Page 49 - RMBA Upper School Haggadah 2018

was a combina on of species of locusts but this one in Egypt was the biggest infesta on of one
single species ever. Therefore, they were different plagues and could not be compared. Rabbi
Channanel uses both phrases "it was the biggest one" and "it se les in the boundaries of Egypt"
to solve this conflict by saying it was the biggest plague of locusts Egypt had ever seen. Rambam
believes that these plagues were different plagues (as Rashi believes,) but for different reasons
regarding whether it damaged food or directly damaged people via disease.
What I found interes ng from this is not the difference between the plagues, but the fact that
the Tanach would just repeat a phrase and it turn into such an interes ng argument, like all of
Tanach - it repeats itself for a reason.
Choshech - Mrs. Mineleah Pollak
Which was the worst Makkah of all the Makkot? (Obviously, Makat B’Chorot was in a realm of
its own and that is one of the reasons why it was preceded with the word : MAKAT. However,
which Makah was considered the worst?
MAKAT CHOSHECH. But why? Obviously, the Mitzrim suffered greater losses such as in Dever,
when their livestock died and in Barad, when the hail wiped out all the agriculture. In Kinim, the
lice affected them all as well as in Sh’chin, when they were all covered with boils; therefore,
what was so detrimental about Choshech – darkness?
As it is stated in the Torah: “Lo Ra-u Ish et Echav, v’lo Kamu Ish Mitachtav Shloshet Yamim.” –
“No Man could see his brother nor could anyone rise from his place….” There are many
explana ons to this statement, one of them being that of the Ramban who says that the
darkness was not just the absence of light, but an opaque fog-like condi on that ex nguished
all flames, so that the Mitzrim could not even use lamps or keep track of the days. But, why is
this considered the worst of them all?
The Rabbis explain the severity as the breakdown of the Egyp an family. People are used to be
touched by their loved ones; a hug goes a long way for children, spouses and friends. When the
Mitzrim could not even get up and see their other family members, the family as it was, fell
apart during those days and nights. There was no touching, no loving and no communica on
between spouses and children. Everyone felt lost and alone. Loneliness and the feeling of not
being cared for, thought about or loved, brought upon the devasta on of the family unit. When
people are no longer united together, by connec ng with each other physically and emo onally
cared for, the family, as we know it, falls apart.
Choshech - Elie Gelman (8th Grade)
The Torah tells us that the ninth plague was darkness. Why would God make the ninth plague
something so simple? Rashi says that Hashem sent darkness so the Egyp ans would not witness
the killing of the Jews who didn't want to leave Egypt. It was also beneficial for the Jews in that
it allowed them to find all the Egyp ans’ valuables. The Yalkut Me'am Lo’ez takes a different

48