Parshas Va’eirah – Being Human (5760)

Parshas Va’eirah – Being Human (5760)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In Perek 6:13 Rashi quotes the Chazal that explains the commandment was to act with respect to Pharoh. This concept was also reflected above in Perek 5:3 and further on in 11:8. The problem with this issue is quite obvious. Was Pharoh with all his wickedness deserving of a “royal” treatment?

To understand this properly there is an important principle here that is vital for Torah observance and for conducting oneself as a proper human being. Moshe was raised in the palace under the auspices of Pharoh and subjected to the epitome of Egyptian influence. Where did he get the insight, the mentality, the understanding and the strength to “go out” and concern himself with Bnai Yisroel and take up for any wrongdoing inflicted upon them (2:11) and objectively observe the atrocities. The Chazal tell us Moshe was such a loyal, true blue Egyptian that he was elevated to the position of being in charge of the royal household. For sure the concern of the benefit and welfare of the Egyptians was a priority to him. What was the source of the wellsprings, of the open-mindedness?

Every living species has its laws of behavior and guidelines of living patterns. Included in the list is “the human race”. There is a framework and structure of definite, positive, and beneficial behavior. A spider needs for its existence the knowledge of the construction of the web that is a marvel of engineering. It is born with this knowledge programmed into its brain. Likewise, we can find in the spectrum of species the vital, intricate knowledge that is essential for its life. Man was also created programmed with a knowledge that is essential and vital. It is not the intricacies of web-construction or beaver-damming or the marvels of bee-hiving but the true knowledge of correct human “bee-havior”. It also has to be nurtured, fortified and reinforced. It is well known that even the most basic instincts such as self-preservation can easily be deleted from the nervous system.

Until recently all of mankind lived by these rules, laws of decency, manners and respect. These are laws of existing and acting as a human being. When we read memorandums that even generals in war wrote to each other when their armies were on the battlefield, we see that these notes were written with the utmost of respect and reverence.

Moshe was brought up in the house of Pharoh. Maybe he didn’t get any training there concering which “hechsherim” to use, but a strong framework of the laws of proper behavior he did receive. He was well equipped to “go out” and have sensitivity to the suffering of the B’nai Yisroel.

These “laws” of acting like a decent human being, I believe, is what is meant by “Derech Eretz Kadma La’Torah”. The Torah was given for humans, and Derech Eretz instructs us how to accomplish this.

In the 1960’s, with the rise of the”hippie” movement, there was a great rebellion against conforming to the laws of proper human behavior. Many suffer today from unhappy marriages. I am sure one of the causes is the general breakdown in keeping these laws of acting human. How can there be any hope for people to live together harmoniously without this?

With all the wickedness of Pharoh the laws of decency demand ‘derech eretz’ to ‘malchus’. Hashem, give us the wisdom and strength to be human.