The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.
R' Frand noted that there are three species which are mentioned in connection with Yetzias Mitzrayim - the frogs, the dogs and the donkeys.
The frogs carried out their mission with no personal fear and even threw themselves into the ovens. R' Frand quoted the gemara in Pesachim which discusses how Chananya, Mishael and Azaraya threw themselves into a fiery furnace rather than bow down to an idol of Nebuchadnezzar. The gemara explains that they drew a kal v'chomer from the frogs. Since the frogs were all over Egypt from the bedrooms to the kitchens and these frogs chose to fall into the ovens rather than the beds, Chananya, Mishael and Azaraya chose to fall into the furnace. These frogs did not even have a mitzva to die Al Kiddush Hashem, but people do have this obligation and so they chose to enter the furnace.
R' Frand also mentioned the Medrash on Tehillim which notes that when the Torah discusses the death of the frogs after Moshe prayed to Hashem there is no mention that the frogs that were in the oven died like all the other frogs...because those frogs who threw themselves into the ovens did not die!
The dogs are also lauded, because they did not bark when the Jews escaped from Egypt. As a result, they are rewarded in that with the animals which are treifahs. And even the dog excrement is given a noble purpose, as an extract is used to prepare the animal hides to be made into tefillin and mezuzos.
But which had a greater mesiras nefesh - the dogs or the frogs?
R' Frand answered by quoting the grandfather of the current Tolner Rebbi, R' Duvidl Tolna. He said that the dog had a greater mesiras nefesh because it kept its mouth shut. Sometimes its easier to throw yourself into a fire, than not to dish on your enemy who you might know some lashon hara about.
Lastly, R' Frand mentioned the donkey which has the reward of being Kodesh despite being a non-kosher animal without even one kosher sign. The mitzva of Peter Chamor - redeeming the first born donkey is unique, since the donkey itself cannot be eaten or sacrificed, unlikely a traditional bechor. So why is it Kodesh? Because the donkey was noseh b'ol chavero (literally) and if you carry and shlep for someone else there is a reward.
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