ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืขืจื•ืš ืขื ืื•ื™ื‘ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ื™ืจืื• ืขืฆืžืŸ ืื‘ื•ื“ื™ื, ืœื–ื” ืืžืจ ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื•ื’ื•’ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ 

ืžืœื‘ื“ ื˜ืขื ืฉื™ืกื‘ ื”’ ื”ื™ื• ืœื”ื ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ื‘ื”ืฆื˜ืจืคื•ืช ืฉื ื™ ื”ื˜ืขืžื™ื ืœื ื™ื ื—ื ื”ืขื ื‘ืจืื•ืชื ืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ื’ื•’:

Explanation 1A)  Baโ€™al Haturim:

ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ืขืœ ืฉื ื—ืžืฉื” ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ื ื–ื›ืจื™ื ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ืžื’ืŸ ื•ืฆื ื” ื•ืจื•ืžื— ื•ื—ืฆื™ื ื•ืžืงืœ ื™ื“

Shield and a buckler, small  shield,  spear, arrows, mace weapon 

Explanation #2:

Rashiโ€™s second Pshat

Focus on Rashi in his second Pshat. What a Churban.  Wrap your head around it and we really cannot.  

Meciltah – This is the source of Rashi.:

ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื โ€“ ืื™ืŸ ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืืœื ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ืŸ, ืฉื ืืžืจ “ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ” โ€“ (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื:14) “ื•ืืชื ืชืขื‘ืจื• ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื”. ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื“ืณ:ื™ืดื‘) “ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจื• [ื‘ื ื™] ืจืื•ื‘ืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื’ื“ ื•ื—ืฆื™ ืฉื‘ื˜ ื”ืžื ืฉื” ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืืœืฃ ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ ืฆื‘ื”.

ื“”ื: ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• โ€“ ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉื”. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉื™ื. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช. ืจื‘ื™ ื ื”ื•ืจืื™ ืื•ืžืจ: ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”! ืœื ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืขืœื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื˜ื–) “ืจื‘ื‘ื” ื›ืฆืžื— ื”ืฉื“ื” ื ืชืชื™ืš” ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื) “ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืคืจื• ื•ื™ืฉืจืฆื• ื•ื™ืจื‘ื• ื•ื™ืขืฆืžื•”, ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ื”ืืฉื” ื™ื•ืœื“ืช ืฉืฉื” ื‘ื›ืจืก ืื—ื“, ื•ืืชื” ืื•ืžืจ ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืขืœื•? ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”! ืœื ืื—ื“ ืžื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืขืœื•, ืืœื ืฉืžืชื• ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื. ื•ืื™ืžืชื™ ืžืชื•? โ€“ ื‘ืฉืœืฉืช ื™ืžื™ ืืคืœื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™) “ืœื ืจืื• ืื™ืฉ ืืช ืื—ื™ื•”, ืฉื”ื™ื• ืงื•ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืชื™ื”ื, ื•ื”ื•ื“ื• ื•ืฉื‘ื—ื• ืœื”ืงื‘”ื” ืฉืœื ืจืื• ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื”ื ื•ืฉืฉื• ื‘ืžืคืœืชื:

(Ibid.) “And chamushim did the children of Israel go up from the land of Egypt”: “chamushim” indicates “armed,” as in (Joshua 1:14) “Then you shall cross over chamushim” (in context, “armed”), and (Ibid. 4:12) “And the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Menasheh crossed over chamushim โ€ฆ (13) forty thousand armed men, etc.”

Variantly: “chamushim went up from the land of Egypt ” โ€” one out of five ([‘chammishah’] who had been there). Others say: one out of fifty (‘chamishim’). Other says: one out of five hundred (‘chamesh me’oth’). R. Nehorai says: I swear: Not one in five hundred went up. For it is written (Ezekiel 16:7) “(In Egypt) I made you as numerous as the plants of the field,” and (Exodus 1:7) “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and teemed, and multiplied, and became exceedingly strong, and the land was filled with them” โ€” a woman would bear six in one birth โ€” and you say one in five hundred went up! Not one in five thousand, many of the Jews having died in Egypt. When? In the three days of darkness, of which it is written (Exodus 10:23) “One man did not see another.” They (the Jews) were burying their dead, and they gave thanks and praise to the Holy One Blessed be He that their foes did not see and rejoice in their downfall.

Explanation #3:

Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel

ื•ึฐืึทื—ึฒื–ึทืจ ื™ึฐื™ึธ ื™ึทืช ืขึทืžึธึผื ืื•ึนืจึทื— ืžึทื“ึฐื‘ึฐึผืจึธื ื“ึฐื™ึทืžึธื ื“ึฐืกื•ึผืฃ ื•ึฐื›ึธืœ ื—ึทื“ ืขึดื ื—ึทืžึฐืฉึธืื ื˜ึทืคึฐืœึดื™ืŸ ืกึฐืœึดื™ืงื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืžึตืึทืจึฐืขึธื ื“ึฐืžึดืฆึฐืจึธื™ึดื

But the Lord led the people round by the way of the desert of the sea of Suph; and every one of the sons of Israel, with five children, went up from the land of Mizraim.

Explanation #4

Targum Yershalmi:

ื•ึผื“ึฐื‘ึทืจ ืžึตื™ืžึฐืจึธื ื“ึทื™ึฐื™ึธ ื™ึทืช ืขึทืžึธึผื ืื•ึนืจึทื— ืžึทื“ึฐื‘ึฐึผืจึธื ื™ึทืžึธื ื“ึฐืกื•ึผืฃ ืžึฐื–ึทื™ึฐื™ื ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืขื•ึนื‘ึธื“ึธื ื˜ึธื‘ึธื ืกึฐืœึดื™ืงื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืคึฐึผืจึดื™ืงึดื™ืŸ ืžึตืึทืจึฐืขึธื ื“ึฐืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื:

And the Word of the Lord conducted the people by the way of the desert of the sea of Suph; armed in good works went up the sons of Israel, free from the land of Mizraim.

Explanation #5:

Kli Yakar

The Kli Yakur says, I do not understand this idea that ื—ึฒืžึปืฉึดืึ›ื™ื means armaments.  So he explains that it means the five books of Moses.  

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืฉืœื— ืคืจืขื” ืืช ื”ืขื. ื•ืื—”ื› ื ืืžืจ ืคืŸ ื™ื ื—ื ื”ืขื ื•ื™ืกื‘ ืืœื”ื™ื ืืช ื”ืขื, ื•ืื—”ื› ื ืืžืจ ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื™ืฉ ืœื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ืœืžื” ืงืจืื ื’’ ืคืขืžื™ื ื”ืขื ื•ื‘ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืงืจืื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฆืœ ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ, ื•ื›ืคื™ ื”ื ืจืื” ืฉืžืฆื“ ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืœื•ื—ื• ืฉืœ ืคืจืขื” ื”ื™ื” ืžืฆื“ ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื› ืื™ืคื›ื ื”ืœ”ืœ.

ื•ื ืจืื” ืœื™ื™ืฉื‘ ื–ื” ื‘ืฉื ื™ ืคื ื™ื. ื”ืื—ื“ ื”ื•ื, ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืฉืžืกื™ืง ื‘ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ืื™ืŸ ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืืœื ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื‘ื—ืžืฉื” ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ, ื•ืงืฉื” ืขืœ ื–ื” ื•ื›ื™ ืžืœื—ืžืชืŸ ืฉืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืชืœื•ื™ื” ื‘ืจื‘ื•ื™ ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ, ื•ื”ืœื ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื” ื—) ืžื’ืŸ ืื ื™ืจืื” ื•ืจื•ืžื— ื‘ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืืœืฃ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื›ื™ ื”ืฉ”ื™ ืžื’ืŸ ื‘ืขื“ื, ื•ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ืชืคืœื” ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ื ื ืฉืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืžื˜ ื•) ื•ื—ืจื‘ ืคื™ืคื™ื•ืช ื‘ื™ื“ื ืฉื ื™ ืคื™ื•ืช ื›ื™ ืฉื ื™ื”ื ืชืœื•ื™ืŸ ื‘ืคื”, ื•ืื ื›ืŸ ืžื” ืชืคืืจืช ื–ื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืขืœื• ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื›ืื™ืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ื ื ื‘ื”’ ื—ืœื™ืœื”. ื•ืืฃ ืื ื ืืžืจ ืฉื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืื“ื ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ื˜ื‘ืข ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืžืฆื ื‘ื›ื—ื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื•ืžื” ืฉื™ื—ืกืจ ื”ื˜ื‘ืข ื™ืฉืœื™ื ื”ื ืก, ืž”ืž ืงืฉื” ืขืœ ืžื” ื–ื” ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœื ื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื”’ ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ืžื ื™ื ื ืœืžื” ืœื™, ื•ืขื•ื“ ื›ื™ ืงืจื” ื‘ื“ืจืš ื ืก ืื• ื‘ืžืงืจื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื”’ ืœื ืคื—ื•ืช ื•ืœื ื™ื•ืชืจ ื”ืœื ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื, ื•ืขื•ื“ ื›ื™ ื›ืคื™ ื”ื ืจืื” ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืœื•ืžื“ื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื›ืœืœ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ืขืกื•ืงื™ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ืคืจืš ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื•ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ืืœื• ืœืžื” ืœื”ื ื›ื™ ืœื ื ืกื• ื‘ืืœื” ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ืœื™ืœืš ื‘ืžืงืœื•ืช ื•ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ ืงืœืข.

ืข”ื› ื ืจืื” ืœืคืจืฉ. ืฉื‘ื ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื• ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื“ื ืฉื•ื ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ื›ื™ ืื ื”’ ื—ื•ืžืฉื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื—ืœื•ืงื™ื ืœื–’ ืกืคืจื™ื ืœืž”ื“ ืฉืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื ืกื•ืข ืกืคืจ ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื•, ื•ื–”ืฉ ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื”ื›ืœ ืจืžื– ืœืชื•ืจื”, ื•ื ืงื˜ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืฉื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื ื•ืคืœ ืขืœ ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ, ื•ื›ืŸ ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ืžืฉื” ื•ื–ื™ื™ืŸ, ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืœื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื”ืžื”, ื•ืืฆืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ืจืžื•ื–ื• ื’ื ืขืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืื• ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื—ืžืฉื” ื—ื•ืžืฉื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื›ืืžื•ืจ, ื•ืžื–ื•ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ืชืคืœื” ื›ืž”ืฉ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื™ื˜ ืงืกื“) ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืœืœืชื™ืš.

Tur HaAruch:

ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ืคื™’ ืืข”ืค ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื›ื ืืœื”ื™ื ื“ืจืš ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื™ื• ื™ืจืื™ื ืคืŸ ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืขืœื™ื”ื ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืื• ื”ืขืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื•ื”ื™ื• ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื ื›ืžื• ื”ื”ื•ืœืš ืœื”ืœื—ื. ื•ื™”ืž ืฉื‘ื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืฆืื• ื‘ื™ื“ ืจืžื” ื›ืžื• ื’ืื•ืœื™ื ื•ืœื ื›ืžื• ื”ืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื”ื‘ื•ืจื—ื™ื:

โ€œand the Israelites were armed when they went up.โ€ The Torah records that although Gโ€™d led the Israelites in the direction of the uninhabited desert, where normally no encounter with sizable hostile forces need to be anticipated, they were armed, enabling them to cope with such unforeseen eventualities. They were still afraid that the Philistines or neigbouring tribes might fight a war of aggression against them, as opposed to defending their territoryโ€™s sovereignty. Alternately, the phrase is meant to depict the Israelites as marching with full confidence, not as people with a slave mentality.

Ibn Ezra:

Difficult to understand.   However, I like his last line.   For the Israelites went out with a high hand (Ex. 14:8), with weapons of war and not like fleeing slaves.

ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื. ื™”ื ืžืœืื™ื ื”ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื”ื ื›ืœ ืฆืจื›ื™ื”ื. ื•ื”ื ื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ื’ื ืฆื“ื” ืœื ืขืฉื• ืœื”ื ื•ืžื” ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื–ื” ืขืชื”. ืจืง ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื—ื’ื•ืจื™ ื—ื•ืžืฉ ืœืžืœื—ืžื”. ื›ืžื• ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื ืชืขื‘ืจื•. ืฉืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื—ื’ื•ืจื™ ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื. ื•ื”ืขื“ ื”ื ืืžืŸ ื•ืืชื ืชืขื‘ืจื• ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ื•ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืื—ืจ ืงืจืื ื—ืœื•ืฆื™ื. ื›ื™ ืžื” ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื•ืœื™ืš ืฆื“ื” ืœืคื ื™ ืื—ื™ื”ื. ื•ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื›ื™ ืœืžืขืœื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืจืื•ืชื ืžืœื—ืžื”. ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ ืจืžื” ื™ืฆืื• ื‘ื›ืœื™ ืžืœื—ืžื”. ื•ืœื ื›ืžื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื‘ื•ืจื—ื™ื:

ARMED. Some say that chamushim (armed) means full of wealth, possessing all that they need. Now Scripture states, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual (Ex. 12:39). Furthermore, what reason is there to mention this now? The only meaning of chamushim is, girded with weapons for war. Compare, chalutzim taโ€™avoru (ye shall pass over armed) (Deut. 3:18), the meaning of which is: ye shall pass over with girded loins. The fact that Scripture in one place reads, ve-attem taโ€™averu chamushim (but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed) (Josh. 1:14) and in another place refers to the Israelites as chalutzim (Deut. 3:18) is true witness to the aforementioned. What reason was there for them to carry food before their brethren? The reason Scripture at this point notes that the children of Israel went up armed is that it is previously stated, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt (v. 17). For the Israelites went out with a high hand (Ex. 14:8), with weapons of war and not like fleeing slaves.

Chasam Sofer – Interesting.  Not sure if I would agree, but the Chasam Spfer said this and we have to think about his words and make it work for us.

*ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื‘ื ”ื™ ืžืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื, ื‘ืจืฉ”ื™ ื•ื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืžื–ื•ื™ื ื™ื, ื•ื™”ืœ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฆืื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื–ื•ื™ื ื™ื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ืœืžื” ื‘ืขืžื“ื ืขืœ ื”ื™ื ืœื ืฆื•ื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ืœื‘ื ”ื™ ืฉื™ืœื—ืžื• ืขื ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื”’ ื™ืœื—ื ืœื”ื ื•ื™ื ืฆื—ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ื˜ื‘ืข ื•ืœืื™ื–ื” ื˜ืขื ืขืฉื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ื ืก ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœื ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ื˜ื‘ืข ืœืงืจื•ืข ืœื”ื ื”ื™ื ื•ืœื ืขืจ ืคืจืขื” ื•ื—ื™ืœื• ื‘ื™ื ืกื•ืฃ ืื‘ืœ ื‘ืืžืช ืžื“ืจืš ื”ืžื•ืกืจ ืื™ื ื ื• ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืขืฆืžื ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื ื’ื“ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ื ืœืœื—ื•ื ื ื’ื“ื ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ืฉื‘ื™ื“ื ื›ื™ ืื›ืกื ื™’ ื”ื™ื• ืœื”ื ื•ืžืคื ื™ ื›ืš ืฆื•ื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ืœื ืชืชืขื‘ ืžืฆืจื™ ื›ื™ ื’ืจ ื”ื™ื™ืช ื‘ืืจืฆื• ื•ื‘ื™ืจื ื“ืฉืชื™ืช ืžื™ื ืžื™ื ื™ื” ืœื ืชื™ืฉื“ื™ ื‘ื™ื” ืงืœื ืœื›ืŸ ืฆื•ื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ื‘ื ”ื™ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื™ื ื‘ื™ื‘ืฉื” ื•ื™ื‘ืงืขื• ื”ืžื™ื ื•ืœื ื™ืœื—ืžื• ื‘ื ”ื™ ื‘ืขืฆืžื ื ื’ื“ื ื•ื–ื” ื“ืžืฉืžื™ืขื ื• ืงืจื ื”ื›ื™ ืžื•ืกืจ ื•ื“”ื ืฉื—ืžื•ืฉื™ื ืขืœื• ื‘ื ”ื™ ื•ืืขืค”ื› ืœื ืจืฆื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ืฉื™ืœื—ืžื• ืขืžื”ื ืืœื ื”ืงื‘”ื” ื‘ืงืข ื”ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื”ื:

Torah #3:

Verse 13:19

ื•ึทื™ึดึผืงึทึผึฅื— ืžึนืฉึถืึ›ื” ืึถืชึพืขึทืฆึฐืžึฅื•ึนืช ื™ื•ึนืกึตึ–ืฃ ืขึดืžึผึ‘ื•ึน ื›ึดึผื™ึฉ ื”ึทืฉึฐืื‘ึตึผึจืขึท ื”ึดืฉึฐืื‘ึดึผึœื™ืขึท ืึถืชึพื‘ึฐึผื ึตึคื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ืคึธึผืงึนึจื“ ื™ึดืคึฐืงึนึคื“ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ืึ™ ืึถืชึฐื›ึถึ”ื ื•ึฐื”ึทืขึฒืœึดื™ืชึถึงื ืึถืชึพืขึทืฆึฐืžึนืชึทึ›ื™ ืžึดื–ึถึผึ–ื” ืึดืชึฐึผื›ึถึฝืืƒ

And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, who had exacted an oath from the children of Israel, saying, โ€œGod will be sure to take notice of you: then you shall carry up my bones from here with you.โ€

Rashi:

ื•ื”ืขืœื™ืชื ืืช ืขืฆืžืชื™ ืžื–ื” ืืชื›ื. ืœึฐืึถื—ึธื™ื• ื”ึดืฉึฐืื‘ึดึผื™ืขึท ื›ึตึผืŸ, ืœึดืžึฐึผื“ึธื ื•ึผ ืฉึถืืึทืฃ ืขึทืฆึฐืžื•ึนืช ื›ึธึผืœ ื”ึทืฉึฐึผืื‘ึธื˜ึดื™ื ื”ึถืขึฑืœื•ึผ ืขึดืžึธึผื”ึถื ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืžึทืจ ืึดืชึฐึผื›ึถื (ืžื›ื™ืœืชื):

The Sefer haYasher page 289 says that all the families brought up their fatherโ€™s coffins and the coffin of their tribes.

The Mecilta says something that cannot be understood.

ื•ื™ืงื— ืžืฉื” ืืช ืขืฆืžื•ืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืขืžื• โ€“ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื—ื›ืžืชื• ื•ื—ืกื™ื“ื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ืžืฉื”, ืฉื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื‘ื–ื” โ€“ ื•ืžืฉื” ืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืžืฆื•ืช ืขืฆืžื•ืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ. ืขืœื™ื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื•ืžืจ (ืžืฉืœื™ ื™) “ื—ื›ื ืœื‘ ื™ืงื— ืžืฆื•ืช, ื•ืื•ื™ืœ ืฉืคืชื™ื ื™ืœื‘ื˜”. ื•ืžืฉื”, ืžื”ื™ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื™ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืงื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื•ืกืฃ? โ€“ ืืžืจื•: ืกืจื— ื‘ืช ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืชื™ื™ืจื” ืžืื•ืชื• ื”ื“ื•ืจ, ื•ื”ื™ื ื”ืจืืชื” ืœืžืฉื” ืงื‘ืจ ื™ื•ืกืฃ. ืืžืจื” ืœื•: ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืฉืžื•ื”ื•!

Moshe was involved with the Mitzvah of gathering up Yosefโ€™s bones, while the Jews were involved with the spoils of Egypt.  What is going on here?  First of all you have Rashi and the Sefer haYasher who said that many Jews were involved in the same Mitzvah.  Secondly, Hashem asked the people to do him a favor to ask for the gold and silver of Egypt.  The Jews were involved in the commandment for m Hashem.  How can the Mecilita demean the jewish people with only caring about money.  

Pelah Atzum!

Torah #4:

The Mecilta continues:

ืขืฉื• ืœื• ืžืฆืจื™ื ืืจื•ืŸ ืฉืœ ืžืชื›ืช, ื•ืฉืงืขื•ื”ื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื ื™ืœื•ืก. ื‘ื ื•ืขืžื“ ืขืœ ื ื™ืœื•ืก, ื ื˜ืœ ืฆืจื•ืจ ื•ื–ืจืง ืœืชื•ื›ื•, ื•ื–ืขืง ื•ืืžืจ: ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ื”ื’ื™ืขื” ื”ืฉื‘ื•ืขื” ืฉื ืฉื‘ืข ื”ืงื‘”ื” ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ืื‘ื™ื ื•, ืฉื”ื•ื ื’ืืœ ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื•. ืชืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืœื”’ ืืœื”ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืืœ ืชืขื›ื‘ ืืช ื’ืื•ืœืชืš, ื›ื™ ื‘ื’ืœืœืš ืื ื• ืžืขื•ื›ื‘ื™ื. ื•ืื ืœืื• โ€“ ื ืงื™ื™ื ืื ื—ื ื• ืžืฉื‘ื•ืขืชืš! ืžื™ื“ ืฆืฃ ืืจื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื•ื ื˜ืœื• ืžืฉื”. ื•ืืœ ืชืชืžื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”, ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื•) “ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืื—ื“ ืžืคื™ืœ ืืช ื”ืงื•ืจื” ื•ื”ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื ืคืœ ืœืžื™ื, ื•ื™ืฆืขืง ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื”ื” ืื“ื•ื ื™, ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉืื•ืœ!” ื•ื”ืจื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืง”ื•: ื•ืžื” ืืœื™ืฉืข, ืชืœืžื™ื“ื• ืฉืœ ืืœื™ื”ื•, ื”ืฆื™ืฃ ื”ื‘ืจื–ืœ โ€“ ืง”ื• ืœืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื• ืฉืœ ืืœื™ื”ื•.

ืจื‘ื™ ื ืชืŸ ืื•ืžืจ ื‘ืงื™ืคื•ืกื•ืœื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืžืฆืจื™ื    the royal cemetery

 ื”ื™ื” ืงื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื•ืกืฃ. ืœืœืžื“ืš ืฉื‘ืžื“ื” ืฉื”ืื“ื ืžื•ื“ื“ ื‘ื” ืžื•ื“ื“ื™ื ืœื•: ืžืจื™ื ื”ืžืชื™ื ื” ืœืžืฉื” ืฉืขื” ืื—ืช, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื‘ืณ:ื“ืณ) “ื•ืชืชืฆื‘ ืื—ื•ืชื• ืžืจื—ื•ืง ืœื“ืขื””, ื•ื”ืžืงื•ื ืขื›ื‘ ืœื” ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื”, ื•ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืœื•ื™ื™ื, ื•ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ โ€“ ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืขื ืขื ื ื™ ื›ื‘ื•ื“; ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื‘) “ื•ื”ืขื ืœื ื ืกืข ืขื“ ื”ืืกืฃ ืžืจื™ื”.

ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื–ื›ื” ืœืงื‘ื•ืจ ืืช ืื‘ื™ื•, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื‘ืื—ื™ื• ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื ) “ื•ื™ืขืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืœืงื‘ื•ืจ ืืช ืื‘ื™ื•” ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืฉื “ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืžื• ื’ื ืจื›ื‘ ื’ื ืคืจืฉื™ื”. ืžื™ ืœื ื• ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ืฉืœื ื ืชืขืกืง ื‘ื• ืืœื ืžืฉื”!

ืžืฉื” ื ืชืขืกืง ื‘ืขืฆืžื•ืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ “ื•ื™ืงื— ืžืฉื” ืืช ืขืฆืžื•ืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืขืžื•”. ืžื™ ืœื ื• ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ืžืฉื”, ืฉืœื ื ืชืขืกืง ื‘ื• ืืœื ืฉื›ื™ื ื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื“) “ื•ื™ืงื‘ื•ืจ ืื•ืชื• ื‘ื’ื™ื”! ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“, ืืœื ืฉืขื ื™ืขืงื‘ ืขืœื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืคืจืขื” ื•ื–ืงื ื™ ื‘ื™ืชื• โ€“ ื•ืขื ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ื•ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืœื•ื™ื™ื ื•ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืฉื‘ืขื” ืขื ื ื™ ื›ื‘ื•ื“. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“, ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื”ืœืš ืืจื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืขื ืืจื•ืŸ ื—ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœืžื™ื, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืขื•ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ืžื” ื˜ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœ ืฉื ื™ ืืจื•ื ื•ืช ื”ืœืœื•? ื•ื”ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื”ื: ื–ื” ืืจื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืžืช, ื•ื–ื” ืืจื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ื—ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœืžื™ื. ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื”ื: ืžื” ื˜ื™ื‘ื• ืฉืœ ืžืช ืœื”ืœื•ืš ืขื ืืจื•ืŸ ื—ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœืžื™ื? โ€“ ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื”ื: ื”ืžื•ื ื— ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื–ื” โ€“ ืงื™ื™ื ืžื” ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืžื•ื ื— ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื–ื”.

We could have answered that Yosef was the leader who kept the people alive during the great famine, dedicated to his father, and he represents the best of the Jewish people.  Why did  the Mecilta say the Yosef kept the commandments?

The answer must be that being a leader is not the criteria for Jewish greatness.  It is being faithful to the Torah.

ื‘ืžื•ื ื— ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื‘ืณ) “ืื ื›ื™ ื”’ ืืœื”ื™ืš”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื ) “ื”ืชื—ืช ืืœื”ื™ื ืื ื™”. ื‘ืžื•ื ื— ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื’ืณ) “ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื‘) “ืืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ืื ื™ ื™ืจื”. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื’ืณ) “ืœื ืชืฉื”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื‘) “ื—ื™ ืคืจืขื””. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื—ืณ) “ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืืช ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ืช”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžืดื’:ื˜ืดื–) “ื•ื˜ื‘ื•ื— ื˜ื‘ื— ื•ื”ื›ืŸ”, ื•ืื™ืŸ “ื”ื›ืŸ” ืืœื ืขืจื‘ ืฉื‘ืช โ€“ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ื›ื ื•ื”ื›ืŸ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ืชื (ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื–) “ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืฉื™ ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ื•”. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื™ืดื‘) “ื›ื‘ื“ ืืช ืื‘ื™ืš”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื–) “ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื”ืœื ืื—ื™ืš ืจื•ืขื™ื ื‘ืฉื›ื, ืœืš ื•ืืฉืœื—ืš ืืœื™ื”ื, ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ื ื ื™” โ€“ ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื™ื” ืฉืื—ื™ื• ืฉื•ื ืื™ื ืื•ืชื•, ื•ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืื‘ื™ื•. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื™ืดื’) “ืœื ืชืจืฆื—”, ืœื ืจืฆื— ืœืคื•ื˜ื™ืคืจ. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื™ืดื’) “ืœื ืชื ืืฃ”, ืœื ื ืืฃ ืœืืฉืช ืคื•ื˜ื™ืคืจ. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืณ:ื™ืดื“) “ืœื ืชื’ื ื•ื‘”, ืœื ื’ื ื‘ ืคืจืขื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื–) “ื•ื™ืœืงื˜ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ื›ืกืฃ” ื•ื’ื•’. (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›) “ืœื ืชืขื ื” ื‘ืจืขืš”, ื•ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืœื ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืื‘ื™ื• ืžื” ืฉืขืฉื• ืœื• ืื—ื™ื•. ื•ื”ืจื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืง”ื•: ื•ืžื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืœ ืืžืช ืœื ืขื ื”, ืฉืœ ืฉืงืจ ืขืœ ืื—ืช ื›ืžื” ื•ื›ืžื”! (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›) “ืœื ืชื—ืžื•ื“”, ืฉืœื ื—ืžื“ ืืฉืช ืคื•ื˜ื™ืคืจ.

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