When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned that Parashat Vaera, aka Va’era or Va’iera, (Exodus 6:2 through 9:35), is the 14th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings. According to Wikipedia, Vaera contains 6,701 Hebrew letters, 1,748 words, 121 verses and 222 lines of the Torah Scroll. The underlying narrative of Vaera, (וָאֵרָא), translated as “and I appeared“, continues the narrative of the Passover Haggadah; the story of the first seven plagues that befell Egypt.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Vaera for Shabbat January 13, 2024 aka 3 Shevat 5784:
“This Shabbat we celebrate with the Shapiro family, the Bar Mitzvah of their son Ryan. The Jewish People in Egypt are beginning to experience the manifestations of G-d’s power as Pharaoh and Egypt are subjected to the plagues which they have brought upon themselves by refusing to allow us our freedom.
The Sedra begins with G-d revealing a new name, “Adonai” which had heretofore never been revealed even to the Patriarchs and Matriarchs who knew only G-d’s name as El Shaddai. The Sages teach us that this name refers to G-d who performs miracles which do not disrupt the normal course of nature. Also, we saw in the previous Sedra, Shemot, that G-d had revealed another name, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, (I will be what I will Be) to Moses when asked what name he should share with the elders. This is to teach the elders and the rest of Klal Yisroel that G-d is the same G-d who created the universe and established the covenant with the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.
The new name which G-d now reveals to Moses and Aaron establishes that G-d will use supernatural force to overcome the gods of Egypt and establish supremacy over even the forces of nature which the G-d of creation set in motion.
As Jews, we have the opportunity and obligation to personally connect with G-d in our own experience. Those who are more connected to their own spiritual being live happier and more fulfilling lives because they can reach out to a Supreme Being and connect to a the Ribonot Shel Olam- (the Master of the Universe), which even puts into perspective some of the more unfortunate events in our existence.
It is up to each person, on their own level and through their own effort, to make the connection with the Creator to establish their relationship with the Covenant that was begun with Avraham and Sarah and which continues today and into the future. By our daily performance of the Mitzvot given to us in the Torah, may we always feel the closeness to G-d’s guiding presence in our lives and reach out to share this with others who also need to be aware of G-d’s special relationship with all creation”.
Questions to Discuss:
- Why is Moses not allowed to strike the water to bring about the first three plagues?
- Why does G-d single out the Nile river for the first three plagues?
- How does G-d separate those Egyptians who believe and those who don’t?
- How could we categorize the escalation in the severity of the plagues?
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.
This moment of Jewish Learning is brought to you by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. We are part of a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Mumbai, India and beyond. Learn more about how your Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://www.fjmc.org/content/affiliating-fjmc.
The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Get to know more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit and LIKE our Florida Region FJMC Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
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