A Star Nation - In the first pasuk of the Parasha, the Torah lists the tribes of Bnei Yisrael. This is puzzling, as we have already counted the tribes in the previous Parasha. Rashi answers that HaShem wanted to show how precious Bnai Yisrael is to him, and that they are compared to the stars which HaShem counts and names each one. This leads us to a new question: What really is so special about stars to compare Bnai Yisrael to them? There are three special things about stars:
Kli Yakar - Stars are not visible during the day. Despite this, they are still there, we just can’t see them. This is the same for Tzadikim. Even though many people don’t see them and their deeds, they are still there.
Kli Yakar - The opposite approach is also true. Stars are only ever seen at night. The same is true with Tzadikim, as they are most recognized only after they have passed.
When viewed from far away, all of the stars look the same, but as you move closer, you see that each one is vastly different from the others. The same applies to Am Yisrael: Many times there are disputes between two groups, but if they only got close two each other, they would see their true self.
VaYakom Melech Chadash Al Mitzrayim - A new king rose on Egypt - There is a dispute between Rav and Shmuel whether this was a literal new king or not. According to the one that says that it was the same Paroh, the Daat Zekenim explains that really Paroh was not ready to enslave Am Yisrael, but his position was threatened and after three months, he agreed to it. From here we can learn that someone can make a complete shift and throw everything out for his interest or to keep a high position. Even if one does not agree with what he is doing, he will do it for these interests. We see even further than that, that Paroh completely forgot all the amazing things that Yosef had done for them, and had no Hakarat HaTov (gratefulness) whatsoever. According to the explanation that it was a literal new king, Rav Hirsch says that this new king was not so familiar with Yosef and what he had done for Mitzrayim. Despite this, the people knew, and told him all that Yosef had done for them. This new king was stubborn, and did not want to listen to those who he felt were below him. He felt that he was right and wanted to rely on his own perceived intelligence and not to take advice.
Galut V’Geulah - In the book of Shemot, the Galut (exile) in Egypt starts, It ends in which the Geulah (redemption) begins. This book is thus also appropriately called Galut V’Geulah. It is also called Sefer HaBanim (Book of the Children) as Bereshit is called Sefer HaAvot (Book of the Fathers). The Netivot Shalom says that every person experiences their own “Galut” in Egypt, every single day. It is our responsibility and duty to change this to “Galut” and to rise up from obstacles. This is the reason why it is written in the Haggadah Shel Pesach that every person must see himself as if he came out from Egypt. This is also why the Maharal says that there is no Berachah on retelling the story of Egypt, despite it being a Mitzvah from the Torah, because it is an obligation every day to feel like we did when we left Egypt, and the retelling of Yetziat Mitzrayim is dependent on the feeling.
The Enemies Advice - The sad reality is that many times, we don’t know how to define ourselves. We divide into groups and disassociate with others. It is only once an enemy comes after us are we reminded by the enemy himself that we are one nation. The enemy does not see two different groups, but one nation. This is what David HaMelech was hinting to when he writes, “MeOyvay Techakmeni,” “From my enemies, make me wise.” This is also is learned from this Parasha. Paroh says “Behold, the nation. Until now, Am Yisrael has been always split into tribes, but now Paroh has defined them all as one nation. We see this today. When a terrorist seeks to destroy us, he does not differentiate between the religious and the secular, or their political views, but simply wants to destroy them all as a nation. There definitely is something we can learn from these evil people, Yemach Shemam, to come together as one nation and respect each other with no differences, like our enemies view us.
Credit where it’s due - The Torah tells us about the birth of Moshe Rabbeinu, but it is most peculiar that it does not say his parents’ names. The Torah only writes that “the man from the house of Levi,” and “the daughter of Levi.” We are talking about great righteous people of Am Yisrael. The same omission is found with his sister, where it does not write her name either. Why does the Torah not name them? Even the name Moshe was the one given to him by a foreign person, Batyah. He had another nine names: Chever, Yered, Yekutiel, Avigdor, Avi Zanoach, Tuvia, Shmaya, Avi Socho, and Levi. Rav Pinkus answers that the lack of names in this Parasha hints that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who did what, because it is really all the doing of HaShem. These people are just messengers for what HaShem really does. This is also the reason why HaShem sent Moshe to speak to Paroh. In the end, his conversation with him resulted in a worse effect, as Paroh made work even harder for Am Yisrael, and made them work longer. HaShem knew this would happen, but sent him anyway in order to show that the redemption was not really coming from Moshe, but rather from HaShem.
Keep Calm and Carry On - There is a crucial piece of advice we can take from Shifra and Puah in this week’s Parasha. Despite how difficult it was then in Mitrayim, and all the suffering that they endured, Shifra and Puah would take care of even the small things when they took care of the babies. This is a very important thing to have in mind. Even if we are going through hard times, like we are now, we have to keep our cool and not let it affect our efficiency. No matter what happens, we should stay on track and think about even the small details.
The Bush won’t be consumed - for better or for worse -The Kli Yakar brings a beautiful explanation to why HaShem showed Moshe specifically a burning bush. The explanation there says that the bush represents Am Yisrael. Even before HaShem redeems the people, he announces to Moshe - know that just as the birth of Am Yisrael was from "burning fire” of suffering and torment, so will it happen throughout history. Many nations will torment Am Yisrael, throughout history chasing after us solely to eradicate our nation. But, as the Pasuk says, “the bush was not consumed,” - the Am Yisrael will always survive. The fire will only unite them, and this burning fire will bring them closer to their Creator, as it says, “The more they were oppressed, the more they increased and spread.” There is still a question to be asked on this explanation: Why specifically did HaShem choose a thorny bush to represent Am Yisrael? The answer of the Kli Yakar is unfortunately a harsh truth. HaShem reveals to Moshe the reason why Am Yisrael suffers so much. They have a point of weakness, which HaShem showed to Moshe. Just as a thorn bush makes a sound when the fire consumes it, so to the people of Israel. Even though they are in trouble, sometimes hatred of one man for the other still reigns among them. That is to say, even though "the bush is burning" - the nation of Israel is in trouble, its enemies rise up against it to destroy it, yet "the bush is not consumed". The reality of the "bush" - of the thorns, still exists, the fire does not manage to make them unite and make peace. Now the Pasuk "And the bush burned in fire” is understandable. It would have been appropriate to write "And the fire burned inside the bush", because the fire and the bush are both active parts. Rather, it is as we said. "The thorn", the reality that everyone has as a painful thorn, is the one that fuels the fire of trouble.
Viewing ourselves through a Magic Mirror - In the second part of the Parasha, HaShem gave Moshe a second sign to show Bnai Yisrael if they won’t believe him, that he should put his hand under his arm and take it out and it will be covered in Tsaraat as white as snow. We must ask, how does this extra sign help? If we say that they won’t believe the first sign, why would they believe the second one? An explanation is that when they see the Tsaraat, they will be reminded of how Paroh was punished with Tsaraat for mistreating her, Moshe was punished with Tsaraat because he said Lashon HaRah about Bnei Yisrael that they won’t believe him, so so will Paroh be punished. But, how could Bnai Yisrael compare themselves to Sarah Imeinu? They were on the 49th level of Tumah! The answer is that people naturally tend to view themselves in a good light. This is what Shelomo HaMelech writes, “Kol Darkei Adam Zach BeEinav,” “All the ways of people are pure in his eyes.” Bnai Yisrael thus had no issue comparing themselves to Sarah Imeinu, and it truly is a good sign. This trait also prevents one for accepting any rebuke, as they don’t see anything wrong
Baby Steps - When HaShem revealed himself to Moshe, He did so in levels. First he made a wondrous sight of the burning bush, and then an angel spoke to him from the bush. Only then did HaShem speak with Moshe. The same applies to all of Am Yisrael. One cannot simply jump to the top. Step by step we can make huge achievements.
Sur MeRah VeAsseh Tov - I would like to end with an optimistic point. At the end of the Parasha we learn that Moshe complained to HaShem that it did not help to go talk with Paroh, and it actually even made things worse. But, in the eyes of HaShem, there are two things: Sur MeRah - Deviate from evil, and Asseh Tov - do good. Moshe Rabbeinu was telling HaKadosh Baruch Hu, “Where is the Tov? Where is the good?” HaShem answered that we are still on the step of Sur MeRah, and that it takes time. Not that HaShem is limited by time, but it is a process. In life we need to know where we are: are we in the level of Sur MeRah, or in the step of Asseh Tov?