In the Torah Portion Va'eira there are seven plagues, as is hinted at by the first two letters of Va'eira (Vuv-Aleph) which have the Gematria of seven; and in the Torah Portion Bo there are three plagues which are hinted at by the letters Bo (Bait-Aleph) which have the Gematria of three.


"And I appeared." (Shemot 6:3)


On the words "And I appeared (Va'eira)", Rashi says that means: "to the Patriarchs".  It has been asked, isn't it written explicitly in the verse "to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov", so what does Rashi's explanation add?   The explanation is that the word Patriarchs (Avot) has the meaning of  desire, as in the verse "And he didn't desire (ava) to perform  the mitzvah of Yibum".  The Holy One Blessed Be He shows himself, as it were, to those who desire him, as the Rambam states.  And similarly, the verse "I will be as I will be (Ek-yeh asher Ek-yeh)" can be explained in like fashion: I will be with those who desire that I will be with them. (from the Chatam Sofer)


Why are there Four Languages of Redemption?


It is written in the Midrash that the reason there are four languages of Redemption is that these correspond to the four decrees against the Jews that Pharoah declared: the hard work,  his command to the midwives, the Nile River, and the straw.  Also the four languages of redemption correspond to the four exiles: Egypt, Babylonia, Greece, and Edom. Therefore we drink four cups of wine at Passover in correspondence to the four languages of Redemption, as it is said "I will lift up the cup of salvation", to show that Hashem saved us in the past from the four decrees and is saving us (continually now) from the four exiles.

"And I will give it to you as a heritage (Morasha)." (Shemot 6:8)  



It is not written "an inheritance (Yerusha)" to hint that they will not inherit the land of Israel, rather, their children that come after them will inherit it. (from Rabbeinu Bachya)

"And I will give it to you as a heritage."  (Shemot 6:8)



The word "heritage (Morasha)" is written twice in the Torah, once regarding the Land of Israel and once regarding the Torah, as it is written: "The Torah was commanded to us by Moshe, a Heritage for the Congregation of Yaakov".  This is because there is a connection between the two, for if we have Torah then we also have the Land of Israel, as it is said,"And He will give them the lands of the nations on condition that they will observe His statutes".

"And she bore him Aharon and Moshe." (Shemot 6:20) 



Why are Aharon and Moshe mentioned here?  Since they were Prophets and rose to a very high level, they were mentioned here to tell us  that even though they were born from a human father and mother, it is still possible for flesh and blood human beings to become elevated to a very high level.  And according to the Rambam, everyone has the potential to become as elevated as Moshe Rabbeinu.  

There are three ages written in the Torah Portion of Va'eira



We are told the age of a father, the age of a son, and the age of a grandson.  Levi was 137 years old, Kehat was 133 years old, and Amram was 137 years old.  And also there are three marriages written of in the Torah Portion: the marriage of a father, the marriage of a son, and the marriage of a grandson.  Amram married Yocheved, Aharon married Elisheva, and Eliezer married the daughter of Putiel.

Why did the Torah mention the ages of Moshe and Aharon?  



This is to teach us that even though they were so old, they still made a great effort with the wonders and the plagues for the sake of the people of Israel.  (from Seforno)


The Torah Portion of "Va'eira" has 121 verses.  The Haftora is "Ko Amar Hashem" (Yechezkel 28)



L'ilui Neshamat  HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Gershon Avigdor Ben R' Chaim ztz"l


Shabbat Shalom!