Our Continuing Belief
Is Put To The Test
Shabbat Va'era: Exodus 6:2-9:35;
Ezekiel 28:25-29:21.
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his week's Torah portion, not know God by that name be-
Va'era, begins with God's cause the name itself connotes
response to the complaint the special relationship that ex-
of Moses at the end of last ists between God and the Jew-
ish people — particularly
week's portion.
Moses and Aaron had come to manifest by the fulfillment of the
Pharaoh and had requested, at covenant and promises made to
God's bidding, that the Jews be the progenitors of the nation.
It is only when the
allowed to travel into
covenant and the
the wilderness to wor-
promises are fulfilled
ship. Pharaoh not only
that it truly can be said
refused this request but
that this name is
imposed even greater
"known." And thus God
hardships on the Jewish
tells Moses that all that
slaves.
has taken place is part
The Jewish officers
of "the plan" and while -
had accused Moses and
redemption is ultimate-
Aaron of bringing fur-
ly positive, it is not with-
ther suffering on the
RA BBI
Jews. Moses then asks ELIEZER COHEN out hardship, suffering
and tragedy in the short
God, "Why do You treat
SPECIAL TO THE
JEWISH NEWS
run. (Any even superfi-
the people so badly?
cial look at Jewish his-
Why did You send me?
From the time I came to tory — as the history of God's
Pharaoh to speak in Your name, redeemed nation — will cer-
he has done evil to the people tainly testify to this.)
Although Moses has previ-
and You have not saved them,"
ously been told, "I know that the
(Exodus 5:22-23).
God answers Moses by saying, king of Egypt will not let you go
"You will see what I will do; with without a mighty hand," (Exo-
a strong hand He will send them dus 3:20), neither Moses nor the
and with a strong hand He will people realized that the course
drive them from his land," (Exo- toward redemption itself may
bring with it more suffering: Per-
dus 6:1).
In this week's portion, He con- haps the whole first encounter
tinues: "I am the Lord' [using the with Pharaoh was to impress
Tetragrammaton, the four-let- upon the people and in particu-
ter name spelled Yood Hay Vov lar upon Moses this necessary
Hay in Hebrew] and I appeared lesson.
It is also extremely important
to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by
the name God Almighty [El to see the response of the Jewish
Shaddai], but My name Lord people to God's answer. The
[Tetragrammaton] I didn't make verse records, "And Moses spoke
known to them. I have estab- thusly to the Jewish people and
lished My covenant with them ... they didn't listen to Moses be-
I have heard the cries of the Jew- cause of impatience and difficult
ish people ... I remember My bondage." Whereas previously
covenant. Therefore, tell the the nation listened and believed
Jewish people, I, the Lord [Tetra- God had remembered the Jew-
grammaton] will take them out ish people and that He saw their
... I will save them ... I will re- affliction (Exodus 4:31), now
deem them ... I will take them to their further suffering didn't al-
Me ... I will bring them to the low them to accept the vision of
the imminent fulfillment of the
land ..." (Exodus 6:3-8):
How this response answers promises. They continued to
the complaints of Moses and the firmly believe in God and the ul-
people is not clear. Furthermore, timate redemption, but their pre-
the Tetragrammaton name of sent condition kept them from
God is used extensively through- perceiving the reality of the im-
out the book of Genesis when mediacy of their relationship
God communicates with the fa- with God.
It is not only suffering that can
thers; yet here it seems to say
blind as to this reality. In
they "don't know this name."
It seems to me that it can be Deuteronomy, it also says: "Lest
said that although God had ap- you eat and are satisfied and you
peared to the previous genera- build good houses, dwell there-
tions by the name of the in and your cattle and your
Tetragrammaton, the fathers did sheep multiply, and silver and
gold increase for you and you be-
come arrogant and forget the
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
Lord your God ... and you say in
Congregation Or Chadash.