Sicha, Shabbos Vaera 5743
A. Why?!
Moses is sent to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Jews from Egypt. Pharaoh refuses and even intensifies the burden of labor imposed on the Jews. In the face of the worsening situation, Moses cries out to G-d: “Why have You harmed this people?!” In response, G-d tells him that he will personally see their redemption from Egypt, and He reproaches him for having questioned Him, whereas the Patriarchs never questioned Him in this way (Source 1).
The very fact that Moses’ question, “Why have You harmed this people?” is written in the Torah teaches that it contains an instruction for all generations: G-d wants matters that are grasped by the intellect of holiness to be expressed, since this is the truth from the perspective of the created being, and there is no contradiction to faith in this.
We find this as well with the prophets Jeremiah and Daniel, who refrained from saying in prayer “the mighty and the awesome” when the enemies destroyed the Holy Temple—“Where is His might?”—and the Talmud commends them for this, stating: “Since they were truthful, they did not lie to Him” (Source 2).
A source for the idea that raising questions is not a contradiction to faith is found in the statement of our Sages: “If it is a halachah—we accept it; and if it is subject to legal reasoning, there is an answer.” Even though from the perspective of the intellect there may be an objection, nevertheless, if it is a tradition received from Moses, we accept it even when it runs contrary to reason (Source 3).
The lesson for us: a Jew is forbidden to come to terms with the reality of exile. We must cry out to G-d and say, “Why have You harmed this people?” and demand the cessation of exile. At the same time, our faith remains complete, and we continue to serve G-d properly.
G-d’s response to Moses, “I appeared to the Patriarchs,” teaches that a Jew must serve G-d in a manner of sight—of seeing. Just as a person who sees something with his own eyes, even if he has questions, those questions do not undermine the fact that he has seen it; so too, a Jew believes absolutely in G-d, and the questions that arise do not interfere with his service of G-d.
A story: a child asks the Rebbe, “Who created G-d?” The Rebbe answers him: the desire to know is a good thing, but everything has its time, and in the meantime you should focus on studying Torah (Source 4). This symbolizes that questions are a good thing, but they should not interfere with serving G-d.
B. Where does the strength come from?
The question arises: from where will Moses draw the strength to see G-dliness during the darkness of exile?
The answer is that already with the Patriarchs there was service of G-d in a manner of seeing G-dliness, and they transmitted this strength, by inheritance, to every Jew, in every situation.
