Shemot
Is it possible for one of us to approach the level of Moshe Rabbenu? Moshe Rabbenu was, of course, the greatest prophet that ever lived. However, by studying the story of his earlier years as told in Parashat Shemot, we will see that the outstanding qualities that characterized this great leader of Israel are indeed attainable by each and every one of us.
The Torah tells that Moshe grew up and was no longer a child, "He went out to his brethren and saw in their suffering." Moshe was raised in the comforts and luxuries of Pharaoh's palace, and yet he nevertheless decided to go out and commiserate with his brethren, with Benei Yisrael, and assist them in their slave labor. Rather than enjoying the comforts available to him as an Egyptian prince, Moshe preferred to experience firsthand the suffering of his kinsmen, and to empathize with their plight.
The Torah then tells that Moshe witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Most people in Moshe's situation would simply not get involved. Moshe, however, was sensitive to the suffering of his fellow Jew and felt compelled to intervene; he beat the Egyptian taskmaster and saved the Hebrew slave. On the following day, Moshe came across two slaves fighting among themselves. Here, too, human instinct would dictate keeping a distance, rather than getting entangled in this dispute between two slaves. But Moshe, once again, could not stay to the side. His sensitivity to the plight of the victim propelled him to step in and try to stop the injustice.
This pattern continues in the next section, which tells of Moshe's arrival in Midyan. Moshe comes to a well and sees boisterous shepherds abusing Yitro's seven daughters. Moshe was a foreigner, a new arrival in Midyan, under which circumstances one would normally stay back rather than intervene. But Moshe could not remain idle in the face of such injustice. He rushes to the girls' assistance, rescues them from the shepherds and even draws water for their sheep.
The Midrash similarly tells that once, as Moshe worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law, Yitro, one of the sheep ran away from the flock. Moshe chased after it until it came to a brook and began drinking. Moshe then understood that the sheep had fled because it was thirsty and needed to find water, and he apologized to the sheep for chasing after it. Realizing that the sheep must be very weary after such a long run, Moshe picked it up and carried it all the way back to the flock. It was at that point, the Midrash says, that God selected Moshe for the role of leadership. If he demonstrated such sensitivity and compassion for a sheep, then all the more so would he be a caring and empathetic leader, who is genuinely concerned for the needs of his constituents.
The Torah is very selective in its depiction of Moshe's life and experiences before being chosen by God to lead Benei Yisrael out of Egypt. That the Torah chose to tell specifically these incidents, that reflect Moshe's empathy and concern for the plight of others, indicates that this quality – more than any other – characterized Moshe. It was due primarily to this quality that he emerged as the greatest Jewish leader of all time.
In this sense, then, we can all become like Moshe Rabbenu. By showing concern to our fellow Jew, by empathizing and commiserating with the problems, the pain and the suffering of our brethren in need, we can begin raising ourselves towards Moshe's stature. Very often all this entails is lending an ear, affording someone the time and patience to listen to their troubles. Even if we cannot offer any practical solutions, taking the time to talk and to listen can go a long way towards helping a fellow Jew through hard times.
Whenever a child is circumcised, the officiating Rabbi recites the prayer that "Zeh Ha'katan Gadol Yihyeh" – "This child shall be an adult." What this prayer means, perhaps, is that this young child, who, as a child, thinks only of himself, of his own needs and wants, should grow to be a "Gadol," a mature adult capable of empathizing with the needs and concerns of others. In this prayer we express our hope that this selfish infant will grow to emulate Moshe Rabbenu, that he, too, will excel in this great quality of sensitivity and compassion towards other people.
If we show empathy and concern for others, if we follow the example of Moshe Rabbenu and strive to be "Gedolim," then the Almighty will assuredly respond by showing this same measure of sympathy to us, our families, our community, and all Am Yisrael.
