Shemot Vaera Review: Did my best. Correct errors if any.

Shemot:
1:10: 10 come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there befalleth us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.' WSW: Pharaoh to nation, Context: Worried about Jews multiplying, Significance: Jews are multiplying.
1:12: 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were adread because of the children of Israel. WSW: Hashem is talking, Context: If they defeat the work, workload gets bigger and harder, Significance: if Israelites refuse to work then it’ll only get worse for them.
1:19: 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh: 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.'WSW: Midwives to Pharaoh, Context: Pharaoh told midwives to kill all boys at birth, but the midwives say that the babies came out already so they didn’t have a chance to kill them. Significance: Messes up Pharaohs plan.
1:22: 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying: 'Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. WSW: Pharaoh to nation, Context: 2nd part of annihilation, throw all males into the Nile. Significance: This is the second plan and it’s starting to work.
2:1: 1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. WSW: Hashem talking, but a man from Levi took a daughter of Levi. Context: A Leviite man takes a daughter of Levi, Significance: This leads to the birth of Moshe, the leader of the Israelites.
2:10: 10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said: 'Because I drew him out of the water.' WSW: Hashem Context: Moshe grew up and his mother brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he becomes her son and she names him. Significance: Moshe ends up being the leader of the Israelites, also Pharaoh doesn’t kill him, isn’t he a male?
2:12: 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. WSW: Hashem is talking Context: Moshe stops fighting. Significance: Takes initiative and shows leadership.
2:13: 13 And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the Hebrews were striving together; and he said to him that did the wrong: 'Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? WSW: Moshe to wicked Hebrew man. Context: Tries to stop quarreling again. Significance: Once again shows leadership qualities.
3:2: 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. WSW: Angel to Moshe. Context: Moshe is confused/frightened by the burning bush. Significance: Leads to talk between Hashem and Moshe.
3:5: 5 And He said: 'Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place where on thou standest is holy ground.' WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: start of conversation between Hashem and Moshe. Significance: Hashem begins to tell Moshe how he’s going to save the Israelites and bring them to a beautiful land.
3:22: 22 but every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.' WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem delivers a message to Moshe that he should relay to all the Israelites. Significance: Hashem tells Israelites to leave Egypt.
4:11: 11 And the LORD said unto him: 'Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I the LORD? WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem is trying to convince Moshe that everything will be okay because he’s the divine providence amongst all. Significance: Moshe is still scared to talk to Pharaoh.
4:13: 13 And he said: 'Oh Lord, send, I pray Thee, by the hand of him whom Thou wilt send.' WSW: Moshe to Hashem. Context: Moshe tells Hashem to just send someone else. Significance: Moshe is still scared and disregards Hashem’s attempt to comfort him.
4:17: 17 And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.' WSW: Hashem to Moshe/Aharon. Context: Hashem is trying to comfort Moshe by letting him bring Aharon with him to help him speak and do miracles. Significance: Moshe starts to feel a little more comfortable.
4:22: 22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh: Thus saith the LORD: Israel is My son, My first-born. WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Moshe tells Pharaoh that Hashem is their g-d. Significance: Moshe talks to Pharaoh.
5:1: 1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh: 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.' WSW: Moshe and Aharon to Pharaoh. Context: Moshe and Aharon warn Pharaoh to let the Israelites free. Significance: They’re starting to have more confidence to speak to Pharaoh.
5:2: 2 And Pharaoh said: 'Who is the LORD, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.' WSW: Pharaoh to Moshe and Aharon. Context: Pharaoh asks who is the holy Hashem that I should listen to? Significance: Pharaohs heart is still hardened.
5:9: 9 Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard lying words.' WSW: Pharaoh to Taskmasters. Context: Pharaoh makes it harder for the Israelites. Significance: Pharaohs heart is still hardened and the Israelites have an even harder time now.
5:16: 16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us: Make brick; and, behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people.' WSW: foreman of Israel to Pharaoh. Context: Israelites cry out to Pharaoh that it’s not fair to make them work if they don’t even have straw. Significance: This just angers Pharaoh even more.
5:17: 17 But he said: 'Ye are idle, ye are idle; therefore ye say: Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD. WSW: Pharaoh to Slaves of Israel. Context: Pharaoh yells back at them for being “lazy”. Significance: Pharaoh doesn’t understand how they think they could leave and bring offerings to Hashem.
5:21: 21 and they said unto them: 'The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.' WSW: Jews to Moshe and Aharon. Context: The Jews complain how they look bad in the eyes of Pharaoh. Significance: The Jews are worried they’re going to be killed.
6:6: 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments; WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem tells Moshe to tell the Israelites that He is going to save them. Significance: G-d is comforting Moshe by telling him this.
6:7: 7 and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem is saying didn’t I exonerate you(Jews)? Significance: Hashem comforts Moshe again.
6:12: 12 And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying: 'Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?' WSW: Moshe to Hashem. Context: Moshe doesn’t understand how Pharaoh will listen to him if the Israelites didn’t even listen to him and he says he has a speech impediment. Significance: Moshe is hesitant to speak to Pharaoh.
7:26: 26 And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. WSW Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem commands Moshe to talk to Pharaoh. Significance: If Pharaoh doesn’t listen then Hashem will plague the Egyptians.
8:15: Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh: 'This is the finger of God'; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken. WSW: Magicians to Pharaoh. Context: Magicians warn Pharaoh that Hashem has to power to do anything. Significance: Magicians are finally getting scared.
8:19: 19 And I will put a division between My people and thy people--by to-morrow shall this sign be.' WSW: Hashem to Pharaoh/Egyptians. Context: Hashem warns Egyptians that He will divide Goshen and make their lives miserable. Significance: Only the Egyptians will get harmed from the plague.
8:24: 24 And Pharaoh said: 'I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away; entreat for me.' Context: Pharaoh finally allows them to go, but not too far. Significance: Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to leave and sacrifice to Hashem.
9:16: 16 But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. WSW: Hashem to Moshe. Context: Hashem wants Moshe to let everyone know that god is the divine providence. Significance: Hashem wants Jews to know he’s their g-d.
9:24: 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. WSW: Hashem makes hail. No one really talks. Context: Hashem makes plague of hail. Significance: Hashem is defending the Jewish nation again and tries to teach the Egyptians a lesson.
9:27: 27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them: 'I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. WSW: Pharaoh to Moshe and Aharon. Context: Pharaoh talks to Moshe and Aharon and admits he and his people are wicked. Significance: He’s finally admitting he and his peope are at fault.
9:35: 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses. WSW: No one speaks really. Context: Pharaoh’s heart is hardened again. Significance: Pharaoh really didn’t learn his lesson in the end.

Project Due on Friday

We can postpone the project to Monday. I don't mind reviewing it earlier though if you have it done earlier.

Quiz on Friday 4/1

The Quiz is on parashat Shemot & Vaera (chapters 1-9).
In addition there is a new section on selected psukim:
You will need to know the following items about these psukim:
A. Translation – word for word translation and overall translation
B. Who said to who – (if applicable)
C. Context – What is going on before and after this pasuk?
D. Significance – What is significant or special about this pasuk?


פרק פסוקים
א': י, יב, יט, כב,
ב': א, י, יב, יג
ג': ב, ה, כב
ד': יא, יג, טז, כב
ה': א, ב, ט, טו, טז, יז, כא
ו': ו-ז, יב
ז': כו
ח': טו, יט, כד
ט': טז, כד, כז, לה

A Renaissance

Remember the good old days when we all posted on the blog daily? Let's try to bring those back. In regards to class, on behalf of Yaakov K. and Isaac G., I look forward to our presentation about the development of Moshe's self-confidence. I cannot wait until we show how such a major figure literally underwent a coming-of-age-like transformation! Additionally, I thoroughly enjoy our "pre-class" discussions with Rabbi Lubetski. I would also like to mention how this class has really honed my skills in working with a chavruta, or partner. Not only do I develop relationships with peers, but I also learn the material in a more efficient manner.
Happy Trails,
Dylan

Please remember you have a vaera quiz tomorrow

Nightly Question - 3/16-17/11 - Plague of Slaying of First Born

Some say that this plague was still part of the educational process of Paro and incorporated all three aspects of his education. Others say that this plague was not part of the educational process but rather something else. (You can read the psukim on this plague 11:1-8) What do you think? Prove it!

We need some new nightly questions.

Nightly Question - 3/14/11 - Let my people go vs. Let my people pray in the desert

Let my people go (forever) vs. Let my people pray in the desert (and we'll come back)

Wasn't Moshe deceiving Paro in his request to Let my people pray in the desert? It is true that Moshe wanted to pray in the desert but didn't Moshe really not want to come back?
How can you explain this apparent deceit?

My xtranormal

My xtranormal project tackles an issue we have all experienced at one point or another. It is clever and creative and depicts what our administrators are like perfectly. Shall I post it here, Rabbi? Or wait until Purim?

New Assignment - Clever not Silly Purim video

For your new assignment due next week I would like to:

Techonology:
create a video of some sort - you can use xtranormal.com or voki.com or something like that or you can do a video of yourself.

Content:
You need to focus on a person(s) or issue(s) in school or the greater Memphis community. This does not mean to make fun of the person or issue but it means to present it in a humorous way. To do this correctly, you need to really understand the person / issue and then be able to imitate and/or exaggerate the person / issue. I showed you some examples in class.

You can do it in groups of 2.

If you have suggestions on how to do this or you have questions post it to blog.

Quiz for Friday March 11

Please note that we are going to the beginning of Shemot now so the quiz is on parashat Shemot! (should be fairly straightforward considering we learned it)

Nightly Question - 3/10/11

The second set of plagues present us with the novel idea of a differentiation between Egyptian and Israelite. What does this tell us about Hashem? Or, put differently, what lesson are the Egyptian to extract from this plague?

Nightly Question - 3/9/11

We didn't get to talk about the word באש and what this signified? What do you think Hashem was trying to get across to the Egyptian people by the fact that the Nile smelled (from dead fish in blood plague) and the earth smelled (from dead frogs in frog plague)? (Hint: the Nile and frog were both considered gods)

Great Class

Today in class Rabbi Lubetski gave us a worksheet in which we were to read a Rashi and Ramban who had very interesting things to say on why Hashem sent Moshe to greet Pharaoh in the morning. Also, we had to dig deep into the meaning of the ten plagues and why Hashem brought this horrible pain onto the Egyptians if he could have done it in one fell swoop. I agree with all of the answers pertaining to this subject and I loved figuring out these answers. I look forward to more inside-the-chumash learning and I hope we can continue the great work we have been accomplishing so far.

P.S.- I want to see everyone at the play tomorrow night

Im having trouble with the ramban's opinion to the reason why Pharaoh pushes of the plague until tomorrow. If anybody could help, that would be great.

resume and cover letter

Rabbi Lubetski,

Akiva and I did our resume, but it was not good along with everybody else's first try. What do you want us to do to fix it? You showed us your resume and cover letter and it was over a page or two. Do you want ours to be as long as that or shorter so we can explain it more? Also, what exactly are we supposed to put on our cover letter that's different from what we put on our resume?

I'm really looking forward to creating a humorous video on issues that take place in today's Jewish world.

Interesting Class

I am very proud of myself for not taking part in the conversation today as it was very rude and disrespectful to say to a teacher and principal who is also a Rabbi. After this interesting bashing on Rabbi Lubetski, Rabbi introduced us to a new project in which we have to make an xtranormal video, which happen to be very inappropriate on Youtube, about our school's flaws (being that there are so many, it should not be very hard to find a few). I would like to say that I can not wait for the project and our chumash quiz tomorrow, and that we need a review sheet for it.

The ten plagues

Today in class the ten plagues caught my attention. i like how we get to focus on each one and its uniqueness. These plagues really show the might of god and the selfishness of Pharaoh. This is the first time that i have actually paid close attention to each plague and i enjoyed doing it.