No community start suggestion yet.
Why did the Egyptians enslave the Jews? Rashi (רש"י) offers a striking reading: "they were thorns in their own eyes" — the Egyptians felt worthless when comparing themselves to the Jewish people. Anti-Semitism doesn't stem from what Jews do to others, but from the inadequacy others feel in the face of Jewish achievement and moral standards.
Rabbi Zweig examines Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary on the opening of Parshas Shemos regarding the origins of Egyptian hatred toward the Jewish people. Rashi offers two interpretations of the verse describing Egyptian attitudes. The first suggests the Egyptians themselves felt their lives were not worth living with the Jews around. The second, more penetrating reading states that "the Egyptians in their own eyes were like thorns." This leads to a fundamental insight about anti-Semitism. Rabbi Zweig notes that Jews often ask themselves, "What's wrong with us that everybody hates us? What are we doing wrong?" This creates a terrible psychological burden, constantly trying to figure out what they're doing to provoke hatred. However, the pasuk is actually saying something entirely different: the Egyptians were thorns in their own eyes, not that the Jews were thorns in Egyptian eyes.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does Rashi give conflicting descriptions of Israel's leaders in Egypt? The shiur explores how two different leadership styles emerged: those who pushed people to work harder while taking beatings, versus those who simply absorbed punishment to spare their people. The Torah prioritizes the first type - leaders who accomplish things even when unpopular.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
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.
Shemos (opening of parsha, Rashi's commentary)
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
