VaEyrah Excerpts

וארא

Shabbat Shalom

Paroh's necromancers match the blood and the frogs that Moshe and Ahron bring upon Egypt. There were already frogs, there was already blood, they were a problem. Just like everybody in this congregation. They are making it worse for themselves. Why do we keep on bringing in new members? It is...You don't want the blood in the water. Why not stop it? Stop the new people, if you can't make the old ones...We want to welcome the Bat Mitzvah's family and friends. The Goldenbergs are new members of the congregation...

(8:11) After the frogs have died and the frogs are not all over the houses, 'Paroh saw that there is relief and his heart hardened and he did not listen to them....' He did not let the Jews leave to serve H.' Relief causes issues. We have finally found relief. The chazan went on an extended vacation. But now, nobody wants to pray.

Paroh takes back his promise of letting everybody go to serve and sacrifice to H.' Just like Fran took back her promise of donating the new chairs to the shul. Like the Bat Mitzvah girl's cousins who took back the gift...It is a Bat Mitzvah gift. Everybody needs a copy of the 'Book of Our Heritage.'

Like your parents who are trying to get relief...

(8:15) After the necromencers of Paroh can't get rid of the lice, they say, 'This is the finger of H.'' To which Paroh's heart hardens. This time there is no relief. There is no Mrs. Goldenberg to save the school from the lice epidemic of Jim Fontein and his shaved head...She was so quick with that shaver. A real hero. Didn't even call a barber. She knew the other children had no time.

No relief, and he still doesn't let the Jews serve H.' Just like the Mishebeirachs that went on for 12 minutes. Nobody could pray, and the Jewish people of the congregatioin had to tarry. 

He is now being stubborn, just like the parents of the Bat Mitzvah who are not giving a Kiddush in honor of the Bat Mizvah. Why? Because it is not a Bar Mitzvah. You want equality?! Equality is a decent potato kugel. The Bat Mitzvah deserves one too.

Was there a plague of Topeka? A plague of Anshei Beis Emes Sefilah? The plague of going home on an empty stomach is going to happen after the Bat Mitzvah today. That is not relief. And we still do not have kavanah (proper intent when we daven). It is like bringing the plague of frogs on ourselves, when the plague has already been brought...We are already hungry due to the long Torah reading brachot...Study the blessings at home. And Dr. Goldenberg! Learn the names of your family. This is the second week in a row we had to wait for somebody to list the last five generations. Notes from the ladies section were passed...Because you didn't know your daughter's Hebrew name.

Kirah, as we celebrate your Bat Mitzvah...You come from a family that has not had lice for may years. Your mother has been a lice protector for our community. A blessing. Like her, may you remove the vermin from our midst...Bernie...Kirah is not a Hebrew name. Now I know why it was hard. Because your family is plagued with a bunch of not Jewish names.

(8:16-18) Now H' Moshe to tell Paroh that he has to let His nation our to serve Him, or there will be wild beasts in the houses.

It is at this point that 'I shall set apart the land of Goshen on that day, that My people lives on...in order that you should know that I am H,' within the land.' It is with names that we also are identified and seperated...

The wild beasts did not go there, and thus we know the Jews are H's people. I look around this congregation and ask about the fights that took place over the seats. I ask about the wrappers in front of Bernie's chair. You are an animal. A sugar-free sucking animal. We are like beasts today, who run through daveninig because we have a little relief from our Chazan...Did H' just pass over us, like with the plague of the first born? Did He pass over us, and not bring us wild beasts? Is H' with us? That is what we need.

Will the Bat Mitzvah girl come up here...move a little faster. They are waiting...We already waited long enough for your dad to read every name of the family. Today H' did not pass over us with the plague of waiting and hunger. Hunger for which there will be no relief, no kiddush...You are a beautiful young girl with a lot of potential. You have not lived up to...

You should not have lice or wild beasts in your hair.