SEDRA : Vaera Shabbat Rosh Chodesh: Hertz Chumash p. 232 Exodus Chapter 6 Verse 2

This week's Sedra is generously sponsored by Avi Berman

SYNOPSIS:

G-d reassures Moses following the great despair accompanying the first and absolute rejection by Pharaoh of Moses' demands on behalf of the Israelites. G-d restates His covenant and relationship with the Patriarchs and in a powerful declaration He reveals the 4 stages of Redemption which will come about through His intervention for He is fully aware of the suffering of His people.

The people are so deeply oppressed that they do not accept this reassurance which results in Moses too suffering a crisis of confidence. G-d however insists and orders Moses and Aaron to initiate the redemption. The Sedra now presents a genealogy of Moses and Aaron, the descendants of Levi as they now formally assume the role of representing the Israelites.

G-d emphasises Moses' role as G-d's representative to Pharaoh with Aaron as "prophet" or spokesman. These meetings take the form of an extended series of dramatic confrontations. The pattern which emerges is that Pharaoh will continually harden his heart, but his power and self-confidence will be repeatedly and dramatically crushed by G-d's great wonders and signs until all Egypt will clearly know His greatness.
Having been instructed by G-d, Moses and Aaron demonstrate the first sign: Aaron casts his rod down and it changes into a snake. Pharaoh's wizards do likewise, but their serpents are eaten by that of Aaron. Pharaoh's heart hardens and he refuses to comply.
This is followed by the first plague foreshadowed by Moses and effected by Aaron who, in the presence of Pharaoh and his advisers, puts out his rod and turns all the waters of Egypt into blood. Pharaoh's wizards are able to copy this and he again refuses to be budged.

After seven days Moses confronts Pharaoh and requests permission for the Israelites to depart to serve their G-d. He warns Pharaoh that refusal will result in a plague of frogs. Pharaoh is unmoved.
The plague is brought into effect and Pharaoh's wizards are able to copy the miracle. Pharaoh budges temporarily and the next day the plague ceases. Once the plague is lifted he again resumes his intransigence.

Aaron is then commanded to retaliate by bringing on a plague of gnats. The magicians are stumped by this and begin to recognise the Divine Power, but Pharaoh holds firm in his refusal.
The fourth plague - a mixture of pests - is invoked and in this plague the land of Goshen where the Israelites live is, by design, completely unaffected. The plague is immensely destructive and Pharaoh calls upon Moses to bring relief and he offers the Israelites the opportunity to serve G-d in Egypt. Moses insists that the people must serve G-d in the wilderness where He directs. Pharaoh consents but with the removal of the plague he immediately reneges on his promise.
G-d then commands Moses to threaten Egypt's herds of livestock with pestilence. Again the Israelites' stock will remain completely unscathed. The plague is brought on and again Pharaoh is resolute in his stubbornness.

Moses is now instructed to cause the sixth plague: boils. This plague affects every Egyptian individually. The magicians in particular are overwhelmed by their powerlessness to do anything to ward off the plague - for they too are greatly affected. Pharaoh remains unmoved in his refusal. Moses is instructed to warn Pharaoh yet again.
He threatens a plague of hail and warns Pharaoh that every living thing should be brought under shelter for the plague will be ferocious and all-consuming. The plague is invoked with massive destructive consequences for the countryside of Egypt. The Israelites and their property are untouched. Pharaoh hastens Moses into his presence and confessing his guilt begs him to have G-d stop the hail. Moses complies, the tempest abates and reveals the complete devastation of the land of Egypt. Again Pharaoh's heart hardens and he refuses to let Israel depart.

HAPHTORAH ROSH CHODESH HERTZ CHUMASH P. 944 Isaiah Chapter 66

The final chapter of Isaiah comprises the reading when Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh coincide owing to its reference in the penultimate verse to the continued and ever more popular observance of Rosh Chodesh in the future. The chapter combines fierce admonition for those who pervert sincere observance, mock the ways of G-d and worship idolatry while it also describes the rebirth of Israel and the ingathering of exiles. The penultimate verse referring to Rosh Chodesh is repeated again after the conclusion of the Haphtorah. Although some Synagogues read the Haphtorah for Re=eh with its words of comfort, our custom is to read the Haphtorah for Rosh Chodesh since it too bears a message of consolation (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch)

TELL ME RABBI ..... THE MONTH OF ELLUL

SHOFAR: From the first of Ellul we customarily blow 3 Shofar blasts (Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah) daily at the conclusion of the Morning Service. On 1st Ellul Moses ascended Mt Sinai for the second time amidst the blast of the Shofar to pray for Israel's forgiveness for worshipping the Golden Calf. This would inaugurate a mood of penitence.
YOM TOV CARDS ! The Shulchan Aruch points our that when writing a letter during Ellul one should wish the addressee a Ketivah v'chatimah Tovah - to be and Inscribed and Sealed for Good. From the desire to fulfil the beautiful thought implied in this concept arose the idea to send cards. One is thus automatically put in a position where it is appropriate to fulfil this custom.

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