The Lord will
reign to all eternity; When Pharaoh's horses came with his chariots and his
horsemen into the sea,
(But) among the
divisions of Reuben, (there were) great resolves of heart.
Why do you sit between
the borders,
Talmud
Sotah: Daf 21: Merit
of Women
Isaac
They
journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah.
Week 21 is the last week of the month of Shevat. This week marks the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the
Rebbe’s wife, on the 22nd of Shevat.
The verses of the Song of the Sea are first and foremost a declaration of
faith, Emunah, one of the themes of
this month. They also contain elements of nature: 1) Pharaoh and the horsemen
(man); 2) the horses (animal); and 3) the sea (mineral/Domem).
The Haftorah’s
verses point to Reuben’s doubts, and lack of resolve and Emunah. In general, this is a challenge that Reuben as an
individual seemed to face. He knew he had to save Joseph, but lacked to emunah to do it outright. He later knew
that he had to find a way to take Benjamin to Egypt, but again, his lack of
resolve led to his failure to convince his father.
Daf Kaf Alef (Folio
21) of Sotah continues the discussion
of how the merit of Torah and mitzvoth can
protect from punishment. It also discusses how a woman can earn merit from
Torah. This seems connected to the Rebbetzin’s yahrzeit.
Yitzchak is the second forefather of the
Jewish people. Isaac's whole life, particularly his near sacrifice, was all about Emunah. His name comes from the word Tzchok, laughter. Yitzchak means
“he will laugh,” which also points to faith in future events, as well as pleasure (Ta’anug), related to the month of Shevat.
In the twenty-first
week, the Jews journey from Mount Shepher and camp in Haradah. Haradah means
“trembling” and is related to the fear that the Jewish people experienced after
the plague in the aftermath of Korach’s rebellion.[1]
Haradah, trembling, is also connected
to happiness and rejoicing, as in Psalm 2, “Vegilu
b’Readah, rejoice in trembling. (See
also Talmud, Brachot 30b, 31a: “Where
there is gilah (rejoicing), there must
be trembling.”) The personal journey is to internalize the concept of enjoyment
and beauty of both natural and spiritual worlds/fruits, and now prepare for the
trembling happiness of the month of Adar.
[1]
http://meaningfullife.com/oped/2008/07.11.08$BalakCOLON_42_Journeys_Part_4.php
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