Shabbat Shemot

​This week we begin the second book of the Torah, Shemot, Exodus. We have seen the Torah describe the evolution of a family throughout the first book, Breishit, Genesis. This concept of family is a consistent theme and reaches greater heights with the evolution of a nation as described in Shemot.  Each story in the narrative of Breishit tells of a younger son rising in prominence over his older sibling, usually with dismal results. The final narrative in Chumash Breishit is the one story of two brothers with better results. It does not result in any form of hatred or jealousy, and that is with Ephraim and Menashe. In our story now, in the beginning, it is not an issue either, as we see Moshe, the younger son, rise to prominence over his older brother, Aharon. Their relationship, in fact their partnership, demonstrates a true role model of a familial relationship that includes love and care.  The final result is Geulah, Redemption. This Aleph and Mem partnership of Aharon and Moshe can also be seen in other stages of Redemption with Esther and Mordechai in the Purim story, and ultimately in the final Redemption, Eliyahu the Prophet and the Melech HaMashiach – Aleph and Mem. 

In our Parsha this week, as a way of being introduced to Moses, we see three incidents from early in his career. He comes on the scene when an Egyptian taskmaster is beating a Jewish slave. Moshe intervenes and kills the Egyptian. In the second vignette, two Jews are fighting among themselves and Moshe intervenes. The third case is in Midian when Moshe comes upon a well and finds the shepherds contending with the daughters of Yitro. In each situation Moshe was an outsider. It is of interest that the three cases are Jew vs. non-Jew; a Jew vs. a Jew; and then non-Jew vs. non-Jew. These are three totally different types of situations, and in each case, Moshe did not hesitate to take action. He involved himself in order to right the wrongs he witnessed, and to create a sense of justice and morality. Although covered in short sentences, the Torah describes Moshe’s actions with terse, non-judgmental language. Despite the lack of fanfare in the Torah, what Moshe was doing was demonstrating tremendous character development.  Moshe is then chosen by Hashem once he has proven himself worthy of the position that he is given.