Parshat Bo January 8, 2011 3 Shevat, 5771

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshat Bo

TORAH The ninth plague - darkness - that can be felt." So Moses stretched Egyptians. Some were directed
ARTSCROLL, 340 comes shrouded in a darkness out his hand toward the sky, and total against things they worshipped
HERTZ, 248 of its own. darkness covered all Egypt for three as gods. That is the case in the
days. No one could see anyone else first two plagues. The Nile was
HAFTORAH What is this plague doing or leave his place for three days. Yet personified in ancient Egypt as
ARTSCROLL, 1151 here? It seems out of all the Israelites had light in the the god Hapi. Offerings were
HERTZ, 263 sequence. Thus far there have places where they lived.(10:21-22) made to it at times of inundation.
been eight plagues, and they Darkness is a nuisance, but no more. The inundations themselves
have become steadily, The phrase "darkness that can be were attributed to one of the
inexorably, more serious. The felt" suggests what happened: a major Egyptian deities, Osiris.
first two, the Nile turned blood- khamsin, a sandstorm of a kind not The plague of frogs would have
Times red and the infestation of frogs, unfamiliar in Egypt, which can last for been associated by the
seemed more like omens than several days, producing sand- and Egyptians with Heket, the
Candle Lighting 4:26 pm dust-filled air that obliterates the light goddess who was believed to
anything else. The third and
fourth, gnats and flies, caused of the sun. A khamsin is usually attend births as a midwife, and
Friday Mincha 4:25 pm produced by a southern wind that who was depicted as a woman
discomfort, not crisis. The fifth,
Haskhama 8:00 am the plague that killed livestock, blows into Egypt from the Sahara with the head of a frog.
affected animals, not human desert. The worst sandstorm is These symbolisms, often lost on
Youth 8:30 am beings. usually the first of the season, in us, would have been
The sixth, boils, was again a March. This fits the dating of the immediately apparent to the
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am discomfort, but a serious one, plague which happened shortly Egyptians. Two things now
no longer an external nuisance before the death of the firstborn, on become clear. The first is why
Main Minyan 9:00 am but a bodily affliction. Pesach. the Egyptian magicians declared
(Remember that Job lost The ninth plague was a miracle, but "This is the finger of G-d" (Ex. 8:
Beit Midrash 9:15 am everything he had, but did not not an event wholly unknown to the 15) only after the third plague,
start cursing his fate until his Egyptians, then or now. Why then lice. The first two plagues would
Gemorah Shiur 3:45 pm body was covered with sores: does it figure in the narrative, not have surprised them at all.
Job 2). The seventh and immediately prior to its climax? They would have understood
Mincha 4:15 pm The answer lies in a line from them as the work of Egyptian
eighth, hail and locusts,
destroyed the Egyptian grain. Dayyenu, the song we sing as part of deities who, they believed, were
Shabbat Ends 5:34 pm
Now there was no food. Still to the Haggadah: "If G-d had executed sometimes angry with the
Sunday Jan. 9 7:30/8:30 am come was the tenth plague, the judgment against them [the people and took their revenge.
death of the firstborn, in Egyptians] but had not done so The second is the quite different
retribution for Pharaoh's against their gods, it would have symbolism the first two plagues
Mon. Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am murder of Israelite children. It been sufficient." Twice the Torah were meant to have for the
would be this that eventually itself refers to this dimension of the Israelites, and for us. As with the
broke Pharaoh's resolve. plagues: tenth plague, these were no
Tues.Wed. Fri. 6:45/7:45 am So we would expect the ninth "I will pass through Egypt on that mere miracles intended - as it
plague to be very serious night, and I will kill every firstborn in were - to demonstrate the power
indeed, something that Egypt, man and animal. I will perform of the G-d of Israel, as if religion
Late Maariv 8:15 pm threatened, even if it did not acts of judgment against all the gods were a gladiatorial arena in
immediately take, human life. of Egypt: I (alone) am G-d." (Exodus which the strongest god wins.
Instead we read what seems 12: 12) Their meaning was moral. They
Mincha Sun./Fri. 4:35 pm like an anticlimax: The Egyptians were burying all their represented the most
Then the Lord said to Moses, firstborn, struck down by the Lord; fundamental of all ethical
"Stretch out your hand toward and against their gods, the Lord had principles, stated in the Noahide
Latest times for the sky so that darkness will executed judgment. (Numbers 33: 4) covenant in the words "He who
Shema/Shmoneh Esrei spread over Egypt-darkness Not all the plagues were directed, in sheds the blood of man, by man
the first instance, against the shall his blood be shed". This is
January 8 9:40/10:27 am
January 15 9:40/10:28 am KIDDUSH IS
Next Shabbat SPONSORED BY
Be-Shallach
GREAT NECK
Candle lighting 4:33 pm
SYNAGOGUE
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26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Parshat Bo 5771
children, its own and others'. In an age of suicide bombing and the
the rule of retributive justice, measure for measure: As you do, so
use of children as instruments of war, it still is.
shall you be done to.
By first ordering the midwives to kill all male Israelite babies, and then,
when that failed, by commanding "Every boy who is born must be cast
into the Nile" (Ex. 1: 22), Pharaoh had turned what should have been
symbols of life (the Nile, which fed Egyptian agriculture, and
midwives) into agents of death. The river that turned to blood, and the
Heket-like frogs that infested the land, were not afflictions as such, but
rather coded communications, as if to say to the Egyptians: see what
it feels like when the gods you turned against the Israelites turn on
you.
Hence the tenth plague, to which all the others were a mere prelude.
Unlike all the other plagues, its significance was disclosed to Moses
even before he set out on his mission, while he was still living with
Jethro in Midian: ADVISORY FOR HOLDERS OF PLOTS IN
You shall say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says. "Israel is My GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE SECTIONS OF
son, My firstborn. I have told you to let My son go, that he may WELLWOOD CEMETERY
worship Me. If you refuse to let him go, I will kill your own firstborn
son." (Ex. 4: 22-23)
Whereas the first two plagues were symbolic representations of the Sales of some of our Cemetery plots go back as long
Egyptian murder of Israelite children, the tenth plague was the as 40 years. During that time, much has changed as
enactment of retributive justice, as if heaven was saying to the
Egyptians: You committed, or supported, or passively accepted the
far as our records of ownership are concerned,
murder of innocent children. There is only one way you will ever especially home addresses and heirs to plots. It is
realize the wrong you did, namely, if the same thing happens to you. incumbent upon you to help us keep our files up-to-
This too helps explain the difference between the two words the Torah
regularly uses to describe what G-d did in Egypt: otot u-moftim, "signs
date for the protection of yourself, your family and
and wonders". These two words are not two ways of describing the the synagogue. Jewish Law mandates burial after
same thing - miracles. They describe quite different things. A mofet, a death as quickly as possible. Without adequate re-
wonder, is indeed a miracle. An ot, a sign, is something else: a cords, it may be difficult to promptly determine the
symbol (like tefillin or circumcision, both of which are called ot), that is
to say, a coded communication, a message. names of who on your behalf is permitted interment
The significance of the ninth plague is now obvious. The greatest god in your plots. We, also, need the names of at least
in the Egyptian pantheon was Ra or Re, the sun god. The name of the two persons who are authorized to act on your be-
Pharaoh often associated with the exodus, Ramses II, means meses,
"son of" (as in the name Moses) Ra, the god of the sun. Egypt - so its half in regard to these plots. Forms for this purpose
people believed - was ruled by the sun. Its human ruler or Pharaoh can be obtained from the Synagogue office.
was semi-divine, the child of the sun-god. In addition, because the authorization expires on
In the beginning of time, according to Egyptian myth, the sun-god
ruled together with Nun, the primeval waters. Eventually there were one’s death, we urge you to clearly identify in your
many deities. Ra then created human beings from his tears. Seeing, will (or codicil, thereto) who will inherit said plots.
however, that they were deceitful, he sent the goddess Hathor to This is particularly important to avoid future
destroy them; only a few survived.
The plague of darkness was not a mofet but an ot, a sign. The problems as when putative heirs claim the right to
obliteration of the sun signaled that there is a power greater than Ra. use plots purchased by their ancestors. Without a
Yet what the plague represented was less the power of G-d over the clear grant in your will, there may be no way to
sun, but the rejection by G-d of a civilization that turned one man,
Pharaoh, into an absolute ruler with the ability to enslave other human substantiate the claim.
beings - and of a culture that could tolerate the murder of children The synagogue cannot be responsible for any failure
because that is what Ra himself did. on your part to provide this crucial information.
When G-d told Moses to say to Pharaoh, "My son, my firstborn, Israel"
He was saying: I am the G-d who cares for His children, not one who Also, please inform the synagogue, or me, if you no
kills His children. The ninth plague was a Divine act of longer want any, or all, of your plots that you own.
communication, that said: there is not only physical darkness but also We will issue a donation letter for tax purposes, for
moral darkness. The best test of a civilization is: see how it treats
the current value of said plots, and in doing so, you
might help other members of Great Neck
Great Neck Synagogue
Shabbat Activities Program
Great Neck Synagogue Synagogue who might be interested in making a plot
Shabbat Activities Program purchase.
The people, who have not returned the
Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Authorization of Plot Holder signed by a notary
Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Public, please do so.
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus
Michael Bleicher, Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Interns
Al Leiderman
Zeev Kron, Cantor GNS Cemetery Chairman
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus
Mark Twersky, Executive Director
Joseph Hecht, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS JANUARY RETREAT Within Our Family
Come join Rabbi Jensen & Rabbi Lichter for a special GNS vacation
in Connecticut. There will be food, skiing, snow tubing, outlet malls Mazal Tov to Susan & James Firsch on the birth of a grand-
and an indoor water park. We will be sending out a flier with all the daughter born to their children Lara & Gregory Rhine in Is-
info and pricing/itinerary very soon. The dates are Wednesday rael.
1/26- Sunday 1/30. The program includes all the above and a
Shabbaton as well. If interested please contact Rabbi Jensen or
Rabbi Lichter.
RESERVATIONS ARE STILL BEING TAKEN
COMBINED SISTERHOOD EVENT MEETING
Please join us at Temple Israel (Blue Room) this Thursday, January 6th SAVE THE DATE
at 10:00am to discuss and plan the Combined Sisterhood Event. GREAT NECK
We welcome your participation and ideas.
SYNAGOGUE
SISTERHOOD MEETING 59TH ANNUAL
Please join us on Thursday, January 13th at 8:00pm in the Braun
Youth Center to help plan upcoming Sisterhood events, as well as to
DINNER
discuss some new ideas for the direction that Sisterhood would like to GUESTS OF HONOR
take to benefit our synagogue and help the needs in our community. SHARON GOLDWYN
PARENT CHILD LEARNING ON MOTZAI SHABBAT AND
Every Saturday evening, there will be a new program at Great Neck MICHAEL & MINDY
Synagogue, parent-child(ren) learning. From 6:30 – 7:30 pm, parents
of middle school age children are invited to come to GNS for this spe-
LEVENTHAL
cial program. The evening will begin with a brief shiur by one of the BONEH HABAYIT AWARD
rabbis and will be followed by about 45 minutes of parents and children PHYLLIS WEINBERG
learning together. All of the source material will be provided for you
(with translations) and the program is open to parents and children of
different learning levels. There will be refreshments served. SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15TH, 2011
RABBI REISMAN
The Rabbi Reisman simulcast takes place every Saturday evening in
the Weinstein Torah & Tech. Center. The time for January is 7:30 pm.

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

GNS Talmud Torah is looking for student tutors one hour per week on
either Monday or Wednesday between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Chesed
hour credits are available. Please contact Rabbi Polakoff at
rabbi@gns.org.

AM HASEFER SAVE THE DATES GRAND OPENING OF AMBALU JEWELERS

January 11, 2011, Tuesday, 7:45 pm The Sisterhood and Men’s Club wish a Mazal Tov to longtime shul
When They Come For Us, We’ll Be Gone: members, the Ambalu family, on the Grand Opening of Ambalu Jewelers
The Epic Stuggle To Save Soviet Jewry in East Hills (Roslyn) which carries jewelry, tabletop, giftware and bridal
By Gal Beckerman registry. Please join for wine and dessert reception on Sunday, January
****************************** 16th from 12:00-4;00pm at their new store. Each member of Great Neck
January 25, Tuesday 7:45 pm Synagogue will receive a discount and a percentage of all sales will be
Truth Be Veiled: A Justin Steele Murder Case donated to Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Look for their raffle price at the
By Joel Cohen (author), Carla T. Main (contributor) Synagogue Dinner on January 15th.

OHEL SHABBATON
January 7-8. Thank you to everyone who is hosting our special guests. ****KASHRUS ALERT****
Tel-Aviv Restaurant is no longer under the supervision of Vaad of Queens.
WOMEN’S TUESDAY LEARNING
Women’s Tuesday learning takes place Tuesdays at 10 am in
The Braun Youth Center. Amit Yaghoubi will teaching the Shemoneh Saturday, 3 Shevat
Esrei from start to finish with commentaries. You may also attend Annette Forman for Nathan Olk
individual classes at a cost of $ 12.00 per class. Sunday, 4 Shevat
Aryeh Family for Rafael Aryeh
KOL HANEORIM PROJECT Philip Hanfling for Max Hanfling
This year in conjunction with our 59th Annual Journal Dinner we are Holly Hoenig for Irene Berns
launching a new and exciting project in honor of our children. We are Y Jeffrey Wiesenfeld for Marcus Wiesenfeld
very blessed to have a shul with so many families, young and old,
with numerous children and grandchildren. Each Simchas Torah our
A Monday, 5 Shevat
Pamela Bilfeld for Raymond Grant
children and grandchildren gather together under a special tallis for H Miriam Glaubach for Max Herlinger
Kol Haneorim, an aliyah dedicated to the children. Our project is to
dedicate a new tallis that will be a true piece of art that will be used R Julia Jadidian for Moshi Shohet
Hannah Kleinberg for Frances Pascal
each Simchas Torah as well as displayed throughout the year. Z Sam Levitt for Eva Levitt
We have commissioned an experienced artist to design this tallis
exclusively for the families of GNS. We know that you will want to E Tuesday, 6 Shevat
Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Ayuma Bat Moshiach Gabbai
be a part of this unique and historical GNS opportunity. There are I Barry Nysenbaum for Arthur Nysenbaum
a limited number of dedication opportunities so we ask that you to
please respond quickly and generously. We encourage all families to T Wednesday, 7 Shevat
Hannah Kleinberg for Henry Kleinberg
participate in the project; together we can create a beautiful tallis to Thursday 8 Shevat
cover our children as they receive their bracha. Please go to the web- Sylvia Fisher for Esther Hirsh
site www.gns.org and see the rendering of this tallis and the list of Kenneth S Magida for Sidney Magida
donation possibilities.