Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vaeira Rishon: Hashem responds to Moshe’s accusations (Sunday, 22nd Teves)

Post Views: 1,129

*The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from  qualifying purchases.

Donate
Buy in Paperback or Kindle
Buy on Apple Books
Purchase on our website
Sign up for Daily Distribution

Parshas Vaeira

Pesukim: 121 [Siman: גיבעול]

Haftorah: Yechezkal 28:25-29:21

Number of Mitzvos:

There are no Positive or Negative commands mentioned in Parshas Vaeira.

 

Rishon

Hashem responds to Moshe’s accusations:

Hashem told Moshe that He had appeared to his forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov with his name Shakaiy and did not make His name Havaya known to them. He had established His covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan. Now, “I have also heard the cry of the Jewish people who are enslaved in Egypt, and I have remembered my covenant.”

 

The Torah recounts Moshe’s appointment to approach Pharaoh:

  • Hashem instructed Moshe “Now, go tell the Jewish people that I will take them out from the Egyptian slavery, with an outstretched arm and great wonders. I will take you for me as a nation, and I will be your G-d. You will know that I am Hashem your G-d who takes you out of the burdens of Egypt. I will bring you to the land that I promised your forefathers and give it to you as an inheritance.”
  • Moshe spoke these words to the Jewish people, but was ignored due to the enormous work and labor.
  • Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, “Go speak to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and tell him to send the Jewish people from his land.” Moshe replied back to Hashem, “If even the Jewish people would not listen to me, how can I expect Pharaoh to listen, and I have a speech impairment.” Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aaron, commanding them regarding Bnei Yisrael and Pharaoh, to take the Jewish people out of Egypt.

Q&A on Rashi

Q1: Why did God rebuke Moses at the beginning of this chapter?

A: Because Moses had spoken harshly in the previous chapter, asking: “Why have You mistreated this people?” (Ex. 5:22). God reproved him, saying: “I am God”—meaning, I am trustworthy to reward those who walk before Me and to fulfill My promises.

 

Q2: What does the phrase “I am God” signify in different contexts?

A:

  • When stated after a commandment, it means: “I am God who can be relied upon to give reward.”
  • When stated after a prohibition or sin, it means: “I am God who can be relied upon to exact punishment.”

 

Q3: What is the difference between how God appeared to the Patriarchs and to Moses?

A:

  • To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God appeared as E-l Shaddai (God Almighty), making promises but not fulfilling them in their lifetimes.
  • To Moses, God revealed Himself by His Name Havayah, signifying His attribute of faithfulness to fulfill promises.

 

Q4: Why does the verse say “My Name Havayah was not known to them” instead of “I did not make known”?

A:
Because the Patriarchs did not experience God’s fulfillment of promises during their lives. They knew the Name, but they did not recognize its full meaning—God’s trustworthiness to carry out His word.

 

Q5: What covenant did God make with the Patriarchs?

A:
God promised them the land of Canaan. He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give this land to their descendants, but the promise was not fulfilled in their lifetimes.

 

Q6: Why does God now say, “I have heard the groaning of the Israelites”?

A:
Because the time has come to fulfill the covenant. God recalls His oath made at the Covenant between the Pieces: “I will execute judgment upon the nation whom they will serve.”

 

Q7: What are the four expressions of redemption mentioned here?

A:

  1. I will free you from the burdens of Egypt.
  2. I will rescue you from their servitude.
  3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great chastisements.
  4. I will take you to Myself as a nation.

 

Q8: Why did the Israelites not listen to Moses?

A:
Because of “shortness of breath and harsh labor.” Rashi explains that anguish shortens one’s breath, making it hard to absorb words of comfort.

 

Q9: What does Moses mean by “I am of blocked lips” (עֲרַל שְׂפָתָיִם)?

A:
It means his lips were obstructed—he had difficulty speaking. Rashi notes that the term “blocked” (עָרְלָה) appears in other contexts, such as blocked ears (Jer. 6:10) and blocked hearts (Lev. 26:41).

 

Q10: Why was Aaron appointed alongside Moses?

A:
Because Moses said he was of blocked lips, God appointed Aaron to be his interpreter and spokesman.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.