When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned that Parashat Shemot, (Exodus 1:1 through 6:1), the 13th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings, is also the first reading from the Book of Exodus. According to Wikipedia, Shemot contains 6,762 Hebrew letters, 1,763 words, 124 verses and 215 lines of the Torah Scroll.
This week I also learned that the Shabbat before the start of a Jewish month (Rosh Chodesh) is known as “Shabbat Mevarchim” or “the Shabbat when we bless.” On this day during the synagogue service, we recite a special blessing for the new month and announce the timing of Rosh Chodesh.
The underlying narrative of Shemot, (שְׁמוֹת), translated as “names“, is entwined within the reading of the Passover Haggadah; the story of the Israelites’ affliction in Egypt, the hiding and rescuing of the infant Moses, the life and times of Moses in Midian, the calling of Moses and circumcision, the meeting the elders and Moses before Pharaoh.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Shemot for Shabbat January 6, 2024 aka 25 Tevet 5784:
“Happy New Year! The secular new year marks the beginning of the reading of the 2 nd book of the Torah- Shemot (Exodus) and we also bless an upcoming new Hebrew month. The story relates the transition from the Jews living as a free people in Goshen during the generations of Joseph to the gradual descent into becoming slaves and being an oppressed nation. It also marks the transition from becoming totally tribal to eventually becoming a national entity.
If we look at the 5 Books of Moses as a whole, the real purpose of the entire narrative is the transition from scattered tribes to an organized entity and from slavery to freedom- becoming worthy enough to achieve the receipt of the 10 Commandments and the 613 Laws and achieving our national destiny by inheriting the Land of Israel. Viewed from this perspective, we understand that the real purpose of the narratives from creation to the story of Joseph are actually the groundwork for what is to occur at Sinai and the rest of the Torah is an explanation and application of the Laws.
Each of us, experience transitional periods in our lives. Is it possible for us to identify the climax of our lives , perhaps, even in retrospect? Is it even possible to pinpoint the events which lead to a climatic period or to prepare ourselves for unseen events which we hope will occur? The answer is most often we hope for the best and plan for the worst. As Jews, we prepare spiritually for a secular new year in the same manner as for Rosh Hashanah – Teshuva, Tefila, Tzedaka – Repentance, Prayer, and Charity. We also commit each new year to resolutions which hopefully include taking better care of ourselves, studying Torah, sharing love with our family and friends, reaching out to our fellow congregants and Jewish people throughout the world, supporting Israel, and reaching out to all in need through Tikkun Olam- projects that heal the world.
May the new year bring meaningful transition and hope for peace in Israel and the world. May we help G-d in banishing hatred and bigotry and by helping each other overcome the forces of evil that always exist in the world.
Discussion Questions:
- Who were Pharaoh’s 3 advisors? What did each one advise Pharaoh to do regarding the Jews?
- Why does Pharaoh specifically instruct the midwives to drown Jewish baby boys in the Nile?
- How does the prophecy given to Pharaoh come true through the birth of Moses?
- What does the “burning bush” symbolize?”
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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