Learning Group– Parshat Bo

(Numbers 10:1-13:16)

(Haftara: Jeremiah 46:13-28)

1. [10:1] : “And God said to Moshe ‘Come to Pharaoh’…” Why does God say “Come to Pharaoh” instead of “Go to Pharaoh”?

2. [11:3] “God gave the people (of Israel) charm in the eyes of Egypt; also the man Moshe was very big in the land of Egypt…” The commentaries tell us that the Egyptians liked the Israelites because of Moshe who brought on the plagues. They liked the nation because of the person whom they feared and respected. What does this tell us about the Egyptians, or perhaps about human nature in general?

3. [11:3] “God gave the people (of Israel) charm in the eyes of Egypt; also the man Moshe was very big in the land of Egypt…” God could have created conditions in such a way that the Israelites could have left Egypt in a less violent way. Why did God want the Israelites to leave in such a dramatic way?

4. [12:19] “…anyone who eats leavened products, that soul shall be cut off from the community of Israel…” The punishment that the Torah gives for eating bread or other leavened products on Passover is much more severe than the punishment for many other sins. Why is this sin more serious?

5. [12:38] “And a mixed multitude also went up with them…” The “mixed multitude” were a bad influence on the Israelites later. Why did Moshe allow non-Israelites to also leave with the Israelites?

Commentary

[10:23]: “A man did not see his brother, and no-one rose from being under it (the darkness)…”

The worst darkness is when a person does not want to see his brother’s distress and does not want to help him. However, the result of this is that when a person ignores his friend’s pain, he, himself cannot move from his place—”and no-one rose from being under it…”

–Chiddushei HaRim–R. Jitzchak Meir of Ger (1798(?)-1866)

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Bella bat Yitzchak Kummer, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer