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Shabbat Parashat Beshalach| 5771Parashat Hashavuah: Bones as Arms(Harav Shaul Yisraeli - from Siach Shaul, pg. 219-220)The Torah writes (Shemot 13:18) that Bnei Yisrael left As Bnei Yisrael was preparing for independence, like other nations enjoy, many made the mistake of thinking that their survival would depend on the same things it would for other nations. They left with arms, ready to assemble an army of warriors. They thus left with a “powerful hand” (Shemot 14:8). When they were accumulating the spoils that would get them off “on the right foot” economically, their leader, of all people, had other concerns. He was attending to the bones of an old deceased leader, which were buried under the The people found out the answer to that question a few days later. Paroh, who the people thought they had seen the last of, was attacking with a whole army of well-armed Egyptians. In one moment, the hearts of the previously confident former slaves froze in fear. The people started screaming that they would be annihilated. What happened to all the weapons they brought with them and all the plans to use them? Did they not know how to fight for their lives? As we know, they were saved by the miracle of the splitting of the sea. But how did that happen? The midrash (Bereishit Rabba 87:8) tells us that “the sea saw and fled” (Tehillim 114:3) refers to seeing the casket of Yosef. What power did Yosef possess that so “scared” the sea? Yosef represented the power of mesirut nefesh (the willingness to sacrifice) for Judaism. It was Yosef who resisted his temptation from Potiphar’s wife, even at the price of being put in jail. When he eventually became powerful, it was he who refused to assimilate among the Egyptians and he who wanted to be buried along with his brothers in the
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Hemdat Yamim is Dedicated Rina Bat Her smile Hemdat Yamim is dedicated HaRav Professor This edition of is dedicated o.b.m Hemdat Yamim is dedicated in memory of Rivka Rozenhak bat Yoseph and Leah Hirsch z”l Passed away on Tevet 3rd 5771 Hemdat Yamim is endowed by Les & Ethel Sutker of Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l
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