בס”ד
This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my sister, Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, my mother Chaya Rochel Bas Dovid Tzvi (Hareini Kaparas Mishkavah), my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my paternal grandfather Moshe Ben Yosef A”H, my paternal grandmother Channah Freidel Bas Avraham A”H, my uncle Reuven Nachum Ben Moshe & my great aunt Rivkah Sorah Bas Zev Yehuda HaKohein,
It should also be in Zechus L’Refuah Shileimah for:
-My father Bunim Tuvia Ben Channa Freidel
-My grandmother Shulamis Bas Etta
-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL
-HaRav Shlomo Ben Shayna Zelda
-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili
-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha
_R’ Simcha Yitzchak Ben Mirela Yudka
-Chaya Rochel Ettel Bas Shulamis
-And all of the Cholei Yisrael, especially those suffering from COVID-19 and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for an Aliyah of the holy Neshamos of HaRav HaGa’on V’Sar HaTorah Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Ben HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky A”H, Dovid Avraham Ben Chiya Kehas—R’ Dovid Winiarz ZT”L, Miriam Liba Bas Aharon—Rebbetzin Weiss A”H, as well as the Neshamos of those whose lives were taken by terrorists (Hashem Yikom Damam), COVID-19, and other tragedies.
-It should also be a Z’chus for success for Tzaha”l as well as the rest of Am Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Galus.
פַּרְשַׁת וָאֵרָא
“The Worst Plague”
פַּרְשַׁת וָאֵרָא is when ה׳ finally begins to send the מַכּוֹת (plagues) against פַּרְעֹה. This week, we learn about the plagues of (1) blood, (2) frogs, (3) lice, (4) wild animals, (5) death of farm animals, (6) boils, and (7) fiery hailstones! Next week, we will learn about 3 more frightening מַכּוֹת!
Question: But, of all of the punishments which פַּרְעֹה received, which one do you think was the worst?
Answer: All of the 10 מַכּוֹת were terrible. But, there was one hidden plague that ה׳ hit פַּרְעֹה with that was probably the worst of them all. If not for this secret punishment, the rest of the plagues would have stopped. What was that punishment?
That ה׳ hardened פַּרְעֹה’s heart! Because פַּרְעֹה’s heart was hardened, he was able to remain stubborn and refused to let the בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל go. And because he was stubborn, even more מַכּוֹת came.
Usually, it is a good thing to not give up. But, that is only when we are doing what’s right. But, if we are not careful and we are stubborn for the wrong thing (חַס וְשָׁלוֹם), we could end up like פַּרְעֹה.
For example, we know that it’s wrong to be mean, to fight, or to hurt someone’s feelings. We know that if we do such things, the right thing to do is to say, “I’m sorry,” and to mean it with our hearts. But, sometimes, we become stubborn and harden our hearts! And then, instead of doing the right thing, we continue to be rude, mean, violent, exclusive, and hurtful. When our hearts hold us back from doing the right thing, that is the worst plague!
ה׳ should guide our hearts to do the right thing so we could bring Moshiach, בִּמְהֵרָה בִּיָמֵינוּ. Have a wonderful שבת!
Rabbi Eisenberg, Grade 3