Raising to Greatness – Parshas Va’eira 5771
- Unleashing the Power – Parshas Bereishis 5771
- Will The Real Noach Please Rise – Parshas Noach 5771
- Personal Emunah – Parshas Lech Lecha 5771
- Unique Characters – Parshas Vayeira 5771
- Succos All Year! – Parshas Chayei Sarah 5771
- Internal View – Parshas Toldos 5771
- Close Ties – Parshas Vayeitzei 5771
- Unnerving Dedication – Parshas Vayishlach 5771
- Effort and Wisdom – Parshas Vayeishev 5771
- Yosef HaTzaddik and Chanukah – Parshas Mikeitz and Chanukah 5771
- Tears of Joy – Parshas Vayigash 5771
- Yaakov and Yisrael – Parshas Vayechi 5771
- Gratitude and Exodus – Parshas Shemos 5771
- Raising to Greatness – Parshas Va’eira 5771
It always struck me as odd. When Moshe was born in Parshas Shemos, we were never told who his parents were by name. The verse says, “A Levite man went and married a Levite woman… (Shemos 2:1)” Of course we know who his parents were, but why was it omitted until now. Only after telling of Moshe’s growth and development and how Moshe became the spokesman for Hashem and leader of the Jewish people does the verse finally officially fill in this missing information. In our Parsha it states, “Amram married Yocheved… they gave birth to Aharon and Moshe….(Shemos 6:20).” Why is this mentioned so late?
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) offers a great insight here. Often when parents see that their child has strong potential, they fall pray to the trap of oversight. A parent can think that their child is internally motivated and therefore does not require direction and guidance. I don’t have to put in effort to raise him, he will be fine on his own. Through this oversight, the child may not develop properly.
Amram and Yocheved steered away from that misconception. They saw that Moshe had phenomenal potential, but they did not leave him to bring it out on his own. The verse delays in mentioning Moshe’s parents in order to stress this exact point. Had the verse recounted the names of Moshe’s parents earlier we would have thought that Moshe was born and his parents let him develop on his own.
Now that the Torah waited to say their names until after Moshe’s great accomplishments were seen, it thus shows how Moshe’s parents were the one’s that brought him to that great milestone! It is most apropos that Moshe’s first prophecy at the burning bush began with Hashem calling to him in none other than Amram’s voice. Moshe’s parents dedicated themselves to Moshe’s growth, constantly monitoring and working with him to help him develop into the great servant of Hashem that he became. This is a thought provoking lesson for all parents wishing to see their children succeed!
Categories: Parshas Va'eira