Sponsored by Robert Kalfus in Honor of Rabbi Avraham Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale B’nai Yisrael kept two symbols of the redemption with them for the 40 years in the wilderness. These symbols ultimately teach us about the importance of the Land of...
In the first verse of Parshat Beshalach, Shmot 13:17 we read: When Pharaoh sent away the people, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Plishtim although it was the shortest route; for God said, “The people might change their minds should they...
This Shabbat, Shabbat Shira (the Shabbat of Song) we find songs in the Torah reading (Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea, Shmot 15:1-21) and in the Haftara reading (Shirat Devora, Devora’s Song, Shoftim 5:1-31).In the Torah reading, after Moshe sings the song...
You may remember the animated movie “The Prince of Egypt” which was released in 1999 and became a classic for those who love the story of the Exodus from Egypt. If you have never seen it or if it has been a while since you saw it last, I highly...
Last night, residents of Jerusalem looked towards the sky in anticipation of the snow that was predicted by the forecasters. Young and old alike waited patiently to see what would come down. In the end, there was rain, hail, sleet and a little bit of snow in...
After Moshe and B’nai Yisrael sing “Az Yashir”, the Song of the Sea, we read about Miriam and the women (Shmot 15:20-21): “Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aharon, took the tof (drum) in her hand; and all of the women followed her with tupim...
Guest Parsha Points by Joshua HalickmanParshat BeShalach features the roots of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club when B'nai Yisrael sing praise to God after the splitting of the Red Sea and celebrate the salvation of the Jewish People.In Parshat Be’Shalach,...
Sponsored by Esther Dukovny in honor of her Hebrew and English Birthdays which coincide on Yud-Alef Shvat, January 21 One of the most popular songs at the Passover Seder is Dayenu (it would have been enough for us). Many of the concepts in Dayenu come from...
This Shabbat is Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song (where we read Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea and the Haftara is Shirat Devora, Devora’s song). This Shabbat we also celebrate Tu B’Shvat, the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, the birthday of...
In Parshat Beshalach, Shmot 15:20 after the men sang “Az Yashir”, The Song of the Sea we read: “Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aharon, took the drum in her hand; and all the women followed her with drums and dancing.” Rashi quotes the...
In Beshalach, Shmot 13:18 we read: “God led the people round-about by the way of the Reed Sea Desert and B’nai Yisrael went up “chamushim” from the land of Egypt. According to Rashi, the word chamushim means armed. Because God took them...
When Pharaoh sent away B’nai Yisrael, it was under the premise that they would pray in the desert for three days and then return to Egypt. In Shmot, 14:5 we read: “The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled. Pharaoh and his servants had...
When reading Parshat Beshalach, we come across a term that we have become very familiar with over the last few months: Amud HaAnan, the Pillar of Cloud. In Shmot 14:19-20 we read: “The angel of Elokim moved from its position when it traveled in...
The Haftarah for Parshat Beshalach is the story of Devora the Prophetess from the Book of Shoftim, Judges, Chapters 4-5. When I hear the name Devora, a few images come to mind: Devora the Prophetess, The excellent play being performed by the women in Gush...
In Parshat Beshalach, we read about how B'nei Yisrael, The Jewish People were saved from the Egyptians after the splitting of the Red Sea. In appreciation, B'nei Yisrael sang Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea (which we recite each morning during the Shacharit...
Mazel Tov to Jennifer, Kevin, Tyler and Bradley Leopold on the birth of Spencer Hayden. Sponsored by Sharona, Josh, Dov, Moshe and Yehuda Halickman Once Pharaoh realized that B’nai Yisrael would not be returning, he decided to chase them and attempt to...