VAYERA 1986 – 1

The Torah portion which we read in shul last Shabbos, Vayera, begins with G-d reiterating to Moses His intent to liberate the Jewish people from Egypt.

Moses is in despair.  At the end of the previous Torah portion we learn how Moses' coming to liberate the Jewish people had only exacerbated their condition, how Pharaoh had taunted him and proclaimed that it was only because of the Israelite's laziness that they dared listen to him.  Pharaoh, therefore, decreed that from now on the Jews were to make the same number of bricks but were not to be given any straw.  They were to gather the straw themselves.  But not only did Moses' mission produce the opposite effect on Pharaoh, it also further demoralized the Israelite slaves.  They turned on Moses and excoriated him for making them "stink in the eyes of Pharaoh".  G-d, therefore, reassures Moses that in truth Moses' mission will succeed and that the Jews will be liberated.  Moses still hesitates, though, and says, "Behold the Children of Israel have not listened to me.  How will Pharaoh listen to me, and I, of the uncircumcised lips..."The Torah then goes on to record G-d' s answer: "And G-d spoke to Moses and Aaron and He commanded them to the Sons of Israel and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring out the Sons of Israel from the land of Egypt.  If After hearing G-d' s answer Moses never again doubts his mission.  He knows that he will be the instrument for the redemption of Israel.

This all seems very puzzling.  What kind of answer was that this G-d gave Moses?  And what did He command him?  The answers to these questions have been many.  The answer which I feel is the best is that found in Ther Sefrei and adapted by Maimonides.  The command that Moses was given was how to conduct himself, how to adopt the proper attitude when speaking to the Children of Israel and when speaking to Pharaoh.  He was told (along with Aaron) to speak gently to the Jews, to lead them patiently ignoring the unjustified criticism which an humiliated people would hurl at him and to speak, at the same time, respectfully to an arrogant Pharaoh.  In other words, he was told how to carry out his mission so it would succeed, so that Moses could not say "I am of uncircumcised lips, to use the proper attitude to ensure reaching his goal".

Many times there are people who have brilliant ideas which can and would better a community, but because they adopt the wrong attitude they always fail to put their ideas across.  They only succeed in embittering others and themselves.  In their impatience to put through an idea which they know is sound, they fail to make sure everybody else understand it, too, and that others are not unnecessarily hurt by it.  Moses felt himself a failure.  His mission was set back by his coming, not advanced.  However, from the time when G-d commanded him to conduct himself with patience and courtesy, his mission could not help but succeed.  also learn this lesson.  I hope and pray that we, too, will