"But Pharaoh hardened his heart"(Exodus 8:28) Shevat 2, 5784/January 12, 2024 “Why me?" Moshe asked HaShem at the burning bush. “Why choose me to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Moshe did not want the job. He pleaded, he argued, he insisted that he wasn't the man for the job. His resistance was so persistent that an increasingly frustrated G-d eventually lost His temper. Why didn't G-d just pick someone else? Why go with someone who is so much trouble from the very start? After all, G-d is going to be putting the words in Moshe's mouth and directing Moshe's every move vis a vis Pharaoh. Wouldn't a less reluctant, more enthusiastic candidate have been a better choice? Moshe's question stands: Why him? The answer to this question we read only much later in Moshe's journey, but clearly it was the reason why HaShem chose Moshe in the first place: "Now this man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) Moshe wasn't contesting G-d's choice of him to lead Israel because he was obstinate or contrary. He had no other plans in life that he preferred over G-d's plan. He was not a couch potato or a social media addict who preferred to sleep in, in blissful ignorance of all that was going on around him. No! Moshe was truly the humblest person on earth and he simply could not imagine that he would be G-d's first, second or third choice for the job. Moshe had no ego and this is precisely the reason why G-d chose him. The answer to Moshe's question, "Why me," in found in the question itself. Moshe was the perfect man for the job. Moshe's transformation from reluctant redeemer to bold interlocutor with Pharaoh is no less than astonishing. All his arguments against taking on the role G-d assigned him being overruled by G-d, he assumed with his entire being the very deliverer of HaShem's words to Pharaoh that G-d knew he would. Having no ego, no "I me or mine," to stand in the way, Moshe became the perfect conduit for G-d's will to be delivered to Pharaoh. Moshe molded his will to G-d's will, and we witness with each new plague a strength and boldness, and an almost theatrical flourish to his words and actions. Moshe, the humblest man on earth, was G-d's perfect spokesman. His very being as he stood before Pharaoh, embodied G-d's no-nonsense determination to take Pharaoh and all of Egypt down. And Moshe's ego-less delivery of G-d's will brought out the very worst in Pharaoh, just as G-d knew it would. Pharaoh, king of all Egypt, himself a deity in his own eyes, was the exact opposite of Moshe. He was nothing but ego, and his ego so filled and consumed every aspect of his being that there was no room for G-d, neither in his conscious or subconscious self. "Who is HaShem that I should heed His voice to let Israel out? I do not know HaShem, neither will I let Israel out." (Exodus 5:2) From the very first time that Moshe confronted Pharaoh, he let the cat out of the bag. Pharaoh does not recognize the G-d that created him. He has made himself an orphan, denying the very self knowledge that preserves our humanity. Pharaoh, standing on a narcissist and nihilistic abyss, decides to take on the Creator of all existence. There really was no contest. So why ten plagues? Why did G-d so patiently and persistently repeat the very process that kept getting nowhere? Why not just strike Pharaoh down with one devastating blow? Despite knowing from the very start that Pharaoh would repeatedly harden his heart and not willingly agree to let Israel go, G-d chose to give him a fighting chance. If Pharaoh insisted that there was no G-d, that HaShem didn't exist, the G-d would go along with it. Each of the ten plagues had its origin and parallel in the ten acts of creation that brought our world into existence. Each of the ten plagues would upset and undo the very foundations of the world. If water was the original life force introduced by G-d into creation, and blood was the final life force that G-d formed to invigorate man and beasts alike with life, then G-d would turn that on its head, turning the life-giving waters of the Nile into deadly blood. Each plague was a new lesson for Pharaoh to see just how wrong he was. having isolated himself from the source of all life, Pharaoh had no place to go. So he simply dug himself in deeper and deeper. Time after time he simply hardened his heart. And yet we also see that sometimes it is G-d who is hardening Pharaoh's heart. How can this be? Is G-d being unfair, actually depriving Pharaoh of the very free will that each human being is blessed with? If G-d is hardening Pharaoh's heart then how can Pharaoh be held responsible for the disaster he is bringing upon his own nation? Our free will, our ability to choose between good and bad, is founded upon our recognition that G-d is our creator. This is what lifts us up above all other creation. Refusing to acknowledge HaShem G-d the Creator, Pharaoh has abdicated his ability to choose between good and evil. HaShem steps in, hardening Pharaoh's heart, assisting Pharaoh in his steadfast refusal to acknowledge G-d even as G-d commandeers Pharaoh's own heart. The contest between G-d and Pharaoh, which of course, led to Pharaoh's demise and Israel's liberation from Egypt, was also a contrast between two paradigms of man. Moshe, humble and not full of himself, had room for G-d within his heart and soul, upon his lips and words, and through his deeds. Pharaoh was but a thin, brittle reed, suffering from the self inflicted wound of denying the reality of G-d. The lesson of the ten plagues was G-d's message to the world. G-d who created the world in six days has never retreated from His creation. He is here, each and every day, sustaining the world which He created. And if we are ever tempted to deny His presence, He can undo the world just as readily as He created the world. We can't all be Moshe, but we can learn from him that humility is the open door that lets HaShem into our lives and gives us what to live for. . |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven says, "bring on the ten plagues!" talks about the hard, hard heart of Pharaoh, and reminds everyone that Israel today is fighting on every front! While Israel today continues its battle on seven fronts against enemies seeking to destroy her, we read about an ancient enemy, Pharaoh, who also sought to destroy Israel by any means necessary. We won that round, and we'll win this round, too! |
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Things happen and we react. Sometimes we act predictably. Sometimes less so. Sometimes our reactions are appropriate. Sometimes not. Sometimes our reactions to what is happening around us are so profoundly irrational and self-defeating that we question our own soundness of mind. Pharaoh moderated his reactions throughout each of the ten plagues, but his persistent "No!" to Moshe's demands reminds us that a cool head and a clear headed recognition of the reality of G-d go a long way in making proper responses when things go awry. Va'era (Exodus 6:2- 9:35)
Parashat Va'era is read on Shabbat:
Shevat 3, 5784/January 13, 2024 |
Haftara For Shabbat Parashat Va'era
Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21 “So says HaShem G-d: When I gather in the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, and I have been sanctified through them in the eyes of the nations, then shall they dwell on their land that I gave to My servant, to Yaakov. And they shall dwell upon it securely, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards and dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those who plunder them from all around them, and they shall know that I am HaShem their G-d...'" |
Become a Member of the Temple Institute! Introducing the Temple Institute's new membership card, in PDF format to conveniently download onto your phone. We are issuing the new membership cards to all new donors and will soon be sending the new card to our veteran donors, as well! |
The Sovev The sovev (literally, "surrounding") was a ledge surrounding the mizbeach. Its height was six cubits from the floor of the Court. The sovev was reached using the smaller ramp on the eastern side of the large ramp. |
New Moon of Shevat The zodiac sign associated with the month of Shevat is Aquarius, the water bearer, a most appropriate designation, as Shevat falls each year right in the middle of Israel's rainy season, and serves, (on Tu beSheva_t, the 15th of Shevat). as the turning point between the winter season and the upcoming season of spring and rebirth. This year Rosh Chodesh Shevat (the new month of Shevat_), was ushered in with much needed rains all throughout the land of Israel, and heavy snow upon Israel's northern Mount Hermon. |
Praying For The Well-being Of Our Soldiers & Hostages! Yesterday, the Western Wall Plaza, at the foot of the Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism, was filled with tens of thousands of Jews from all across Israel and abroad, gathered together in prayer for the safety of our brave soldiers and the speedy return of our hostages who have been kept in inhumane Hamas captivity for nearly one hundred days. |
Rosh Chodesh Shevat On The Temple Mount! Many Jews braved the inclement weather today to ascend the Temple Mount for prayer and celebration of the new month of Shevat. Rather than being a nuisance, today's rain is a blessing, as it is much needed here in the land of Israel. May the new month of Shevat be filled with many, many blessings! |
Rosh Chodesh Shevat Tonight is Rosh Chodesh - the new moon (month) of Shevat. Shevat is the eleventh month on the Hebrew calendar. It is the month in the land of Israel when the first buds begin to appear on the trees and the first flowers begin to bloom, signaling to all creation that life and color and sweetness are returning to the world. |
"Go, Make Offerings To Your G-d” In this week's Torah reading, Va'era, (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35), we read about the first seven of the ten plagues that HaShem visited upon Egypt. Five times Moshe delivers to Pharaoh HaShem's demand to let His people go: _"Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me in the desert..." (Exodus 7:16) |
The Yesod: The Base Of The Mizbeach The base of the mizbeach was called the yesod (foundation). It ran along the northern and western sides of the mizbeach. In addition, the base protruded one additional cubit on the northeastern and southwestern corners. The section of the mizbeach that had the base was situated in the tribal portion of Binyamin, and the section of the mizbeach that had no base was located in Yehudah's portion. |
The Eastern & Western Ramps The Eastern Small Ramp: On either side of the ramp were smaller ramps. Using the small eastern ramp the kohanim ascended to the sovev (the walkway), to perform duties such as the melika of the fowl offerings. After encircling the mizbeach, the kohanim descended using the small western ramp. |
Cowboys In The Holy Land! A while back we posted that a bunch of American cowboys and cowgirls came to Israel to help out in the war effort by tending to farms and livestock whose owners were killed in the October 7th massacre or were off to war. Well, these wonderful folks are still here and still helping out in a big way. Recently they were asked about their experience in Israel. Their answers are beautiful! |
The Tables And Small Pillars The tables and the small pillars stood in the Slaughtering Area. The small pillars aided in skinning the offering, since all the offerings must be skinned (with the exception of the inner sin-offerings). The burnt-offering was cut up and its parts were washed on the tables. Additionally, the innards of other offerings were placed on these tables prior to their being brought up on to the mizbeach. |
Joshua's Altar Vandalized By Palestinian Authority Arabs (Again!) The historical site was used to burn tires and defaced with Palestinian Authority flags and Arabic graffiti.
The "The Forum for the Struggle for Every Dunam" visited the Biblical Altar of Joshua on Mt. Ebal and found that over the past few days, the altar has been vandalized by residents of nearby villages in the Palestinian Authority, who burned tires at the site and spray painted Arabic graffiti and a Palestinian Authority flag on the altar. |
Mikdash Monday - 7 Species (Part 4) “And you shall observe the Festival of Weeks, the first of the wheat harvest, and the festival of the ingathering, at the turn of the year.” (Exodus 34:22) |
The Rings North of the mizbeach twenty four rings were affixed to the floor - one ring for each priestly watch. These rings were designed to aid in slaughtering the offerings by holding the animal's neck. According to the Rambam it was designed to hold the limbs. During the era of the Second Temple period, the ring of the priestly shift known as Belga was sealed closed as punishment to the family for the act of Belga's daughter, Miriam, who abandoned the Jewish faith during the time of the Greeks. |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! Another week begins on the Temple Mount - there's no place like home! "Therefore, so said HaShem: 'I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built there,' says HaShem of Hosts. 'And a plumb line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.'" (Zechariah 1:16) Shavua tov - have a very good week! |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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