Parsha Paragraphs
Rabbi Naftali Kassorla
Parshat Va’eira 5778
Take A Minute
The D’var Torah for this week is dedicated for the speedy רפואה שלימה of:
שושנה בת אולגה שתחי׳
If you are interested in sponsoring a D’var Torah in honor or in memory of someone, or for any occasion, please email: ParshaParagraphs@gmail.com
This week's parsha begins to tell us of the onslaught of plagues that G-d brought down upon Egypt. After finally convincing Moshe to be His messenger with Aharon, G-d commands Moshe to confront Pharaoh with a miracle – turning his staff into a snake – to show that Moshe is an emissary of G-d. Pharaoh summons his “wise men and sorcerers” (Shemot 7:11) and they too manage to perform this task. Later, Moshe and Aharon, at G-d’s behest, confront Pharaoh and warn him of the first plague: the changing of the Nile to blood, and the death of its fish. Aharon strikes the Nile and it turns to blood. Again Pharaoh has the חרטומים (sorcerers) match this act.
After the plague of blood, the Torah tells us: ויפן פרעה ויבא אל ביתו ולא שת לבו גם לזאת “Pharaoh turned and went home, and he paid no heed, even to this.” Rashi explains, “He paid no heed: to the wonder of the staff which was changed into a serpent and also not to that of the blood” (Ibid.23)
However, we must ask an obvious question: we already know from the previous verses that when the חרטומים replicated the miracles, “Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he did not heed them…” (Ibid.11) and “when the Egyptian sorcerers did the same with their spells, Pharaoh’s heart became hard, and he did not heed them…” (Ibid.22). What is the Torah adding by telling us again that Pharaoh did not take heed? And what connection is there between the beginning of the verse, “Pharaoh turned and went home..” to the end of the verse that “he paid no heed.”
I believe the answer lies in a common experience. We’ve all felt those times in life when we encounter something that strikes within us inspiration to overcome a challenge, a bad habit, or to dedicate ourselves to something of higher purpose. These are the special times that call for reflection, times when something occurs which is so shocking that it causes us to reevaluate our life’s direction. Yet so often, those feelings that grabbed us, manage to vanish away like mist in the wind. The most important thing to do to retain that moment, that flash of inspiration, is to quickly act upon it, to do something concrete – immediately.
After the plague of blood, the Torah tells us: ויפן פרעה ויבא אל ביתו ולא שת לבו גם לזאת “Pharaoh turned and went home, and he paid no heed, even to this.” Rashi explains, “He paid no heed: to the wonder of the staff which was changed into a serpent and also not to that of the blood” (Ibid.23)
However, we must ask an obvious question: we already know from the previous verses that when the חרטומים replicated the miracles, “Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he did not heed them…” (Ibid.11) and “when the Egyptian sorcerers did the same with their spells, Pharaoh’s heart became hard, and he did not heed them…” (Ibid.22). What is the Torah adding by telling us again that Pharaoh did not take heed? And what connection is there between the beginning of the verse, “Pharaoh turned and went home..” to the end of the verse that “he paid no heed.”
I believe the answer lies in a common experience. We’ve all felt those times in life when we encounter something that strikes within us inspiration to overcome a challenge, a bad habit, or to dedicate ourselves to something of higher purpose. These are the special times that call for reflection, times when something occurs which is so shocking that it causes us to reevaluate our life’s direction. Yet so often, those feelings that grabbed us, manage to vanish away like mist in the wind. The most important thing to do to retain that moment, that flash of inspiration, is to quickly act upon it, to do something concrete – immediately.
However, the most sure-fire way to lose that chance is to immediately return to our daily routine, unchanged. We can easily miss an opportunity to grow when we simply go back to what feels familiar, to our “comfort-zone” where we can forget and ignore the inspiration we experienced.
With this in mind, we can now properly frame Pharoah’s attitude. In a time of an incredible revelation of G-d, and after witnessing two wondrous signs, Pharaoh should have taken a moment to stop and reflect upon what he witnessed. Yes, even after his own sorcerers performed the same signs, there was still ample reason to discern G-d’s Sovereignty. For example, the S’forno says that Pharaoh should have questioned what he saw: "To recognize the difference between what G-d had done and what his sorcerers had done. G-d’s activity had produced a total change in the nature of the river Nile, a phenomenon which had been considered as inviolate, constant, incapable of being abolished. It had turned the Nile into ‘real blood,’ so much so that all the fish had died. As opposed to the changes affected by the tricks of the חרטומים, they were performed on phenomena that were unstable to begin with. Possibly, all the sorcerer's acts were really produced through illusions or trickery."
Yet, what does Pharaoh do? Does he take that crucial minute to stop and think? No, He turns and goes home; he returns to his comfort-zone, his familiar surroundings, and ultimately, to his preconceived notions. This seemingly insignificant action inevitably led to: “and he paid no heed.” That moment, that chance to reflect, was lost. Having drones this it was only natural that Pharaoh would not take anything to heart.
All too often, we allow precious moments of potential to slip away. But if we realize that it's really in our hands to seize them, we can become more cognizant of these opportunities, and of what they can accomplish. Unlike Pharoah, we, who truly desire to become better, can then use these moments to achieve our goals.
Shabbat Shalom
With this in mind, we can now properly frame Pharoah’s attitude. In a time of an incredible revelation of G-d, and after witnessing two wondrous signs, Pharaoh should have taken a moment to stop and reflect upon what he witnessed. Yes, even after his own sorcerers performed the same signs, there was still ample reason to discern G-d’s Sovereignty. For example, the S’forno says that Pharaoh should have questioned what he saw: "To recognize the difference between what G-d had done and what his sorcerers had done. G-d’s activity had produced a total change in the nature of the river Nile, a phenomenon which had been considered as inviolate, constant, incapable of being abolished. It had turned the Nile into ‘real blood,’ so much so that all the fish had died. As opposed to the changes affected by the tricks of the חרטומים, they were performed on phenomena that were unstable to begin with. Possibly, all the sorcerer's acts were really produced through illusions or trickery."
Yet, what does Pharaoh do? Does he take that crucial minute to stop and think? No, He turns and goes home; he returns to his comfort-zone, his familiar surroundings, and ultimately, to his preconceived notions. This seemingly insignificant action inevitably led to: “and he paid no heed.” That moment, that chance to reflect, was lost. Having drones this it was only natural that Pharaoh would not take anything to heart.
All too often, we allow precious moments of potential to slip away. But if we realize that it's really in our hands to seize them, we can become more cognizant of these opportunities, and of what they can accomplish. Unlike Pharoah, we, who truly desire to become better, can then use these moments to achieve our goals.
Shabbat Shalom
