Parashas Vaera
28 Shevat 5769
January 24, 2009

Daf Yomi: Bava Kama 27

Guest Author:
Rabbi Moshe S. Gorelik

Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel

 

 

The concluding segment of Parshat Shemot describes Moshe Rabbeniu's strong reaction to HaShem upon Pharaoh's refusal to accede to the request that the Jewish people spend a three-day retreat in the wilderness. Pharaoh also adds more salt to their wounds by charging the taskmasters and Jewish foremen as follows:  "You shall no longer provide the people with straw for making bricks as heretofore. Let them gather straw for themselves; however, impose upon them the same quota as they have been producing heretofore" (Shemot 5:7-8).

The Jewish foremen appealed to Pharaoh to rescind the severe decree, but he refused to do so. When the foremen came upon Moshe, they bitterly said to him: "May HaShem look upon you and punish you for making us loathsome to Pharaoh and his courtiers and for putting a sword in their hands to slay us" (Shemot 5:21). In response to those words, Moshe Rabbeinu turned to HaShem and cried out: "Why did You bring harm upon this people? ... Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak inYour name, he has dealt worse with this people and You still have not delivered them" (Shemot 5:22-23).

The opening passages of Parshat Vaera record HaShem's response to the harsh words of Moshe. In essence, HaShem reminds him that He had promised the Avot that He would redeem their descendants from bondage and lead them into Eretz Yisrael. Although the Avot did not witness the fulfillment of the promise, they never faltered in their belief. Implied in HaShem's response is that the current terrible conditions are to test Moshe's faith. By referring to the Avot, Hashem is conveying a critical message to Moshe.

One cannot comprehend the miracle of Jewish existence by focusing only on current conditions. The Avot grasped the Divine significance of Israel's future, even at the time of the Akeida when the future looked very bleak.

Upon taking HaShem's words of mussar to heart, Moshe Rabbeinu finally realized that his tunnel vision restricted his view of the future and it immobilized him. Now that he girded himself with profound faith and vigorous determination, he is able to emerge as the incomparable leader of Israel and lead his people out of bondage.

The hallmark of the Jewish people is their deep-seated bitachon, notwithstanding the evil decrees of all the Pharaohs throughout history. The Jewish people are truly heroic. They have endured many challenges and have suffered indescribable horrors of pain and utter destruction. Yet, they were not deterred in their faith that Am Yisrael is an eternal people. They sensed the uniqueness of their history by bearing in mind the Talmudic saying: "Ein Mazal B'Yisrael." This saying conveys the idea that Israel's existence transcends the laws of history. The great skeptic, Voltaire, was asked whether he still believed in G-d. He replied that had it not been for the miracle of the survival of the Jewish people, he would have given up this belief as well. One need only scan the history of this people to reach the same conclusion.

HaShem's message to Moshe Rabbenu is that Jewish history is mega-history; the Avot of history understood this. Their view was not restricted to the moment. Their bitachon energized their hope for the future of Am Yisrael.

The very existence of Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel, defies logic; the fact that it exists, in spite of the global challenges, the threats to its existence and serious domestic problems. The late Chief Rabbi Herzog ZT"L expressed the bitachon of the Avot as follows:  During the Second World War, he met with President Roosevelt who advised him to remain in America because General Rommel was penetrating deep into North Africa, posing a threat to Israel. Rav Herzog refused his advice and declared: "The prophets forecast two destructions, but not a third. I am returning to Palestine." His faith is like that of the Avot, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, as well as the Avot of history. It was faith such as this that led to the return of Am Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael. May it one day bring us the Geula Shlema and the Bait Hamikdash.