24
Dec
This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my sister, Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, 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 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 grandmothers Channah Freidel Bas Sarah, and Shulamis Bas Etta
-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL
-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili
-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha
-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 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 the Meiron tragedy.
-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.
בס”ד
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Parsha Paradise/פרשה פרדס – Shemos: Moshe was “Good” ?? – What Does that Mean?
Audio:
When we first meet Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest human being who ever lived, he Torah relates that his mother Yocheved saw that he was “good” [Shemos 2:2]. But, what does that mean? We’ll offer several suggestions.
P’shat:
Rashbam/Bechor Shor suggest that Yocheved saw that Moshe was viable (healthy). In Creation, “Tov” was the code word for work that was complete and destined to continue; viable.
Ibn Ezra suggests that she saw that he was of exceptionally good form.
Ramban explains that she somehow saw that miracles of Hashem were destined to occur through him. He would be a messenger of salvation.
Remez:
Panei’ach Razah points out that the words in our verse, “אות”ו כ”י טו”ב הו”א” (“[she saw] him, that he was good”) share a Gematria with the words “שנול”ד מהו”ל,” “that he was born circumcised” (the Gematria is off by one, the latter phrase being one less).
Ba’al HaTurim points out that the written letters of the word “Tov” in our verse unusually feature five extra “Taggin” or ornamental crowns on top, alluding to the Five Books of the Torah which Moshe would accept on our behalf. The Torah is referred as “Tov” in the famous Pasuk in Mishlei “Ki Lekach Tov Nasatiachem”-“for a good taking [acquisition] I have given you” [Mishlei 4:2].
Drash:
Many suggestions are found in the Midrashim. Yocheved saw an aura of light around Moshe that illuminated the room; just as Hashem saw the Light on Day One of Creation as “good” and hid it away [Bereishis 1:4], Yocheved saw Moshe’s good light and hid him [Sotah 12A, Bereishis Rabbah 1:20].
Alternatively or additionally, she saw that he was born circumcised (Tosafos Shaleim/Chizkuni/Torah Temimah/Panei’ach Razah all suggest that this is why, at the ceremony of a Bris Milah, we declare “Hodu LaShem Ki Tov…”).
Another possibility is that Yocheved saw it appropriate to name her son “Tov” or “Toviyah” [Sotah 12A].
Finally, she somehow saw that he was fitting for Nevuah (prophecy) [Bereishis Rabbah 1:20].
Sod:
Megaleh Amukos [17:1 citing Zohar 1:21B] suggests that Moshe’s “goodness” reflects that he was at a level comparable to Yosef HaTzaddik, citing a verse in Yishaiyah that a “Tzaddik” is Tov [Yishaiyah 3:10]. Moshe would use this comparison as an additional argument that his bones should merit to enter Eretz Yisrael.
Tikunei Zohar [51A] suggests that Yocheved saw that the Shechinah would reveal itself to him.
Whatever “Tov” means, we should be Zocheh to achieve the highest level of Tov available to us, to be viable beacons of light, fitting voices for the Ratzon Hashem, and embassadors of His Torah, worthy of miracles, and Hashem should grant us the ultimate “Tov” with the Geulah, Bimheirah BiYomeinu! Have a Great Shabbos!
-Yehoshua Shmuel Eisenberg