- In this week's Parsha, Moshe sings Hashem's praises to the Jewish people. In the beginning of their 40-year journey, he sang another song to them. Where and when did that take place?
After they crossed the Red Sea.
- What is the basic difference between the two songs?
As of the first song, the people were just starting out, and had not yet committed themselves to such evil ways. Now they are full of sins and this song describes how they have forsaken G-s laws.
- What symbol is most used to describe Hashem in Moshe's song? How many times?
Rock, 6 times
- Moshe tells the people that they are in a terrible condition; that in order to know how to return to Hashem's ways, they need to know what those ways are. How did he suggest they find out?
Ask their fathers and they would tell them.
- Moshe says that Hashem guided Yaakov and that he followed no strange gods. He says Hashem made Yaakov suck honey out of the crag and oil out of the flinty rock. What do you think this means?
That with Hashem's help and by following His laws, Yaakov was able to find sustenance in even the most difficult of Hashem's requirements.
- What is the significance to us of the verse - "But Jeshrun waxed fat, and kicked - Thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross - And he forsook G-d who made him"?
When things begin to get too good and too easy for us, we tend to think that it all came about by our efforts and not by the help of Hashem. We begin to forget Hashem and to worship other gods.
- Hashem thought to make an end to the Jewish people, but then decided not to. Why?
Because the nations would fail to see that this was retribution for Israel's waywardness; they would think that they were strong and Israel's G-d was weak.
- Who was alongside Moshe when he sang his song to the people?.
Hoshea ben Nun (Joshua)
- After Moshe finished his song, he charged the people with what order?
To take heed of the words he had spoken that day, and to teach their children to observe Hashem's laws.
- Where did Hashem tell Moshe to go to be gathered unto his people?
Mt. Nebo in Moab, within view of Jericho.
- Moshe was not allowed to enter the land because he failed to sanctify G-d in the midst of the Jewish people by doing what where?
He struck the rock instead of speaking to it at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
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