This week's parsha
Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.
Action First
Standing at the foot of Mount Sinai in readiness to receive the Torah, the Jewish people proclaimed that they would first observe all its commandments and subsequently attempt to understand them. They declared first "we will do" and then "we will understand."
Some of our people maintain that they will begin to observe mitzvot when they understand them.
Never Again!
The glorious end to the years of slavery in Egypt is related in the Parshah of Beshalach. Pharaoh dreamed of annihilating the Jewish people by a two-pronged attack: To physically destroy a portion of the people, and to actively promote the assimilation of the remainder, thereby effectively eliminating their Jewish identity, G-d forbid. Pharaoh's evil dream was forever swept away in the waters of the Red Sea.
In every generation, "Pharaohs" arise who share the evil hope of the ancient Egyptian monarch.
Trapped? Not trapped!
One of the most terrible and frightening feelings is that of being trapped. There is no way out. Blocked on all sides. It is a situation which might occur, G-d forbid, in literal, physical terms, in a context of violence or war. It is also one which might arise in terms of the turns and twists of a career, or of difficult human relationships. Being trapped is also something which might happen to a person inside his or her own mind and heart. Trapped, unable to move freely. Stuck. Like Pharaoh King of Egypt.
In which way was he trapped? Pharaoh was the oppressor of the Jews. They were trapped; in what way was he?