Draining Egypt of Its Wealth? Honest, Dishonest, or God's Plan?

 Parshat Bo

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Many years ago I read an article (perhaps Ynet? Perhaps Times of Israel?) that had me wondering if it was satire or real. While I can’t find it online, the headline said something like “Egyptian politician claims Israel owes Egypt money for what the Israelites stole from Egypt at the time of the Exodus.” 

Many things are ludicrous about this claim, particularly in light of a number of anti-Semitic tropes which include:

  • The people of modern Israel aren’t “real Jews.” They are descendants of Khazars.

 • The people of modern Israel aren’t “real Jews” indigenous to this land, as they are European colonialists

  • The Bible is a myth. None of its stories ever happened. 

 Leaving aside the irony of people claiming the Exodus never happened then claiming that those who participated in it (but I thought it never happened!?) owe reparations for money they never took because it didn’t happen…. no one could claim that the citizens of modern Egypt are descendants of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt and its imprint on history is only that… history… and the Arabs who are now the stewards of that land have ZERO connection to events of 3,000+ years ago. 

Did Moshe Have a Speech Impediment?

Parshat Va'era

by Rabbi Avi Billet

There is no question that the person who does the most talking in all of the Torah is Moshe Rabbenu. The Book of Devarim alone comprises 3 large and several smaller speeches delivered by Moshe to the people. Combine that with all the things he says throughout the Torah, and the things we are told that he told and taught the people (all of the Mitzvot, all of his teachings, all of his presiding over court cases), and we have quite the loquacious individual. 

 And yet, because of 3 comments he makes (2 of which are essentially the same comment twice), people assume he had a speech impediment or even a physical deformity. Aside from the argument presented above, consider two more points. When Moshe is born the Torah informs us ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא – “it was seen about him that he was good.” This is hardly a description of someone born with a physical defect. Secondly, at the Burning Bush, while Moshe has many objections to why he doesn’t want to be God’s messenger, basically the last one he brings up is that he is a כבד פה וכבד לשון – that he has a “heavy mouth and a heavy tongue.” (4:10) If I had an inability to speak, and I was being tasked with being a representative whose main job was to use language of persuasion before a king, that would be my FIRST excuse for my being unfit for the job. 

נקרה v נקרא - Subtle Text Changes Teach Far More Than Subtle Behavior Changes

Parshat Shemot

by Rabbi Avi Billet 

One aspect of the Torah that requires attention is when something is repeated, and yet subtly changed in the way either a narrative is presented, or in how a mitzvah is re-presented, or in how a text appears that second time. What is the reason for the changes? What are we to learn from the changes? 

A few simple examples for your own homework (if you are interested) include:

 •  The way Avraham’s servant meets Rivkah v. how he tells over the story to her family

 •  Pharaoh’s dreams as they happen v. how Pharaoh relates his dreams to Yosef

 •  Aseres HaDibros in Shmos 20 v. Aseres HaDibros in Devarim 5

 • The way the event of the spies transpires in Bamidbar 13-14 v. how Moshe revisits that tale in Devarim 1