By Sholom Olensky
This week in the Torah:
A conversation between G-d and Moses, seemingly repetitive of a similar conversation earlier. Last week in the Torah, Moses claims that he has difficulty speaking, making the mission as Redeemer improbable. G-d responds that Aaron will speak for him. This week, Moses claims a speech impediment, and G-d responds that Aaron will be his spokesman.
Question:
Why the repetition?
Rashi, elucidating the second dialogue:
“You [Moses] speak, once per mission, as you heard it from Me, and your brother Aaron shall interpret it and explain it to Pharaoh’s ear.”
Questions:
“As you heard it from Me”?! However else?? And what is the definition here of “interpret and explain”?
Explanation:
The dialogues are not repetitive. Moses’ earlier claim was that he found talking difficult, but talking was possible. So G-d told him that he only needs to speak briefly, Aaron will do the rest.
This week Moses recognizes that his pre-existing speech impediment is to the point where can barely speak. Hence, G-d tells him, “Speak,” i.e., G-d will help him speak His words miraculously.
Moses, a conduit for G-d’s exact words (“As you heard it from Me”) was able to break Pharaoh’s wicked spirit even though Pharaoh reigned mightily. This was possible because G-d’s exact words were being transmitted and G-d is Almighty.
Moses spoke G-d’s words faithfully, in Hebrew, hence Aaron had to first “interpret,” i.e. translate, and then “explain.” Moses had to do his part, though. For, only G-d’s word, spoken through Moses, could break the wicked Pharaoh.
A lesson:
Everyone has a Moses within. When experiencing the detrimental effects of one’s own animalistic drives (“Pharaoh”) obscuring one’s own Divine soul, the Moses within empowers us to cognitively “incite” the good drive against the bad, instilling within us the fear of G-d. This is aided by Torah study.
Another lesson:
Similarly, this is also the case with regard to spreading Torah and its values throughout our surroundings. Any obstacle to this can be overcome, as long as we go in Moses’ path; peaceful but firm, and confident in the Torah’s values and in the aid of G-d.
(Based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. 16, Va’eira)
