Our Parshah opens with a striking declaration of G-d’s intention to redeem His people. Following Moses’ despair which ended the last Parshah, G-d reaffirms His ability to follow through on His promise. Moses, however, is not convinced. ‘The children of Israel won’t listen to me; so why should Pharaoh?’, he complains. After a genealogical diversion, G-d again commands Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Jews ago; and receives the same answer: ‘the children of Israel won’t listen to me; so why should Pharaoh?’ Lest we think that Moses is a coward, merely making a spurious excuse, we should note that this is regarded as one of the ten kal vachomers, or arguments from minor to major, in the Torah. The kal vachomer is a major feature of Rabbinic logic and Torah exegesis, and the fact that Moses’ statement is put in this context, suggests it should be taken seriously. Moses is essentially telling G-d that things are stuck. As Aviva Zornberg brilliantly exposits: everyone, Pharaoh, the Jews and even Moses, are rejecting G-d’s plan of redemption. So what does G-d do about it? Unlike in last week’s Parshah, He doesn’t bother to reply. The argument, indeed, is somewhat lost. What G-d does is, ignoring Moses’ objections, instruct Moses and Aaron to carry on with their mission to Pharaoh. The consequence is the Ten Plagues that follow. It is through these actions that the objections of Moses, the Jews, and finally, even Pharaoh, are overcome. This sequence of events teaches us a valuable lesson. In any great project there will be objections and objectors; nay sayers and doubters. Some of these can be overcome by the force of argument. Objections can be shown to be wrong; arguments proven false. Yet there are arguments that have more force and a stronger appeal. They may even have logic on their side. To follow a certain plan of action may, indeed, be taking a great risk; yet nevertheless is the right thing to do. Against such objections the only course is to put one’s head down, and carry on regardless. Events will prove the correctness of the course. Possibly for this reason the Torah interposes the genealogical diversion. The course of continuing to reproduce in the shadow of Pharaoh’s genocidal decree, may also have been reasonably objected to. Nevertheless, as events proved, it was the right course of action. The Torah teaches us that we must have faith in our destiny and the courage to follow it; even if others may ‘reasonably’ object.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	G-d promises to redeem the people and bring them to the Promised Land.
Sheni	The genealogy of Moses and Aaron.
Shelishi	G-d instructs Moses to warn Pharaoh of the consequences of disobedience..
Revi’i	The river becomes blood and frogs plague the land.
Chamishi	Gnats annoy everyone.
Shishi	Flies swarm but not in Goshen, cattle die and boils burn.
Shevi’i	Hail smites the land.
Maftir	The Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh offerings.
Haftorah	Isaiah: 66:  The coming triumph of righteousness.

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Va’era

·         has 121 verses ;

·         is the 2nd in Exodus, 14th in the Torah

·         4th longest in Exodus, 18th longest in the Torah

·         has no mitzvot.