PARSHAS VA’ERA
Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the parsha?
Rabbi Dani Staum
KEY to Parshas Va’era PIX
Hail to the Chief – Makkas Barad 9:22
Animals in the house – two answers: 1. If the Egyptian animals were brought into their owner’s homes they were not killed by Makkas Barad – 9:20 (according to Rashi the same was true for Makkas Dever 9:10). 2. By Makkas Arov, the animals entered the Egyptians homes and attacked – 8:17
I just can’t do it – By Makkas Kinim the Egyptian magicians admitted for the first time that they couldn’t replicate the plague, saying “it is the finger of G-d!” – 8:15
Why so smelly? – after Makkas Tzefardeia, they piled up all the dead frogs and the whole country stank – 8:10 (also see following line about Makkas Dam)
Tons of dead fish – When the fish all died by Makkas Dam, the country smelled – 7:21
Cleaning up soot from the furnace – Makkas Shechin began as a result of Moshe and Aharon throwing up handfuls of furnace soot – 9:8
Wild animals invading people’s homes – By Makkas Arov, the animals entered the Egyptians homes and attacked – 8:17
Barley & flax/ wheat & spelt – During Makkas Barad, the pasuk says “the flax and barley were struck… and the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they ripen later.” 9:30-31
Harden – Hashem told Moshe that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart 7:3
Fail Speech – Moshe stated that he wasn’t the right man for the mission because he couldn’t speak properly – 6:30
State of Denial – Mark Twain once quipped that “De-Nile aint just a river in Egypt”. Pharaoh was in “de-Nile” in more ways than one. He went to the Nile each morning to relieve himself so no one would see because he fancied himself a god. 7:15
Shortness of Breath – The Jewish slaves couldn’t even listen to Moshe’s message of imminent redemption because of shortness of breath from the severity of the servitude – 6:9
Pray 4 Me – During a few pf the plagues Pharaoh asked Moshe to pray for him and the country –Makkas Tzefardeia – 8:4, Makkas Arov – 8:24, and Makkas Barad – 9:28
80th birthday – Moshe was 80 (Aharon was 83) when they came to Pharaoh for the first time to demand that he free the Jews – 7:7
