From his earliest years, Moshe regarded his royal pedigree as a mark of unmatched distinction. Truly, Moshe was a prince of Egypt and a proud son of the Nile. Yet, Moshe's greatest achievements and lasting contributions are not found in the annals of Egypt, but in the hearts, minds and souls of the Jewish people. Why? What happened to Moshe, the young Egyptian royal, that caused him to betray his coveted pedigree, embrace his true birthright and become the greatest spiritual leader the world has ever known?
To help answer this question, we must explore the conflict of identity Moshe experiences when he interacts with his fellow Israelites for the first time. Our parsha teaches us, "It happened in those days that Moshe grew up and went out to his brethren and saw their burdens" (Shemot 2:11). This simple pasuk teaches us two very important things. The first is that Moshe is now grown. However, Rashi, quoting the Midrash Tanchuma Yashan, teaches us that this pasuk does not mean that Moshe has physically grown, but that Moshe has now attained great rank in Egypt, "as Pharaoh appointed him [ruler] over his household" (Rashi on Shemot 2:11). Surely, a person such as this must be confident in his own sense of purpose and being. Still, the second thing this pasuk teaches us is that Moshe, the great and revered head of Pharaoh's household, intentionally ventures into the realm of Israelite slavery and in so doing he "saw their burdens."
Now, at first glance, what would Moshe have seen? As an Egyptian noble, Moshe would have seen an inferior, subjugated people fulfilling the will of mighty Pharaoh. In other words, he would have seen "business as usual." However, Rashi tells us that when Moshe "saw their burdens," the Torah means to say that "he focused his eyes and heart to be distressed over them" (Rashi on Shemot 2:11). Rashi is teaching us that when Moshe observed the plight of the Israelites, something moved deep inside of him which enabled him to see the Israelites in a different way- in a very "unEgyptian" way. Instead of viewing the Israelites as chattel, he came to empathize with their pain, and in so doing, Moshe became the first "Egyptian" to see the humanity and the spiritual prowess of the Israelites. By focusing on their pain, he came to feel their distress, and in opening up his heart to their cries, he came to identify with their experience. By seeing the pain of the Israelites, by forcing himself to focus on their sorrow, by stepping out of his prescribed role in order to feel their anguish, he came to see the cruelty and the injustice of the culture which lauded him as a ruler. Thus, the beginning of Moshe's foray into Jewish leadership began not with a burning bush, with miracles, signs or wonders. Rather, Moshe's first step into the world of Jewish leadership began with an emotional identification and spiritual connection with his people. Though he wore the garb of an Egyptian royal, Moshe's heart cried for the Jewish people as only a Jewish heart can. It was Moshe's inescapable sense of "feeling Jewish" which led him to become the greatest prophet and teacher ever to lead the Jewish people.
This Shabbat, as we begin learning the story of the Jewish exile in Egypt and the beginnings of their freedom from bondage, let us consider the idea that the first mark of any Jewish leader must be an emotional and spiritual identification with the Jewish people. Only when we can look upon the plight of our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, only when we can see their sorrow and allow ourselves to feel their pain, only when we can identify with their situation and be inspired to take action on their behalf, can we become the Jewish leaders we are all called to be, just as Moshe was those many years ago.
Shabbat Shalom!
-Rabbi Dan
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