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THE TURNAROUND

In this week’s Parsha, Va’era, the Torah recounts the plagues that HaShem brought upon the Egyptians. These plagues were a response to Pharaoh’s refusal of HaShem’s command to release the Jewish people from slavery.

The question is, if HaShem wanted to release His people from the shackles of slavery why did He not do that Himself? Does HaShem need Pharoah’s permission?

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RESPECTING AN EVIL DESPOT

In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Va’era, as well as in last week’s Parsha, and next week’s Parsha, we find Moshe, the messenger of HaShem, addressing Pharaoh with great deference. One such example we have is when Moshe informs Pharaoh in the name of HaShem, “Let us go for a three day retreat in the desert to serve our G-D lest we will be struck with plague and war.” Moshe’s intent was to say that if you do not allow us to go on this retreat, you will be struck with plague and war. However, out of deference, rather than say explicitly that you will be struck he said that we will be struck.