Are you in sync with your previous successes? The Talmud teaches that the impact of ones prayers is at its best when one links praise for previous redeption with ones current requests.
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Quick Review:
Misheyakir- recognize white to Ticheiles or a guest
Power of linking redemption to Tefilah
Defining “damage” vs. “cost of doing business” or other payment for a worthwhile purpose
Vasikin- Devoted to ideal way (time) to do the mitzvah. Shema before sunrise and Tefilah right after
Points You Don’t Want to Miss:
The Mitzva of reciting Shema at night starts at nightfall. The Mitzva may be fulfilled any time at night, until the morning, but it is proper to fulfill this Mitzva before Chatzos/Halachic midnight (calculated not as 12am, but rather as the midpoint between night and day). If it may be fulfilled any time through the night, one wonders why the midnight time is mentioned at all. The Mishna 2a stated, “To distance a person from wrongdoing.” That is, the midnight time is identified so that people will not be lax, and possibly fall asleep without doing the Mitzva. This segues into the more general topic of Rabbinic law, which often refers to laws enacted by the leaders of a generation to ensure that we are not lax in observance. One of the most common places for this discussion is regarding the laws of Shabbos, where there are many Rabbinic laws, serving as a fence and protection for the covenant. The Maharal writes that the more treasured something is, the more protections will be made for it. This is similar to the way Hashem made protection for the eyes, because they are especially treasured.
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Hashem told Moshe to instruct the people to ask for gifts from the Egyptians, so that they would leave with great wealth, “So that Avraham would not say, ‘Hashem fulfilled the servitude, but did not fulfill the promise that afterwards they will leave with great wealth.'” We wonder: The prophecy in Parshas Lech Licha was that Avraham’s descendants would be enslaved, and then leave with great wealth. What difference does it make if Avraham would “say” or would not say? Either way, Hashem promised, and needs to keep His promise!
The commentaries explain that Hashem intended to fulfill the promise of “great wealth” as the Exodus was completed, at the Yam Suf splitting of the sea. At that time the chariots of the Egyptians washed up on the land where the Jews were, and that wealth was even greater than what they left Egypt with. But that event was days away. “So that Avraham would not wonder why they were not given wealth after the enslavement, Hashem instructed Moshe that they should ask for gifts, so that they would leave Egypt with wealth, and not rely on the wealth that would be bestowed on them days later.
From the interpretation given above of this Talmud Brachos portion, it seems that the strange concern is not that Hashem will help the enslaved Jews leave with great wealth. In my reading of Exodus, I have no recollection of Hashem influencing the Egyptians to give wealth to the Jews who were slaves and now found a way to leave in part by having ten plagues hurt Egyptian society. Given that, why and how would any Egyptian want anything but to be rid of the Jews? And, my understanding is that not any Egyptian was told that if you give wealth to the Jews, they will leave you.
Please clarify.
Hi Steven! Great to hear from you!
The key here can be found in the verses of Parsha Bo (Shimos/ Exodus 11:1-3).
Simplified Quote: Hashem spoke to Moshe saying there is one more plague, after which the Egyptians will send you out. In fact, they will actually chase you out. Speak, please, to the people, and they shall ask of the Egyptians for gold and silver (as a gift or tip). Hashem granted the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians (and they indeed granted the gifts). In fact, the man, Moshe, was very great in the eyes of Paroh’s servants, and in the eyes of the people.
I think this selection of verses addresses many of the points which you correctly identified as needing to be addressed. You are correct that by the end of the plagues the highlight is that the Egyptians send out the Jews. But our Daf identifies this other critical consideration regarding the gifts, which enabled the Jews to leave with wealth.
Keep up the great work Steven!