Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:14

TT #40 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 14

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Yerushalmi Taanis 4:3 (verified).

Core Text

Core Textתַּנְיָא, אַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין בְּכָל יוֹם; בָּרְבִיעִי הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין עַל הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁלֹּא תַּעֲלֶה אַסְכָּרָה לְתוֹךְ פִּיהֶם, [עַל שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ] וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי מְאֹרֹת — מְאֵרֹת חָסֵר כְּתִיב.
English of Core Text: It was taught: The men of the watch would fast every day; on Wednesday they would fast for the children, that croup not rise into their mouths, [because of that which is said on it] “And God said, Let there be luminaries” — “me’eros” is written deficiently (as if “curses”).
On the daf / in context: The mishmar fast for Wednesday is linked to the defective spelling of “me’oros,” which can be read as “curses,” hence the prayer for children’s health.
Type of Learning: Custom (defective spelling + mishmar fast)
What Is Learned: The defective spelling of “me’oros” is the association for the Wednesday fast on behalf of children.