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Moshe strenuously protests that he is not a good speaker, as a successful leader must be. Maybe it’s the speech defect, whatever that may have been; or maybe it’s that he is now more comfortable in speaking Egyptian or Midianite – which he has done for more than half a century - rather than the Hebrew dialect of the Israelite slaves.
Moshe also insists that he is certain that the people will not believe he can help them, despite his royal bearing & his seeming ability to move freely in and out of Paro’s palace. Even the "pocket miracles" which Hashem gives to Moshe to impress the people – the water into blood, the stick-becomes-a-snake trick, the leprous hand – fail to convince Moshe that he will succeed in establishing his credentials as a messenger of G-d sent to their rescue.
Finally, in apparent desperation, Moshe throws up his hands & says, "shlach na b’yad tishlach," send whoever you will send. This sounds like the child who keeps nudging his parents over & over again to be allowed a candy snack, until the parents finally give in & say, "fine, eat whatever you want, just leave us alone!"
But is this really Moshe? Does the great defender of Israel – humble as he may surely be – not want to help save Am Yisrael from their dreadful plight?! It almost seems that Moshe is more concerned for himself than for us!
But Pirkei d’Rabi Eliezer explains what is really going on here. Moshe, isn’t evading for evading’s sake. As a prophet, he knows that while he may succeed in extricating the Jews from Egypt, that is not the end of the story. While we will make it to Israel, & build the Bet HaMikdash, it will be destroyed. Exile will result, then returning to Israel & rebuilding, & then more exile. Redemption, alas, is far off.
So Moshe, for our own benefit, says to Hashem: "Please, G-d, don’t send ME - the temporary redeemer – send instead the final redeemer & bring Redemption now!"
But Hashem tells Moshe: "That isn’t how Jewish history works. There will be good times & bad times, successes & failures, triumph & tragedy. You may not be the last hero, but nevertheless you must do your part & fill in your piece of the puzzle. Do not be discouraged, for Redemption will come. But for now, you must do your share. And so, too, must we!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
