Parashat Va-era (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35)

by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Liberal Judaism Outreach Director and Assistant Rabbi at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue

Summary
Moses, with the assistance of his brother, Aaron, has been chosen by God to be his go-between to Pharaoh. Their stock is now strengthened in a review of God revealing the Divine name to Moses and a statement of their genealogy. Again, Moses needs reassurance that he is the man for the job, and this comes in the restatement of Moses and Aaron’s respective roles and a reason being given for God “hardening Pharaoh’s heart, that I may multiply My signs and marvels in the land of Egypt…and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Eternal, when I stretch out My hand over Egypt and bring out the Israelites from their midst.” There follows a magical demonstration where Aaron’s rod/serpent swallows that of Pharaoh’s magicians which leads into the first seven plagues.

Commentary

This portion seemingly presents one of the most difficult textual contradictions to a pillar of our faith, that of human free will: If God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, does Pharaoh have any say in the matter?

The first thing to note is that following the first five plagues, it is Pharaoh who hardens his own heart, exercising his freedom to choose his own course of action. For the final plagues, it is God who hardens Pharaoh’s heart. Rashi (11th C, France) suggests that the timing is such that God gives Pharaoh ample opportunity to repent and to let the Israelites leave slavery. Only when he demonstrates that he has no intention of letting them go, does God intervene so as to display the Divine might.

Subsequent biblical commentators have given different explanations of this quandary. It is Rambam (12th C, Spain) who provides an explanation that we might relate to many human situations of our own age, indeed within ourselves. Pharaoh was not forced by God to choose his course of action, he made all the decisions. However, God has formed us with the inclination to follow a course of action once decided upon. We are like an ocean-liner that is difficult to turn once a course is set. In the words of Nehama Leibowitz (20th C, Israel), “Once he persisted in his course of action it became more and more irresistible...The more he sins, the more his sins act as a barrier between him and repentance.”

Many are the times that we find ourselves following a course of action that we know is wrong but we cannot easily turn around. Sometimes when I am driving, I take a wrong turn, sort of know that it is wrong but still persist to see if I can get myself out of the situation without having to turn around. Naturally, I get lost!

To conclude again with the Rambam, Moses Maimonides: “The righteous and the prophets asked the Almighty to help in keeping them to the true path: ‘Teach me Your way O God (Ps 27).’ Do not allow my sins to divorce me from the true path, through which I may know Your way and the unity of Your name: ‘And let a willing spirit uphold me (Ps 51:14).’ In other words, le my spirit do Your will and let not my sins bring me to deny repentance. But let the initiative always remain with me, for me to be able to come back and understand and know the true path…”

May we be filled with such strength.

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

Liberal Judaism Outreach Director

Assistant Rabbi, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue