As the cataclysmic, earth-shaking moment of the Exodus approaches, there is intense activity. The Jewish People are busy collecting gold and silver from the Egyptians, while Moshe is retrieving the bones of Yosef to take to Eretz Yisrael, as was promised him. About this incident, says the commentator Kli Yakar, does the pasuk in Mishlei (Proverbs 10:8) apply: "The wise of heart choose mitzvot, while those who offer mere lip-service falter." Clearly, this is meant as praise for Moshe, and a not-too-subtle cut on Bnei Yisrael, who were engaged in material pursuits.
But why the critique? Didn't Hashem specifically instruct Moshe in parshat Bo (11:2) to plead with the Jews to collect these items from their neighbors? Why put them down for now doing what G-d asked them to do?
Rabbi Kaminetsky explains with a wonderful story: Epstein was a delivery boy for Cohen's Soda Company back in the '30s, hauling glass bottles of soda all over New York. One day, the boy swerved to avoid a bicyclist, and the truck overturned, sending bottles crashing and breaking all around. Epstein was mortified. Mr. Cohen would surely fire him for losing so much stock! As a large crowd gathered around him, Epstein sat down and wept.
Suddenly, an elderly man broke through the throngs and yelled, "Let's all help this poor boy. Come on!"
Thrusting a $10 bill in a hat, he went from person to person, collecting a significant sum of money. He then handed the boy the hat and said, "Here, take this to your boss and everything will be okay!"
The man then disappeared as the crowd cheered and began to disperse. One passer-by was so impressed. "What a mitzva that man did!" he exclaimed.
"Mitzva-shmitzva," said young Epstein, shaking his head, "that was Mr. Cohen!"
While it's true that Bnei Yisrael did G-d's bidding when they collected the gold and silver, there is no doubt that they had a selfish motive, too. Moshe, on the other hand, had only the mitzva in mind when he took Yosef's bones with him.
As Israeli elections fast approach, we ought to ask ourselves: "No doubt it's a tremendous mitzva to serve Am Yisrael. But are the candidates doing this for the good of the nation, or for their own name and fame? Would they step aside if someone else more qualified came along? Will they sublimate their personal egos and concentrate on our security, our welfare, our national aspirations?"
The answer to these questions should help decide who gets our vote.
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Rabbi Weiss is the director of the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra?anana.
But why the critique? Didn't Hashem specifically instruct Moshe in parshat Bo (11:2) to plead with the Jews to collect these items from their neighbors? Why put them down for now doing what G-d asked them to do?
Rabbi Kaminetsky explains with a wonderful story: Epstein was a delivery boy for Cohen's Soda Company back in the '30s, hauling glass bottles of soda all over New York. One day, the boy swerved to avoid a bicyclist, and the truck overturned, sending bottles crashing and breaking all around. Epstein was mortified. Mr. Cohen would surely fire him for losing so much stock! As a large crowd gathered around him, Epstein sat down and wept.
Suddenly, an elderly man broke through the throngs and yelled, "Let's all help this poor boy. Come on!"
Thrusting a $10 bill in a hat, he went from person to person, collecting a significant sum of money. He then handed the boy the hat and said, "Here, take this to your boss and everything will be okay!"
The man then disappeared as the crowd cheered and began to disperse. One passer-by was so impressed. "What a mitzva that man did!" he exclaimed.
"Mitzva-shmitzva," said young Epstein, shaking his head, "that was Mr. Cohen!"
While it's true that Bnei Yisrael did G-d's bidding when they collected the gold and silver, there is no doubt that they had a selfish motive, too. Moshe, on the other hand, had only the mitzva in mind when he took Yosef's bones with him.
As Israeli elections fast approach, we ought to ask ourselves: "No doubt it's a tremendous mitzva to serve Am Yisrael. But are the candidates doing this for the good of the nation, or for their own name and fame? Would they step aside if someone else more qualified came along? Will they sublimate their personal egos and concentrate on our security, our welfare, our national aspirations?"
The answer to these questions should help decide who gets our vote.
--------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Weiss is the director of the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra?anana.