plagues
Vaera- Balancing Fire and Ice
Why is the seventh plague – hail – the first that is performed by Moshe alone? Why is there a stress on the fact that he raises his hands ‘to heaven?’ What does it mean that Moshe has power over heaven and earth? Why does the hail coexist with fire? Why does Hashem’s mercy join…
Read MoreVaera – Silence Amidst Chaos
Why is the parsha split up in such a way that we get only the first seven plagues in this week’s parsha? What is the significance of the numbers seven and ten? Why is it so important for us to know that the Jews were singled out and that the plagues did not touch their…
Read MoreBo – Keser and Malchus
Why were the first nine plagues performed by Moshe or Ahron, but the plague of the firstborn was done by Hashem Himself? Why did the Jews have to do something active to be excluded from the plague, as opposed to the previous plagues where this was not necessary? What is the significance of the blood…
Read MoreVaera – Lesson of the frogs
Why were the first two plagues the only ones the magicians could replicate? Is there a significant difference between Moshe’s miracle of the frogs, as opposed to the magicians’? Why did the plague begin in the water? Why didn’t Moshe just make frogs on the land? What is the understanding of the word “צפרדע” –…
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