Rabbi’s Message

Rabbi Natan Halevy

Parashat Shemot 5786, BSD

Shalom u’vracha.

This week we begin the second of the Five Books of Moses, the Book of Shemot—Exodus. Although all of the tribes had already passed away, the Torah recounts their names once again. Rashi comments:

“Although G-d had already counted them in their lifetime, He again counted them at the time of their death, to express His love for them. For they are like the stars, which He takes out and brings in by number and by name, as it is written (Isaiah 40:26): ‘He takes out their hosts by number; He calls them each by name.’”

In general, the Jewish people are compared to the stars twinkling in the high heavens. By their light, even one who walks in the darkness of night will not stumble. Every Jew—man or woman—possesses enough moral and spiritual strength to influence friends and acquaintances and to bring them into the light.

Our mission in this world is to shine and illuminate the darkness that sometimes surrounds us, in everything we are involved in.

Pharaoh and the Egyptians were threatened by this light, and for this reason they were intent on destroying it. Pharaoh decreed:

“If it is a son, you shall put him to death, but if it is a daughter, she may live.”

Pharaoh sought to wipe out the males physically, while raising the girls in the Egyptian way and erasing them spiritually. In this way, he believed he could eradicate our nation from the earth. How mistaken he was. Many times in life, actions bring about the opposite of their intended effects. As the Torah states, “The people multiplied and became very strong.”

Moshe symbolized this light on a very deep level. When Moses was born, his mother Yocheved saw that “he was good,” and the house was filled with light. This was one of the reasons he merited becoming the leader who would take Israel out of Egypt and bring down the Torah.

When Yocheved could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket in the Nile River, while his sister Miriam stood from afar to see what would happen to him. Pharaoh’s daughter saw the child, saved him, and named him Moshe—meaning, “from the water I have drawn him.” This name endured, as she intuited his deeper spiritual essence.

Moses is deeply connected to water in the spiritual realm. Water flows from high places to low places. For this reason, Torah is compared to water—it descends from the greatest spiritual heights and clothes itself in physical commandments and teachings in our lower realm. This is why Moshe was the one capable of bringing the Torah down into this world.

Moshe’s embodiment of the Torah and his ultimate leadership were displayed through his self-sacrifice in killing the Egyptian who was beating his fellow Jew. This act led to Moshe fleeing Egypt when Pharaoh sought to kill him for it.

Hashem later appeared to Moshe while he was shepherding Yitro’s sheep in the desert. When Moshe asked Hashem what name he should relay to the Israelites, Hashem responded, “I am that I am.” I am with them in this suffering, and I will be with them in future hardships. Moshe replied, “They are already burdened by their present troubles—why tell them about future ones?” Hashem agreed and said that Moshe should tell them simply, “I am.” This is the name Moshe conveyed to the Israelites.

Hashem appeared to Moshe on Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Chorev. Feeling unworthy, Moshe said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and take the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Hashem responded, “For I will be with you, and this will be the sign that it was I who sent you: when you take the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

The giving of the Torah at Sinai was the moment when Moshe’s prophecy and leadership were verified for all eternity. This established that no one can ever change the Torah or its laws. Anyone who claims that Hashem told them to alter something in the Torah denies the Torah of Moshe, and we are not to believe them.

It is truly remarkable that we have preserved this living tradition for so long. A Jew can walk into a synagogue anywhere in the world and find the exact same Torah. This is awe-inspiring when we reflect upon it.

May Hashem bless us to be strong in our faith and commitment to Hashem, the Torah, and Israel.

Shabbat Shalom u’mevorach.