Mizrachi SA Jewish Observer - Pesach 2016 | Page 6

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

AHEAD OF THE CURVE?
RABBI RAMON WIDMONTE. RABBI OF MIZRACHI SA

and rush up the hill to embrace the prodigal son
returned, bearing such joyous tidings. The Exodus begins.

MOSES EMERGES

slowly from
the desert, sweat trailing down his brow; eyes squinting
against the sun, he totters on a dune above a group of
slaves. They halt their work, transfixed by this strange
phantom, the Egyptian taskmasters too, bewitched.
He raises his staff and calls out, “I am Moses, I have returned on a mission. Hashem, our G-d has sent me with
a message for you all! G-d sees what the Egyptians are
doing to you, and He will set you free!” The Jews burst
into shouts of joy and laughter, they down their tools

Is this how we imagine Moses’ mission? Is this the reception
we imagine he received? Indeed, as we know, it was not.

“I am Moses”

At the very outset of his duty, Moses, having once
attempted to lead the Jews against their taskmasters,
says to G-d, “They won’t believe me or listen to me!” He
knows the reception that awaits him, and it’s definitely
not going to be a warm one. Instead, he expects to be
rejected and reviled.
Continued on pg 8

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