Rabbi Tendler Shiur Notes

Parashat B'Shalach

Thursday January 28

Misrash Rabba: Why does it say Va'y'hi b'shalach? Inidicator of trouble.

Q: Who is the trouble for? A: Pharaoh.

But Pharaoh wanted to get rid of the Jews - why is that a bad thing for him?

Look at Hitler. See he let his hatred take over and inhibit the permanence of Germany. He could have easily made the Jews work for minimum wage and no one would have cared. Germany would have been superior. Pharaoh realized this after he sent them out. He could have been the economic power of the world - the Vay is for Pharaoh realization that he misused the Jews.

Another p'shat - God cried. Only 20% came out and those left tentatively, he had no confidence in the Jews even after he took them out with all the miracles such that he couldn't take them the normal path to Israel.

When you do the census you don't count Leviem. Why? God wants to know how many soldiers he has. Leviem never went through Mitzraim - never had to pass the test - you don't knowhow they will respond.

Derech Eretz Plishtim Ki Karov: 2nd time God intervened in the free will of man. 1st was hichbadti lev Pharaoh. Here, the Jews wanted to go back, but God didn't let them. Last time was by the yam suf. Not letting Israel do the free will to return to Egypt. They went later to Pe'or - god of natural function. Moshe actually kept the promise to return - headed back to peor. Pharaoh thought that they were lost - God was no longer with them and therefore would be able to get them back.

Yam suf not really a miracle. See in Osaka there is a splitting of the sea. See

Pacific Stars and Stripes Lifestyle Section D Sunday May 11 1986.

NY Times March 15 1992 "Oceanographers Say Winds May Have Parted Waters" only need 40 knot wind.

God not playing with natural law. It is a miracle that it happened at the appropriate time.