The Shmuz On The Parshah

The Kohen shall don a garment of linen, and he shall don linen breeches on his skin, and he shall remove the ashes.”

— VaYikra 6:3

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“And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and Hashem moved the sea with a strong eastern wind all the night, and He turned the sea to damp land and the water split.”

“On the Shulchan shall you place the Bread of Surfaces before Me, always.”

– Sh’mos 25:30

“The Children of Israel did according to the word of Moshe; they requested from the Egyptians silver vessels, gold vessels, and garments.”

“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.”

– Sh’mos 22:17

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The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the mitzvah to destroy sorcerers is based on the foundation that Hashem created a perfect world. Everything in this world has a plan and a purpose, and everything is in exact balance. To maintain a perfect physical world, Hashem created a spiritual world to guide it. From the stars and planets, down to the trees and grass, behind every physical entity is a spiritual counterpart that is responsible for its existence. Chazal tell us, “No blade of grass grows without an angel guiding it (B’reishis Rabah 10:6).”

And Pharaoh sent for Moshe and Aharon and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Hashem is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.”

– Sh’mos 9:27