Parshas Vaera
27 Teves 5768
January 5, 2008
Daf Yomi: Nedarim 15
Guest Author:
Rabbi Evan Shore
Young
Israel of Syracuse
Mark Twain once wrote: There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except for an old optimist. Just imagine being in a situation that has no hope. By nature, I am a very optimistic person. To me, the glass is always half full. Yet there are many who feel and see just the opposite: a half empty glass. When asked about how things are going in my life, my response is clear and unequivocal, it couldn’t be better, thank G-d. Others might answer differently saying life is so terrible, it couldn’t get any worse, why is all of this happening to me?
It is this pessimistic attitude that was ever so pervasive amongst the Jewish people in Egypt. The Torah tells us, (Shemot 6:19) “And Moshe spoke this way to the Children of Israel; but they did not listen to Moshe, because of shortness of breath and hard work.” Rashi explains that the Jewish people didn’t accept Moshe’s words of consolation that were directed to them. In just a few sentences prior to this one Moshe informs the Jewish people about the four levels of redemption that would take place over the course of the following year. The years of harsh and backbreaking servitude were coming to an end. Yet is very hard to understand why the Jewish people would not be receptive to words of encouragement that spelled out the end of slavery, and ultimately led to entering into Eretz Yisroel!
Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch translates our sentence a bit differently. He maintains the Jewish people did not listen due to “impatience.” The inhumane treatment the Jews had to endure day after day made it so difficult for them to even take a short respite from their work. If taken, the respite in the end would not make their slave work any easier or shorter in duration. The lure of a dream of freedom was so out of the realm of possibility, it was not even worth the time to contemplate.
Rabbeinu Bachya maintains that we should not condemn the reaction of the Jews to Moshe’s words from Hashem. We must understand the predicament they were in. It is not that they lacked faith in Hashem or his servant Moshe. Rather, due to their heavy daily workload, the Jewish people desired death because of the terrible and sorrowful lives they lived.
Avrohom Korman in Haparsha L’doroseha explains that the reality of a slave with very little hope, does not want to hear promises of future good happenings, but wants freedom now.
The Ramban tells us that the real problem the Jews faced was that due to their bondage, the Jewish people were unable to “hear anything and consider it (the message).” Harav Moshe Sternbuch writes in Taam V’daas that the Baalei Mussar took the Ramban’s explanation a step further. “Hearing” is hearing only when it is accompanied by understanding and comprehension. Bnai Yisroel might have heard the message from the mouth of Moshe Rabbeinu, but they did not fully comprehend the impact of his words.
This explanation of the Ramban is very applicable to Klal Yisroel today. How often do we seem to miss the signs and messages Hashem sends our way? We, the Jews of Galus, do not hear and unfortunately may not want to hear! We are tired of waiting and want results. We must realize that in spite of our selves and the way we think, Hashem will still do what He thinks and deems is right for Bnai Yisroel. How much easier would it be, if we only listen openly and desired to understand. One step further would be to possess absolute faith and belief in the days of Mashiach.
After Shacharis we say Ani Ma’amin, “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah and even though he may delay, nevertheless, I anticipate that he will come!” Do not be like Bnai Yisroel in Egypt who lost faith and refused to be moved by the words from Hashem. Saadia Gaon in Emunot Ve’De’ot warns us not to lose faith in Hashem, for He is cognizant of our predicament. In Devarim 4:31 we learn: “For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you, neither will He destroy you, nor will He forget the covenant of the Avos which He swore to them.”
We are living in precarious times, let us learn a lesson from Bnai Yisroel in Egypt of how not to listen. Open our ears, our hearts to the Almighty; He is expecting us to do our part, while we wait intently and daily for Him to do His part. The geulah will be a reality if we listen and comprehend and work towards it.
