Dvar Torah Vaera - 5785

The Torah says (Shemos 6:13), “G-d spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them ( ויצום ) regarding the Children of Israel and regarding Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to take the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”  The word ויצום literally means that the Children of Israel were to “command themselves”, which makes the pasuk difficult to understand. (See the Sifsei Chachamim)Children . Therefore, Rashi explained that the subject of the word ויצום is not the Children of Israel, but instead is Moshe and Aharon. They are commanded “regarding” the of Israel. What is that command? Rashi explains that the command is to deal with the Children of Israel בנחת (in a gentle, compassionate manner) and לסבול אותם (to be patient with them).

This is puzzling. Moshe was the humblest of all men (Bamidbar 12:3). Moshe, being such a humble person, would naturally deal with the Jewish people in a gentle fashion. Indeed, Midrash tells us that part of the reason Moshe was chosen to be the leader was because of his compassion to his sheep. The Midrash recounts that when one goat ran away, Moshe chased after it and found it drinking from a pool of water. When Moshe reached it, he said, “I did not know that you were running because you were thirsty. You are exhausted!” He lifted it upon his shoulders and walked on. Hashem said: “Since you are compassionate in tending the flock of sheep, by your life – you will tend My flock, Israel.” (Shemos Rabba 2:2). So, if Moshe was such a compassionate and patient person, why did Hashem need to remind him to be that way with the Jewish people?

Moshe at this point had only experienced failure in his mission and with the Jewish people. The result of his first meeting with Pharaoh was an increase in the Jewish workload and more misery. Consequently, the people rebuked Moshe (Shemos 5:21): “You have made our aroma abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, putting a sword in their hands to kill us.”

When Moshe next went before the Jews to tell them that they will be redeemed and brought to Israel, the Jews refused to listen to him (Shemos 6:9).  It is understandable that Moshe then told Hashem: “Behold the Children of Israel have not listened to me, how then will Pharaoh listen to me?” (Ibid. 6:12). Apparently, Moshe must have felt some level of frustration with the increased suffering of the Jewish people and their newfound enmity towards him.

According to Rashi, Hashem needed to command Moshe at this point to be compassionate and patient with the Jewish people. Despite Moshe's inherent humility and compassion, as demonstrated in the Midrash by his care for the sheep, Hashem needed to remind him to maintain these qualities due to the challenges and frustrations he faced during his mission.

If even Moshe needed such a reminder, then how much more do we need to be careful when relating to others. We need to remember that Hashem wants all of us to relate to others בנחת, with gentleness and compassion, and לסבול, to have patience with one another. When we are able to inculcate positive middos like these, we are emulating Hashem. As Shlomo Hamelech wrote, “[The Torah’s] ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths, peaceful. (Mishlei 3:17)”