Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS SHMOS 5764 BS"D

Ch. 1, v. 9: "Hi'nei am bnei Yisroel" - Behold the bnei Yisroel are a unified nation. This is why the Egyptians considered them a formidable opponent, even though they were still few in number at this time. (Rabbi Chaim of Tchernovitz in B'eir Mayim Chaim)

Ch. 1, v. 10: "Hovoh nis'chakmoh lo pen yirbeh" - Let us act wisely with him. The bnei Yisroel were in a foreign environment and in spite of this they kept themselves spiritually fortified with unshakable trust in Hashem. Let us create much doubt in their minds in their belief in Hashem. Let us be "marbeh" doubt, "pen." (Rabbi Shmuel of Ostrovtza in Zichron Shmuel) Alternatively, perhaps we can ensnare him in the net of haughtiness, "pen yirbeh." (Rabbi Chaim Meir of Vizhnitz in Likutei Imrei Chaim)

Ch. 1, v. 18: "Madua asi'sen hadovor ha'zeh vatcha'yenoh es ha'y'lodim" - I decreed that you kill the males. It is bad enough that you didn't do this, but at the very least you could have done nothing and let nature take its course, allowing some newborns to die a natural death during the process of childbirth. But you have gone to the other extreme. You've even helped to sustain the males who might have otherwise died. (Rabbi Tzodoke haKohein in Kometz Haminchoh)

Ch. 1, v. 20: "Va'yeitev Elokim lamyaldose" - Hashem was kind to the midwives by swaying Paroh to accept their feeble explanation (verse 19). (Rabbi Moshe Elyokum Brioh of Kozhnitz in Daas Moshe)

Ch. 2, v. 12: "Ko vocho va'yar ki ein ish" - Like this and like that, whether things go well for you or otherwise, realize that it is all from Hashem and not from mankind, "va'yar ki ein ish." (Rabbi Feivel of Zhebarzh in Ohr Hechochmoh)

Ch. 2, v. 12: "Va'yar ki ein ish va'yach es haMitzri" - When one negates his own greatness, "va'yar ki ein ish," then he is capable of overpowering the negative forces, "va'yach es haMitzri." (Rabbi Nosson of Breslav) Ch. 2, v. 21: "Va'yi'tein es Tziporoh vito l'Moshe" - Note that the verse does not say "l'ishoh," as a wife. This shows us Moshe's great holiness and separation from physicality. (Rabbi Chaim of Tchernovitz in B'eir Mayim Chaim)

Ch. 2, v. 23: "Va'yei'onchu vnei Yisroel min ho'avodoh va'yizoku vataal shavosom el hoElokim min ho'avodoh" - Originally the bnei Yisroel groaned from the utter pain of the hard labour. Afterwards their cry was elevated, it was for a loftier reason, "vataal shavosom." They cried out for Elokim, for their difficulty in serving Hashem properly under duress, and this was more of an issue to them than the hard labour, "el hoElokim min ho'avodoh." (Rabbi Shlomo of Radomsk in Tiferes Shlomo)

Ch. 2, v. 23: "Vataal shavosom el hoElokim min ho'avodoh" - Although their crying out to Hashem was not of itself a service of Hashem, nevertheless, it was more elevated than service of Hashem. (Rabbi Noson Nochum of Krimlov in N'ose Deshe)

Ch. 2, v. 23: "Vataal shavosom el hoElokim min ho'avodoh" - Their servitude to Egypt was so severe that even "Elokim," the trait of strict judgment, agreed that they deserved to be redeemed. (Rabbi Yoseif Moshe of Zolozhitz in Bris Avrom)

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