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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Va'era
Working on these tasks were not only Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam but also the elders and the Jewish taskmasters (shotrim), with each group having its role. The shotrim had to protect the nation from Paroh’s decrees and his attempt to break the Jewish slaves’ spirit. The shotrim paid a heavy price, as they were beaten violently when their brethren were unable to keep up with the escalating work demands (Shemot 5:14). They also received a great reward. They achieved prophecy (Shemot Rabba 5:20), became leaders (Bamidbar Rabba 12:16), and became members of Sanhedrin (Rashi, Shemot 5:14).
The elders were supposed to help convince the people of the upcoming liberation (Shemot 4:29). They were also supposed to take part in the negotiations with Paroh, but they were too afraid of him to make it all the way to the palace with Moshe (Rashi, Shemot 5:1). Their negative payback is that when Moshe approached the Divine Presence on Sinai to receive the Torah, the elders had to remain behind (ibid. 24:1-2).
Shemot, ch. 5 describes the meeting between Moshe and Aharon and Paroh, in which they demanded that Paroh allow the nation to go and serve Hashem. The results were extremely harsh. Not only did Paroh not agree to set the slaves free, but he doubled down on the slavery, with the following new directives: "You will no longer receive the straw to make the bricks like you did yesterday and the day before (kit’mol shilshom). Rather, they shall go and gather straw" (ibid. 5:7). "The amount of bricks that they made t’mol shilshom shall be placed upon them …" (ibid. 8). Then the taskmasters were beaten because of the claim, "Why did you not complete the quota to make bricks kit’mol shilshom?" After the turn for the worse, Moshe and Aharon lost popularity with the people, who accused them of compromising their already tenuous position.
Clearly the key phrase to this section is t’mol shilshom. The phrase comes up in a slightly altered fashion at Moshe’s "negotiations" with Hashem, recorded as part of the discussion at the burning bush. Moshe argued against his leadership by claiming that "I am not a man of words, neither t’mol nor shilshom" (Shemot 4:10). We have posited (see Tzofnat Yeshayahu, p. 198-209) that the instructions to Moshe of how to approach his mission found in ch. 5-6 actually preceded those found in the section on the burning bush. That is the reason that in expressing his lack of willingness to take up the task, he used the term of t’mol shilshom, claiming that his lack of ability to speak was part of what caused the fiasco of the increased work requirements highlighted with that phrase.
We do not believe that a process of liberation will come without difficulties, and it is necessary to follow a long road toward it. Belief and patience are the tools for dealing with these challenges.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
