Parshat Shemot
This week's Torah reading begins with tragedy and ends with tragedy.
It opens with Pharaoh’s decree to enslave the Jews and kill the male babies and ends with Moses complaining to G-d for not stopping it; "Why have you made this nation suffer!?" (5:22).
This raises two questions. Firstly, why did the Jews have to suffer? What was the ‘good’ that G-d wanted to achieve with the Egyptian exile?
And secondly, why did Moses complain? Moses was a Tzaddik - a G-dly man. He knew that G-d doesn't make mistakes. Did he doubt G-d's goodness?
The first question about suffering possibly we can answer with the following story.
Once there was a kind man that couldn't stand to see suffering. One day while walking in his garden he noticed something he had never seen before; a caterpillar’s cocoon that was moving and trembling ever so slightly. He realized what was happening; Trapped in that cocoon was a transformed caterpillar who was now making a heroic effort to break out of its cramped silken cell and emerge as a BUTTERFLY. He was witnessing a struggle for freedom!
A wave of mercy swept over his entire being and he knew what he had to do. There already was too much suffering in the world!!! He would RESCUE!!
He pulled out his small pocket knife, opened it, delicately slit the length of one side of the cocoon, then gently pried it open and thanked G-d for the opportunity to have done such a good deed.
He watched lovingly, almost in tears, as the butterfly slowly crawled out of its prison and spread its beautiful wings in the warm sun and he waited for the moment it would glide away in joyous flight. But it didn't.
It just weakly flapped its wings for a few long minutes until it stopped moving and ..... died.
Later he learned that butterflies, in struggling to escape from their cocoons, strengthen and develop certain muscles and sinews necessary for flying. The struggle is essential to their development and without having passed that ordeal, this butterfly was doomed.
So too here, possibly we can say that the suffering of the Jews in Egypt was to give them power to ‘defy nature (gravity) and ‘fly’ i.e. ‘elevate’, themselves and the entire world.
And why did Moses complain? Here is story that might help explain; ('Migdal Oz' by Rabbi Zelig Slonim – story 177)
The Fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber (Resha’b), led Russian Jewry through the horrendous tribulations of World War I.
The Russian forces, seriously outmaneuvered and outsmarted by the Germans and losing on all fronts, continued sending thousands of soldiers to almost certain death. So when a young Chassid who we will call Mottle received his draft notice he immediately sought advice how to escape service.
To run away was out of the question. It would bring retribution on the entire family and eventually he would be caught. The only chance was the Rebbe. Chassidim traveled from throughout Russia to Lubavitch to get his advice or blessing.
In some cases, the Rebbe told the draftees to feign insanity, others he told to change draft boards, to some he told to maim themselves in various ways, to others to bribe the officials. Those that followed his advice were never disappointed.
But occasionally there were Chassidim that the Rebbe was not able to help. They were destined to serve in the army and their only hope was to return home in one piece.
So Mottle, traveled to the Rebbe, got a private audience, told the Rebbe his plea and begged for an exemption but received a disheartening reply. The Rebbe looked down and said in his most serious tone, "G-d will help" which meant there was nothing he could do.
He left the Rebbe’s room a trapped man. Suddenly in his desperation he got an idea; he would go to the Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Rivka and against all odds, ask if she could possibly help.
And it worked! She agreed!
Early the next morning, she waited for the time just before the Rebbe, her son, began seeing people privately (called 'Yechidut'), knocked on his door, entered without waiting for a reply and made her request.
"My son. Yesterday a young man called Mottle told me you refused to help him get out of the army. I beg you, please promise me that Mottle gets freed from the draft.
"Mother" the Rebbe replied, 'how can I promise such a thing? It is all in the hands of G-d. Only G-d can help!
But his mother did not take no for an answer and asked even more clearly, "My son, I want you to promise that he will not go to the army. I beg you."
The Rebbe looked at her and repeated his reply. "It is out of my hands".
But she was persistent. "My son, I know you can promise. I want a promise that he will not be drafted."
The Rebbe looked down, was silent in thought for a few seconds and answered "With the help of G-d, he will be exempted."
His mother came out of the room in joy and declared, "Certainly the telegram will arrive very soon."
Within two hours an urgent telegram arrived from the draft board that he was rejected from service in the army.
This is why Moses demanded from G-d.
Moses had no doubts that G-d is good, he knew that all suffering (G-d forbid) has a benefit, (even if we don't see it immediately like the butterfly in our first story).
But Moses also knew that G-d is infinite, and that is why he demanded: "G-d, why do you have to make the Jews suffer in order to achieve this benefit? After all You are infinite! Why can't You accomplish the same thing in a painless way?"
Indeed, that is why WE are pray now: that G-d should ‘change His mind’ and let us SEE His goodness without experiencing disease, poverty and other hardships.
Also remember that Moses, like the Rebbe Resha’b in our story, had a greater influence on G-d than anyone else and he was praying for ALL the Jewish people! So his demand for G-d’s mercy was urgent.
Given all this, it is completely understood why Moses questioned, and even DEMANDED from G-d that He stop all Jewish suffering IMMEDIATELY. And why we must follow his example.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that our generation is very similar to the one we are reading about here. Ours is the last generation of exile and the FIRST GENERATION OF MOSHIACH. All that is lacking is for us to pray and demand from G-d with all our hearts as Moses did;
“Certainly, the time for the redemption has arrived; the time when all pain, suffering, disease, poverty and war will cease and the world will be filled with blessing, meaning and joy.
And as the Rebbe said repeatedly; this should happen at any moment. We are standing on the merits of thousands of years of Jewish service, hopes, prayers and suffering.
Now just one more good deed, word of even thought, if done with JOY can bring .... MOSHIACH NOW!!!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim
Kfar Chabad, Israel
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