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Why Moshe?
The time of redemption has arrived and somebody is needed to lead thousands of Jews out of Egypt, ultimately to inherit the land of Israel as Hashem had promised our forefathers. What qualities does Moshe exhibit that make him the obvious choice?
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֶל־אֶחָ֔יו וַיַּ֖רְא בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מַכֶּ֥ה אִישׁ־עִבְרִ֖י מֵאֶחָֽיו׃
Some time after that, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his kinsfolk and witnessed their labors. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen (Shemot 2:11).
This pasuk describes our first look at Moshe as he surveys the national landscape and sees the suffering of his brothers. It bothers him, so much so that it brings him to action. The Sforno’s classic commentary to the Torah emphasizes the fact that, “ומצד האחוה התעורר להנקם” – it’s because of Moshe’s connection with his people that he is motivated to help them. Moshe’s dedication to his people and his ability to connect and feel the pain that they are going through are tremendous leadership qualities. An even more careful reading of the pasuk tells us that this in fact is Moshe’s maturation process. “ויגדל משה”, Moshe grew up and into this understanding of empathy and compassion.
As we are now approaching the end of the third month of the current situation in Israel, this lesson of leadership has been painfully relevant.
Ari Zenilman did not graduate from KYHS, but he could have. He grew up in Boca and attended Katz Hillel day school. The Zenilman and Sugerman families were neighbors and, soon enough, close friends. By eighth grade, Ari’s family made the decision to make aliyah, moving to Maale Adumim. Ari started and finished high school in Israel and went on to participate in the Hesder program at Yeshivat Gush, a five-year commitment combining military service and serious Torah learning. Subsequently Ari got married, had three children, the most recent of whom was born this past Sukkot, and worked in the field of data analysis.
After the Simchat Torah massacres, Ari, an IDF reservist, couldn’t bear to see his people in such pain. It moved him to action. Together with thousands of other Jewish leaders, he did the work that was modeled by Moshe: heeded a call to action in defense of our brothers and sisters.
On December 11th, less than a month ago, Ari fell in Gaza defending our people.
At a memorial organized by KYHS alumna Rachel Benaim, we shared stories about a brilliant and compassionate son, husband, father, and now, fallen soldier. I spoke with his parents and obviously did not have the words that could properly express my sadness.
May his memory serve as a blessing for us and may we learn from our role models lessons of leadership.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Sugerman
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