טו. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה מַה תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּעוּ:
The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel.
What does Hashem mean by asking, "why do you cry out to me"?
Midrash Rabbah Explains, Bnai Yisrael already cried out to Hashem (in pasuk yud) and then Moshe davened after them. Hashem says to Moshe, why do you cry to me, Bnai Yisrael already prayed and I have heard their prayer.
Is there another explanation of Hashem's question?
Rabbi Naftali Reich says that Moshe did not cry to Hashem in order to plead with him, rather he cried out of love for the Jewish people. Moshe’s cry was an impulsive outburst because he shared in the pain of his people, so he cried out to Hashem just like they did. Hashem got angry with Moshe because he should not have responded like this; instead he should have been doing something to help the people.
ReplyDeleteRashi teaches us that Hashem says this because Moshe was standing and praying at the time. Hashem said "why do you cry out to me" to tell Moshe that this was no time for a lengthy prayer, Bnei Yisroel was struggling and they needed Moshe. Another explanation is that within these words Hashem was telling Moshe that the matter is dependent on God, not Moshe so Moshe did not have to stand there and pray to Hashem
ReplyDeleteRashi comments that hashem said this because now is not the time for moshe to pray, bnei yisroel was distressed and needed his leadership. This is unusual because usually if one is distressed, the person would pray to hashem, shouldnt that be the same or even more so for bnei yisroel? perhaps the answer is that moshe was doubnting his ability to lead beni yisroel, which he should not have done. He should have had more confidence in himself.
ReplyDeleteThe Zohar explains that when Hashem says,"Why do you cry out to Me?", it is not a simple question but a moral challenge. One can read the question as, "Moshe, did you really think that I would save you from the Egyptians because of your pleas?! Don't cry to me! Rather, cry out to Beni Yisrael to behave and become people worthy of being saved!!"
ReplyDeleteRav Twersky teaches that you should not call out to Hashem until you use every possible way to help yourself. He gives the example of a mother who does not want to leaves her children with a babysitter, when she finally does she has her neighbors listen in on the babysitter to make sure her children are safe. She is criticized for this by others, for not trusting Hashem that her children would be safe, but she says that perhaps it is right what she is doing because she is using all options possible to protect her children before relaying on Hashem. So to in this week’s parsha with the Jews, Hashem did not want the Jews to just give up and complain to Hashem and ask for help, he wanted them to try and solve their problems on their own before they turn to Hashem.
ReplyDeleteThe Nefesh Hachayim explains the pasuk as follows: when Hashem asked Moshe, “why do you cry out…,” He was telling him that it is all up to the Bnei Yisroel to bring the neis about. If they would be at the highest point of Emunah and Bitachon and go without fear into the Yam, then they would cause a hisorirus l'maleh which will bring about the neis. Here we see the power of Bitachon-even something Tefillah cannot accomplish, Bitachon can!
ReplyDeleteThe Nefesh Hachayim explains the pasuk as follows: when Hashem asked Moshe, “why do you cry out…,” He was telling him that it is all up to the Bnei Yisroel to bring the neis about. If they would be at the highest point of Emunah and Bitachon and go without fear into the Yam, then they would cause a hisorirus l'maleh which will bring about the neis. Here we see the power of Bitachon-even something Tefillah cannot accomplish, Bitachon can!
ReplyDeleteArielle Samuel- Rashi says that Moshe was davening at this time and Hashem said to him, why are you saying a long davening now? Bnei Yisrael is worried! Similar to an explanation about Moshe daveing for Tziporah- he said a short davening because since she had tzarat Moshe needed to daven quickly because she was in need.
ReplyDeleteRashi says that Hashem is saying that Moshe shouldn't be spending so much time davening to him when the Jews are in need of help and their leader. He should be saying a short prayer instead of a really long one, because there is a time for short prayer and a time for long prayer, and right now is the time for a short prayer.
ReplyDeleteRashi explains that tthe verse teaches us that Hashem wants Moshe to daven in short length because there isnt enough time to pray a while - because Bnei Yisroel are in trouble. Rashi says that Moshe was too busy praying to act, and was saying long prayers. And Moshe is looked down upon and therefore Hashem asks him this question.
ReplyDeleteRabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum says that Hashem said this to Moshe, meaning, "Why are you letting Bnei Yisroel cry out to me before anything even happened? They are not currently being drowned in water, they still have a few steps to go. They are worrying about the future and assuming that I won't be able to save them. That's wrong." Bnei Yisroel also did this when they asked Hashem "What will we eat?" They weren't currently starving, but they doubted Hashems ability to be able to provide for them in the future. The lesson being, don't worry about something when there's still time for salvation. Hashem takes care of us on his own time, not just when it's convenient for us.
ReplyDeleteRashi explains that this question saying that Hashem is conveying a message here that Bnei Yisrael should have faith in themselves and in their Zchut Avot to merit crossing the sea safely. By stepping in to the sea and demonstaring their faith in their own Zchut as well as Zchut Avot, they would be on a level of worthiness to be saved from the clutches of the Egyptian army. In the famous book on religious zionism אם הבנים שמחה Rav Yisachar Shlomo Teitchel, he quotes the Siftei Chachamim on this pasuk saying that the splitting of the sea would only have come about because of the faith of the Jews, that the Zchut Avot would not have been enough. If Bnei Yisrael did not step into the Yam Suf then it would not have split. They had to take a leap of faith. That is what Hashem is saying when He asks, "מה תצעק אלי" meaning that right now Bnei Yisrael could not be saved through Tefillah, but rather a leap, or step, of faith, as an action to prove their faith was necessary to be saved.
ReplyDeleteRashi says that Moshe was just standing around and davening. Therefore hashem was saying to him you cant just stand around and only davening during this time of distress! You have to act! Rashi gives another answer (that I strongly disagree with) and says that hashem was telling Moshe that whatever happens is up to Him so Moshe should stop telling hashem what to do and how to handle this issue.
ReplyDeleteAriella Rand
ReplyDeleteRashi says that Hashem asks Moshe why is he praying and not helping bnei Israel when they need him now. (This is similar to rashi saying why Moshe's prayer for Miriam was short, so people won't criticize him for praying and not helping his sister) so it is like that here, Moshe wants to turn to prayer instead of physically/actually helping those in need
Rashi interprets these words to mean that Moshe was standing around instead of taking action. Additionally, Rashi states that Moshe was too busy davening long tefilot to act. Although this may seem as the right thing to do, however, we cannot rely on a miracle. Rather, Moshe needed to act and move forward.
ReplyDelete