The Torah relates that Moshe had to flee for his life from Egypt. He then settled in Midyan where he met his wife Tzipora. When G-d was ready to free the Jews from their slavery in Egypt, He revealed Himself to Moshe while Moshe was shepherding the sheep of his father-in-law, Yisro.
Moshe saw a thorn-bush ablaze but remarkably he noticed the bush was not being consumed by the flames. Captivated by this astounding sight, Moshe drew close. At that point, G-d spoke to Moshe and instructed him stay where he was and to remove his shoes, for the ground that he was standing on was holy. In fact, it was Mount Sinai, the spot where G-d would eventually give the Torah to the Jews.
During this seven-day encounter, G-d tried convincing Moshe to return to Egypt to lead the Jews and take them out. Moshe, due to his genuine humility, gave G-d reasons why he was unfit. Moshe finally agreed to lead the nation on the condition that his older brother Aaron would assist him.
Our Sages point out that G-d revealed Himself to Moshe in a lowly thorn-bush rather than a majestic cedar tree to teach us that G-d specifically chose a modest submissive thorn-bush to show us that He feels the pain, suffering and depravity that His people were experiencing.
G-d also exposed Moshe to a Name of His which indicates that just as G-d is with the Jewish suffering at this point, He will be with them in the future challenges as well.
This notion of feeling the pain of our brethren had been infused in our leader Moshe from a young age. The Torah tells us that Moshe was raised in the palace of Pharoh, by the Pharoh’s daughter, Basya.
Although Moshe was protected and safe with the privileges of a prince, the Torah tells us that he went out to check up on his brothers and saw their hardships. Rashi tells us that Moshe set his eyes and heart upon them and he felt their pain. Moshe was daringly proactive to save the Jews, and when he was exposed for his actions it was necessary for him to flee for his life.
When Moshe was born to his parents, Amram and Yocheved, there was an Egyptian decree to have all the male babies that were born thrown in and drowned in the Nile. Moshe was born prematurely and his parents were able to hide him from the authorities for three months. After that, his sister Miriam placed him comfortably in a basket and set him in the Nile while she watched from the side.
The Torah relates that the daughter of Pharoh went to the Nile to bathe and noticed the basket and she drew it towards her. “She opened the basket and behold a young boy was crying.” Rashi quotes the opinion of Rebbe Yehudah who explains that the infant Moshe had the voice of a young boy.”
The Medrash gives another explanation. Basya said, “Behold the young boy was crying” – is not referring to the infant Moshe, rather, it was his three-year-older brother Aaron who was crying on the side of the Nile with his sister Miriam.
The question asked is if the crying boy Basya was referring to is Aaron, why did Basya immediately state, “This baby is Jewish!?”
A beautiful answer shared by Rabbi Moshe Scheinerman is that Basya came to realize that the baby in the basket was indeed Jewish because she clearly knew and understood that it was uniquely a Jewish trait for someone to compassionately cry and empathize over the fate of another, and therefore confidently identified Moshe as a Jewish baby!
Last week, I had the good fortune to attend a session, a Q & A with Rabbi Sholom Kamenetzky, dean of the Philadelphia Yeshiva. A question was asked regarding the current war that Israel is battling on all fronts. “We have been reciting special prayers on behalf of Israel and the IDF since October 7th 2023. We are human and the novelty, fervor and intensity our prayers has worn off a bit. What would the Rabbi recommend for us to ignite a spark to our prayers?
Rabbi Kamenetzky responded. We all struggle with this. But the other week the following struck me: That never since our existence, did Klal Yisroel/the Jewish nation as a unified group, pray for 16 months straight reciting requisite Psalms/Tehilim at the conclusion of each of our prayers on behalf of our nation Israel. When we take a step back we will see and recognize the open miracles; the interception of all sorts of missiles, Hamas being routed out, the elimination of Hezbollah, the collapse of the Syrian regime, the limiting of Iran’s power and the myriad of untold personal miracles that happened to our soldiers. By taking a look at, and appreciating what our collective prayers, caring and empathy have achieved – it can perhaps energize, strengthen and boost the efficacy and value of our personal prayers and devotion!
