From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, April 18,19, 2025/20,21 Nisan 5785 (Omer 5,6)
Since this Passover there are two Shabbatot, the Torah portions are the following:
Friday night will be the 6th day of Pesach, which is considered the Intermediate Sabbath of Passover Torah: (Exodus 23:12-34:26; Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Shabbat which is the 7th day of Passover, the Torah reading (Exodus 13:17-15:26) and the Haftarah (II Samuel 22), and the 8th day last of Passover, which will be on
Sunday, April 20 (Omer 7) the Torah: (Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17; Haftarah (Isaiah 10:32-12:6).
Each Torah portion has the continuous story of the Exodus starting with the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf, and None of the women gave any jewelry of gold to make this idol! New tablets are given, and G-d reassures His support for the Jewish people. The experiences of the Israelites are described with the Egyptians following the Jewish people, Moses at the Red Sea, and all waters on earth were split! (G-d wanted to protect the Israelites wherever they crossed.) The Egyptians were bogged down in the muddy bottom and drowned. Moses and the children of Israel sang songs of thanksgiving.
While the last portion from the Passover is taken from Deuteronomy of the Torah, Deuteronomy relates the repartition of the entire Torah by Moses. The final reading contains a variety of laws, tithes, the year of release, release of slaves, and comprehensive retelling of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot).
Shabbat candles are lit with the blessing ending “Ner Shel Shabbat V’ Yom Tov” because the Sabbath comes every week and Passover festival once a year. The Jewish people honor and remember the Sabbath and the sacred times. Havdalah is recited at sundown on Saturday night.
Answer to Questions from the Rabbi…
Moses did not do the first plague…water because he was drawn and saved from the water. His older brother, High Priest Aaron, did the first plague.
How did Moses and Aaron get into the Pharaoh’s Temple and home, which was guarded by lions? This should be easy for you…Moses was a prince in Pharaoh’s home and court, and lions were his pets!
The plague of Darkness is multi-layered…Ra is the Sun deity of the Egyptians, and it was taken away. The darkness was thick, and the Egyptians could not move, however the Israelites were able to see in the darkness and go through all the homes of the Egyptians.
When Pharaoh finally let our people go… the Exodus tells of building with elaborate items, cloth and jewels, our people were given all that they saw in the darkness as reparations for the FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OF SLAVERY!
Lastly, there are more interesting facts…All the Firstborn of Egypt, human and animals, were killed. Pharaoh is the First Born…G-d allowed him to live to show that HE was the One G-d.
Praying all are enjoying the Passover and celebrations.
May our Hostages be Freed from Gaza. May all the Israeli families have closure speedily. May peace return to our Holy Land, Israel!
Am Ysrael Chai! Long Live Israel!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
