Beshalach - Day #1

Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out  

Torah Portion: Exodus:13:17-17:16

Exodus 13:17–14:8

13:17 When Pharaoh had let the people go, Elohim didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; 18 but Elohim led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” 20 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 Elohim went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

14 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem.” They did so.

5 The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled. The heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them. 8 Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 14:2, we see a slight change in plans. They actually change directions. Some sages say that they went south instead of southeast. Hashem’s goal was to get them safely to the Red Sea, where He would perform His greatest miracle. It makes me think that sometimes in our lives, we see Hashem tweaking His plans for us. That happened to me last year. Hashem changed my places of work, and when it first happened, I didn’t understand. Now that I have been working in my new position, I can see exactly what He was doing. It was all meant for good. The important thing is that you are in His will daily. Seek His face, read His word, pray, repent, and follow Him. Ultimately, His plans will become yours.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to be flexible. If things aren’t happening the way you think they should, give Hashem a chance to show you why. As mentioned before, stay close to Him. Trust that whatever is happening, as long as you are obedient and prayerful, will soon make sense to you. Whatever change you are going through, ask Hashem to turn it all to good. Maybe praise Him for making it that way.

Bo - Day #7

Bo, בֹּא - Come!  

Torah Portion: Exodus:10:1-13:16

Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Shabbat: Exodus 13:1–16

13 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”

3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Hashem brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today you go out in the month Abib. 5 It shall be, when Hashem brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Hashem. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you. No yeast shall be seen with you, within all your borders. 8 You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Hashem did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Hashem’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Hashem has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

11 “It shall be, when Hashem brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you shall set apart to Hashem all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be Hashem’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Hashem brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Hashem killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore, I sacrifice to Hashem all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand Hashem brought us out of Egypt.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we learn about redeeming the firstborn. Interestingly, before the “golden calf” incident, all the firstborn males of Israel were to be involved in the priesthood. After the incident, only the Levites were designated for this. They did not participate in the event involving the golden calf. And since that time, all Jewish firstborn males have been required to be redeemed. There is a ceremony today called the “Pidyon Haben,” where a baby is presented to a priest and redeemed for five shekels (Numbers 18:16). It reminds me that, in reality, everything belongs to Hashem. He creates all of us to live for Him and return to Him.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 9, we read about having a sign of Hashem’s Law on our hearts. The forehead and the hand. These may represent our ability to think in our brains and implement with our hands. Our thoughts must reflect Torah, our love for Hashem, and our love for others. Our hands must perform all the duties and acts He requests of us. I challenge you today to take some time to review if your thoughts and actions are representative of Hashem’s light in your life. And work on areas that are not. Improve and be better. For Him. For others.

This Week’s Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

46:13 The word that Hashem spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt.

14 “Declare in Egypt,

    publish in Migdol,

    and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes:

say, ‘Stand up, and prepare;

    for the sword has devoured around you.’

15 Why are your strong ones swept away?

    They didn’t stand because Hashem pushed them.

16 He made many to stumble.

    Yes, they fell on one another.

They said, ‘Arise! Let’s go again to our own people,

    and to the land of our birth,

    from the oppressing sword.’

17 They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise;

    he has let the appointed time pass by.’

18 “As I live,” says the King,

    whose name is Hashem of Armies,

“Surely like Tabor among the mountains,

    and like Carmel by the sea,

    so He will come.

19 You daughter who dwells in Egypt,

    furnish yourself to go into captivity;

for Memphis will become a desolation,

    and will be burned up,

    without an inhabitant.

20 “Egypt is a very beautiful heifer;

    but destruction out of the north has come.

    It has come.

21 Also, her hired men in the middle of her are like calves of the stall;

  for they also are turned back.

    They have fled away together.

They didn’t stand,

    for the day of their calamity has come on them,

    the time of their visitation.

22 Its sound will go like the serpent;

    for they will march with an army,

    and come against her with axes, as wood cutters.

23 They will cut down her forest,” says Hashem,

    “though it can’t be searched;

because they are more than the locusts,

    and are innumerable.

24 The daughter of Egypt will be disappointed;

    she will be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.”

25 Hashem of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants. Afterwards, it will be inhabited, as in the days of old,” says Hashem.

27 “But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant.

    Don’t be dismayed, Israel;

for, behold, I will save you from afar,

    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob will return,

    and will be quiet and at ease.

    No one will make him afraid.

28 Don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant,” says Hashem;

    “for I am with you;

    for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you;

but I will not make a full end of you,

    but I will correct you in measure,

    and will in no way leave you unpunished.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation: 

In the crazy world we live in, a world of “G-dlessness”, but we have a promise. The promise is that all will be made well in the end. The Garden of Eden will be restored in a sense, because in eternity we live with Him once again. We see this promise in verse 27: “Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease…” I often think about what it will be like when we are in the Olam Haba (the world to come). Wherever there is chaos in this world, in the Olam Haba, there will be peace and ease. Something we should look forward to, prepare for, and pray for.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In verse 28, we read that there will be consequences for all we have done. We will be punished. We receive that in our lives here on earth. For every sin we commit, there is a consequence. Whether you see it or not. And many times our sins affect others. Today would be a good day to take a hard look at your life. What are the things you have or do in your life that do not bring glory to Hashem? It’s time to correct them. It’s time to make things right.

Bo - Day #6

Bo, בֹּא - Come!  

Torah Portion: Exodus:10:1-13:16

Exodus 12:29–51 

12:29 At midnight, Hashem struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Hashem, as you have said! 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!”

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” 34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 Hashem gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians.

37 The children of Israel traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot, who were men, in addition to children. 38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock. 39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn’t wait, and they had not prepared any food for themselves. 40 Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, to the day, all of Hashem’s armies went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed to Hashem for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of Hashem, to be much observed by all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

43 Hashem said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it. 45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 It must be eaten in one house. You shall not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 When a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, and would like to keep the Passover to Hashem, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it. He shall be as one who is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.” 50 All the children of Israel did so. As Hashem commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 That same day, Hashem brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 49, we read, “One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.” Here, for the first time, Hashem explicitly states that there is one law for both the foreigner and the native-born. To me, that means that if you decide to follow Torah and its Commandments (and you are not a Jew), then you can become a part of Israel. You agree to serve the same Hashem and to follow Him. You follow the same Law. One Law for all, as long as you are willing to love and serve Him together. Just like Ruth did. Isn’t that exciting to those who are foreigners who love Hashem and His Word?

Today’s Challenge:

The Hebrew people left with beautiful jewels, gold, and silver. All was given to them by the Egyptians. What an interesting turn of events. One day they are slaves, and the next day, through the favor of G-d, they are rich. Think of a time in your life when you had a dramatic financial turning point. Or when you received some unexpected money. If you haven’t already thanked Hashem, do it today. All good things come from Hashem.

Bo - Day #5

Bo, בֹּא - Come!  

Torah Portion: Exodus:10:1-13:16

Exodus 12:21–28

12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For Hashem will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, Hashem will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. 25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which Hashem will give you, as He has promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 It will happen when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Hashem’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’”

The people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 The children of Israel went and did so; as Hashem had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Today’s Meditation:

This Pesach miracle is to be remembered and passed down from generation to generation. It is a Feast that we are required to memorialize each year. It is not meant to be a heavy burden, but rather a wonderful reminder of Hashem’s mercy and grace. He heard His people's cries, and He answered them. He delivered them out of slavery and into a Land of milk and honey. Celebrating Pesach every year can draw us back in time to a time when Hashem held out His arms to His people and redeemed them. 

I am sure this was very unexpected to them. After all, they were probably asking to be delivered from slavery, not necessarily to be moved into a different country. Maybe they had forgotten the promise made to their fathers—the promise of Israel. Nevertheless, Hashem did not forget. And now it was time to bring them home. May we never forget that Hashem hears our prayers and answers them. They may look different than what we expected.

Today’s Challenge:

Are you asking Hashem to deliver you from a specific situation? Keep believing He has heard you and will redeem you; it just may surprise you how He does it. Try to remain strong and hold onto your faith. Trust that He will move in His time. Open your eyes and see if your “exodus” has begun.