The punishment of the Egyptians at the Sea

Hi,

"Each of the pursuers of Israel met an unusual death, according to the way he had harmed Israel when they had lived in Egypt.

"Thus we say in the blessings of Shema, 'He drowned their pursuers and enemies in the depths.' The king's forces are termed 'pursuers' because they acted not out of hatred but out of service to the king; the rest of the Egyptians are called 'enemies'. One who was liable for his wickedness drowned, but also died under Divine supervision, with an appropriate punishment."

(R' Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin, Birkat haNetziv to Mechilta Beshalach 6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Gd will watch out for us

Hi,

[Regarding Gd's declaration to Moshe at the Red Sea, "Why do you cry out to me?" (Shemot 14:15) before Gd split the sea.]

"R' Elazar haModai said: “Why are you crying out to Me? Do I need instructons regarding My children? Will you instruct me about My children and My creations? They were prepared before Me from the six days of Creation! It is written, 'Should all of the universe’s natural laws fall from before Me, this is the word of Gd, so the Jews would cease to be a nation before me, for all time!'”"

(Midrash, Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael Beshalach 3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Yitro and Moshe

Hi,

One to ponder:

"Yitro said to him: Accept my condition and I will give her to you as a wife: Your first son should be for idolatry, and the rest for Heaven. Moshe accepted this. He said, 'Swear to me,' and Moshe swore to him."

(Midrash, Mechilta d'R' Yishmael to Yitro, Masechta d'Amalek 1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The merit of Jerusalem

Hi,

In Shemot 14:15, as the Jews stood between the attacking Egyptians and the raging Yam Suf [Sea of Reeds], Gd said to Moshe, 'Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the Jews, and they will travel.'

"R’ Yishmael said: ‘Why do you cry out to Me? I will split the sea for them in the merit of Yerushalayim,’ as it is written (regarding Yerushalayim, in Yeshayah 52:1), 'Awaken, awaken, don your strength, Zion! Put on the clothes of your glory, sacred city of Yerushalayim, for the uncircumcised and impure will enter no longer,' and (Yeshayah 51:9-10), 'Awaken, awaken, don your strength, you arm of Gd, awaken as in earlier days, the generations of old! You are the one who cut Rahav into pieces, who pierced the dragon, you are the one who dried up the sea, the waters of the great depths, who made the depths of the sea a path through which the redeemed could travel.'"

(Midrash, Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael, Beshalach 3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't let it become chametz

Hi,

[Regarding Shmot 12:17, 'And you shall guard the matzot']

"R' Yoshiyah said: Don't read it this way, but as 'And you shall guard the mitzvot.' Just as we don't let matzah ferment, so we don't let a mitzvah ferment. If it comes to hand, do it immediately."

(Midrash, Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael Bo 9)

Chag kasher v'sameach,
Mordechai

The home as an altar

Hi,

“And they shall take the blood and place it upon the two doorposts and the lintel, on the houses in which they will eat the offering. (Sh’mot 12:7)”

“And you shall take a bundle of hyssop and immerse it in the blood in the receptacle, and you shall place it upon the lintel and the two doorposts, from the blood in the receptacle. (Sh’mot 12:22)”

“We learn from here that our ancestors had three altars in Egypt: The lintel and the two doorposts. R’ Yishmael said there were four: The receptacle and the lintel and the two doorposts.”

(Midrash, Mechilta of R' Yishmael Bo 6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"What is right in Gd's eyes"

Hi,

"The phrase [in Sh'mot 15:26], ‘Doing what is right in Gd’s eyes,’ refers to social interaction.

"One who deals honestly with others, one whose character pleases others, is considered as though he had fulfilled the entire Torah."

(Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael to Sh'mot 15:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai