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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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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.
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
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As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
