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Why does Hashem (ה׳) begin the Ten Commandments with 'Anochi,' an Egyptian word, after the Jews merited redemption partly by preserving Hebrew? The slavery experience wasn't meant to be forgotten but transformed into wisdom—teaching discipline, empathy, and understanding that would serve them as Hashem's servants. Every difficult experience becomes specialized training to help others and develop character.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a fascinating contradiction from Midrash Tanchuma: the Jews merited redemption partly because they didn't change their language (shelo shinu es leshonam), maintaining Hebrew for 210 years in Egypt. Yet Hashem (ה׳) begins the Ten Commandments with 'Anochi' - an Egyptian word meaning 'I' - instead of the Hebrew 'Ani.' This apparent inconsistency opens a profound discussion about how we should relate to difficult life experiences. The core teaching centers on two fundamentally different approaches to dealing with negative experiences. The common approach is resilience - not allowing bad experiences to traumatize or paralyze us, simply moving forward without being held back. While this is admirable, Rabbi Zweig presents a superior approach: actively utilizing those experiences for growth and helping others.
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Yisro - Ten Commandments
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Why do couples fight about religious observance - minyan attendance, learning time, or dress standards? The shiur shows from Rambam's Hilchos Ishus that these are symptoms, not causes - healthy marriages built on mutual honor and selflessness naturally produce spiritual growth and religious harmony.
