5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Shemos

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5-Bullet Friday

This week is Parshas Shemos! Check out this week's d'var torah here.

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Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday, a quick summary of thoughts I’ve been pondering during the week:
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• Question I'm pondering (on the parsha): What was the forgotten decree? The passuk (1:8) tells us that there was a new king of Mitzrayim who did not know Yosef. Rashi brings the machlokes Rav and Shmuel - one opinion holding that this Pharaoh was indeed a new king, while the other maintaining that it was the same king who made new decrees now that Yosef and the shevatim had all died. Onkelos translates the passuk as “There became a new king over Mitzrayim who did not keep Yosef’s decree. Which decree is Onkeles referring to and how did not keeping it impact his realization that he needed to solve the “Jewish problem”?  

• Concept I am considering: Practice what you preach. The mishna in Demai (2:2) deals with someone who was an am ha’aretz and took it upon himself to be a ne’eman (trustworthy person). The mishna writes that such a person must tithe that which he eats, and that which he sells, and that which he buys, and he may not stay as a guest of an am ha’aretz. Rabbi Yehudah argues and says that even if he is a guest of an am ha;aretz, he is still trustworthy. The Chochomim argued back against Rabbi Yehuda: “If for his own consumption he is not trustworthy, how can he be trustworthy with that which belongs to another? One must practice what he preaches and keep the standard for himself that he is advertising to others. One who does not have that basic consistency is certainly not trustworthy.

• Hashkafic idea I'm reflecting on: Hashkafic confidence. TheThe medrash (Rus Rabbah 5:6) brings from Rebbe Yitzchak that if one is doing a mitzvah one should always do it with all his heart. He then brings three examples of people who seemingly did not do a “mitzvah” with all their heart but who would have if they would have had more confidence in what they were doing. The three people are: 1. Reuven - the Torah writes that he saved Yosef from his brothers; however had he known that the Torah was going to write that about him, he would have carried Yosef away from them on his shoulders. 2. Aharon - Hashem told Moshe that Aharon was happy of Moshe assuming leadership over k’lal Yisroel and that he was on his way to greet him; however had Aharon known that the Torah was going to write that about him, he would have come with music and dancers. 3. Boaz -  the Megillah notes that Boaz gave grains to Rus, but had he known that it was being recorded he would have provided a lavish meal with meat. In all three cases these tzaddikim were seemingly uncertain of their decisions. Whether the uncertainty was in their action itself or out of fear that it had to be weighted against what others might think, in all scenarios it was not 100% clear to them that they were doing the right thing. The Medrash continues that these people had the real Torah and Nevi’im write down their tales, but what about us? The Medrash answers that Eliyahu Ha’Navi writes our personal Torahs and Mashiach and Hakadosh Baruch Hu will sign on it. Think about it: There are so many things that we do or don’t based on what we feel is right and wrong. The more confident we are with our choice, the more comfortable we are making it. However what about all those decisions that our gut tells us deep inside whether it is right or wrong but there are other internal and/or external influences that make the decision less clear? The next time you are in such a position remember the medrash that indeed there is a personal Torah being written about all of us with our good deeds written in it and praised. What are some decisions that would be “more clear” for you if you had the confidence? 

• Middah on my mind: Consistency. One of the harder obligations we have is that of Shenaim Mikra V’echad Targum (Shulchan Aruch, O”Ch 285:1). It is perhaps not as unforgiving as the Daf Yomi, as one has a full week to keep in line with the parsha, but there is no doubt that it is difficult to maintain such a level of consistency. However, to be fair, the reward for such consistency is great; as the Ba’al Ha’turim notes, based on the Gemara (Berachos 8b), using the the first four words of Parshas Shemos as an acronym: V’eilah Shemos Bnei Yisroel - “And a person who learns the study of shenaim mikra v’echad targum with a pleasant voice  will live many long years forever.” 

• Part of Tefillah I'm concentrating on: V'charos imo ha'bris. We remind ourselves and daven to Hashem each day that He made a treaty with Avraham to give Eretz Yisroel to the B’nei Yisroel. Hashem introduced Himself to Moshe and commanded that Moshe convey to the people that exact message - that Hashem promised our forefathers that He will take us out of exile and bring us into Eretz Yisroel. We must keep in mind that alas we have found ourselves back in exile, but Hashem’s promise to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov is everlasting and He will return us fully to Eretz Yisroel again.

What's on your mind? 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

P.S:

• Completely random thought I'm thinking about: One million vs one billion, putting thing into perspective. When most of us think about the difference between one million and one billion it often translates to a very big number and a very, very big number. However, I heard someone this week say that the difference between one million and one billion could be thought as: one million seconds is approximately 12 days while one billion is over 31 years! Wow. Translating something into a relatable language is an extradorily useful decision-making tool. Sometimes translation is in the form of “divide and conquer” such that you want to finish a certain book, study for a test, save money for a purchase, etc. but the task seems too big to conquer, translating the task into: one chapter a day, one section a week, $250 a month, etc. could help make the unattainable quite possible. Translating actions into consequences could work as well. Instead of deciding to go through the red light with the decision points being should I try to save the time or not, translate it into: Is it worth it as far as safety and potentially getting a ticket or not. Giving the same binary options but translating them into fair sides will help the logical brain make the right choices.  Challenge: Think about something that you have recently decided is too hard to do, not worth it to try, etc. Translate the two decision points into something synonymous, but different and challenge yourself to re-decide. It might be that you end up with the same decision, but at least give yourself the opportunity to think about things from a different angle. 

Have comments or thoughts on this week's bullets? Have other random thoughts on your mind? Send an email to torahparallels@gmail.com. Thank you!