Parsha Q&A

Parshas Bo

For the week ending 4 Shvat 5758; 30 & 31 January 1998

Contents:

Parsha Questions

What's Bothering Rashi?

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

What was Pharaoh's excuse for refusing to allow the Jewish children to go into the desert?
How did the locusts in the time of Moshe differ from those in the days of Yoel?
How did the first three days of darkness differ from the last three days?
When the Jews asked the Egyptians for gold and silver vessels, the Egyptians were unable to deny ownership of such vessels. Why?
The plague of the first born took place exactly at midnight. Why did Moshe tell Pharaoh that it would take place approximately at midnight?
Why did the first born of the animals die?
How did Moshe show respect to Pharaoh when he warned him about the aftermath of the plague of the first born?
Hashem told Moshe "so that my wonders will be multiplied" (11:9). What three wonders was Hashem referring to?
Why did Hashem command the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh to Aharon, and not only to Moshe?
Up to what age is an animal fit to be a Pesach offering?
Prior to the Exodus from Egypt, what two mitzvos involving blood did Hashem give to the Jewish People?
Which parts of the Pesach offering (as distinguished from other offerings) were the Jewish People forbidden to eat?
Why were the Jews commanded to stay indoors on the night of Makkas Bechoros?
What was Pharaoh screaming as he ran from door to door the night of Makkas Bechoros?
Why did Pharaoh ask Moshe to bless him?
Why did the Jewish People carry their matzah on their shoulders rather than have their animals carry it?
Who comprised the erev rav (mixed multitude)?
What three historical events occurred on the 15th of Nissan, prior to the event of the Exodus from Egypt?
What is the source of the "milk and honey" found in Eretz Yisrael?
The only non-kosher animal whose first born is redeemed is the donkey. What did the donkeys do to "earn" this distinction?

Rashi never just comments; something in the text always impels him to do so. Rashi’s comments are answers to unspoken questions and difficulties arising from a thoughtful reading of the Torah. Therefore, anyone who wants a true understanding of Rashi’s classic Torah commentary must always ask

"What’s Bothering Rashi?"

"Please speak in the ears of the people and let every (Jewish) man ask his fellow (Egyptian), and every (Jewish) woman ask her (Egyptian) friend for vessels of silver and vessels of gold." (11:2)

Rashi: The word "please" implies an entreaty. [Hashem said] "I entreat you, Moshe, urge them to do this so that the righteous Avraham won't say: [Hashem] fulfilled His promise that 'they will serve them and they will afflict them,' but He did not fulfill His promise that 'afterwards they will go out with great wealth.' "

An interesting Midrash, but why the need for it? Why doesn't Rashi take this verse at face value; i.e., that Hashem politely asked Moshe to tell the Jews to take gold and silver from the Egyptians? What's bothering Rashi? Answer

I Did Not Know That!

"This month shall be for you the first month" (12:2)

The currently used names of the Hebrew months - Nissan, Iyar, etc. - are Babylonian names which came into use among Jews only after the destruction of the First Temple. These names were retained as a reminder of the redemption from Babylon, which resulted in the rebuilding of the Second Temple.

(Ramban)

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

10:11 - Since children don't bring sacrifices there was no need for them to go.
10:14 - The plague brought by Moshe was composed of one species of locust, whereas the plague in the days of Yoel was composed of many species.
10:22 - During the first three days the Egyptians were unable to see. During the second three days they were unable to move.
10:22 - Because during the plague of darkness, the Jews were able to see, and they searched and found the Egyptians' vessels.
11:4 - Moshe thought Pharaoh's astrologers might miscalculate. If he said the plague would begin exactly at midnight, they might make a mistake and accuse Moshe of being a fake.
11:5 - Because the Egyptians worshipped them as gods, and when Hashem punishes a nation He also punishes its gods.
11:8 - Moshe warned that "All these servants of yours will come down to me" when, in fact, it was Pharaoh himself who actually came running to Moshe.
11:9 - The plague of the first born, the splitting of the sea, the drowning of the Egyptian soldiers.
12:1 - As a reward for toiling together with Moshe in bringing about the plagues.
12:5 - One year.
12:6 - Circumcision and Korban Pesach.
12:8 - The bones and the sinews.
12:22 - Since it was a night of destruction, it was not safe for anyone to leave the protected premises of their homes.
12:31 - "Where does Moshe live? Where does Aharon live?"
12:32 - In order that he would not die in the plague, for he himself was a firstborn.
12:34 - Because the commandment of matzah was dear to them.
12:38 - People from other nations who became converts.
12:41 - The angels came to promise that Sarah would have a son, Yitzchak was born, and the exile of the "covenant between the parts" was decreed.
13:5 - The milk is from goats and the honey is from dates and figs.
13:13 - They helped the Jewish People by carrying loads of silver and gold out of Egypt.

Answer to What’s Bothering Rashi?

Question Contents

Asking Moshe to tell the Jews to reclaim their justly due reparations from their cruel Egyptian taskmasters shouldn't require any "entreating." The word "please" seems out of place here. That's why Rashi had to find another reason to explain the need to request Moshe's cooperation - so that the righteous Avraham would have no cause for protest.

(Based on Dr. Avigdor Bonchek's book "What's Bothering Rashi?" Feldheim Publishers)

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Eli Ballon
© 1998 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

This publication is available via E-Mail

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis

Parshas Bo

Parsha Questions

"What’s Bothering Rashi?"

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions

Answer to What’s Bothering Rashi?