VAERA 1985

We all look at the world through our preconceptions.  We filter all our experiences through the world views we adopt.  Many times we look at the world askew.  Certain things we emphasize and other things we totally ignore.  

For example, everyone was terribly upset about the massacre in Sabra and Shatila, and well they should be!  Ariel Sharon was reprimanded for not thinking that such a possibility could occur.  He was not accused of having any participation in it, and "Time"  magazine now has been proved to be a liar when it said he discussed the need for revenge, but he was charged with negligence and dismissed from his post as Defense Minister because he should have thought this could happen.  General Westmoreland and President Johnson should have also thought that Mai Lai could have taken place.  The peculiar thing, though, is that when Israel moved out of the Shuf Mountains and are now going to move out of Lebanon, there will be a bigger massacre, but nobody cares because they all want Israel out.  Massacres depend upon who is doing the massacring.  In Central and South America if massacres occur perpetrated by those who are against us we blow it up.  If our side does it we ignore it.  We look at the world through the eyes of our own preconceptions, and many times our view is terribly askew.  

This is what happened to Pharaoh.  He believed in slavery because he thought it was absolutely necessary in order to maintain civilization.  His whole world view was askew.  That's why the rabbis ask, why was it that G-d had to cause ten plagues to occur?  Why didn't G-d just bring one plague?  The answer is that G-d did not just want to rescue the Jews or punish the Egyptians, He wanted Pharaoh and the Egyptians to admit that slavery was wrong, that their system of the world was corrupt.  That's what the rabbis say it means when it says that G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart.  It does not mean that He took away his free will.  It only meant that G-d gave him enough strength to withstand the suffering.  He was supposed to let the Jewish people go because he finally realized it was wrong to keep them as slaves.  In the beginning of the Torah portion Vaera we learn this similar idea.  The world has standards and we are supposed to try to live up to these standards.  We may not always do it, but we have to keep trying.  Pharaoh's standards were completely wrong.  In the beginning of the Torah portion we learn how it says how G-d appeared to Moshe and He said, "I am Hashem,"  It later says, "and He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as G-d Almighty, but My name, Hashem, He had not made known to them."  This statement is not really accurate, because G-d had used the name with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  However, He did not use the name when He made them patriarchs.  Then He used the name El Shaddai or "Almighty."  Each of the forefathers were different because they arrived at their conception of G-d through a different way.  Abraham arrived at his conception of G-d through nature.  Yitzchak arrived at his conception of G-d through a personal experience.  Jacob arrived at his conception of G-d through study of history.  

Many times we can use science or personal experience or even history to justify evil.  G-d told each of them that science and nature must always conform to morality.  So must personal experience.  Many young people join cults because of overwhelming warm experiences, but these cults are wrong.  The same thing about the study of history.  Communism claims that their study of history allows them to commit all sorts of atrocities.  It is very interesting why G-d appears at this time to Moshe and says, "I am Hashem."  After all, Moshe had just complained to G-d that his lot had gotten worse not better, and he was questioning why G-d had sent him.  It was at this point that G-d said, "I am Hashem.  There are standards in the world and they will be eventually attained."  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each established standards in different areas.  These standards will eventually be met for everyone.  G-d appeared to Moshe with the name Hashem because Moshe had just challenged Him.  was telling him, "Since I came things got worse.  G-d, You may have standards, but they are not being met."  G-d was telling Moshe, "Do not worry, they will be met.  They will be met in every field.  People will not be able to look at science or history or their personal experience and derive world views which will lead to slavery and degradation.  They may try, but they will not be able to maintain these views.  Do not lose heart, Moshe.  Pharaoh will send you out because it is the right thing to do."  In our day and age, unfortunately, we have many times adopted the view that if the people cannot meet the standards, change the standards.  Instead of bringing the people up to the standards, change the standards.  It is obviously a long procedure until the standards are met, and there will be many failures along the way, but this does not mean we should change the standards.  

I am reminded of the story they tell about a teacher who liked to manipulate his class.  He told his class that if they could answer a question that Friday afternoon they would not have to come to school on Monday.  If not, he would give them another homework assignment.  The kids were excited.  He asked them, "How many stars are in the sky?"  They all tried to answer.  He said, "Here is your extra homework.  See you Monday."  He told them the same thing the next week and asked them, "How many grains of sand are there on the seashore?"  The same things happened as before.  The third week, just as the teacher was about to ask the question, a kid threw a spitwad at him and the teacher immediately asked, "Who threw that?"  The boy answered, "I did.  See you Tuesday."  People who manipulate eventually pay the price.  They cannot maintain a world view which does not work toward standards of justice and morality which G-d wants.