Parsha Vaera
January 17, 2026/29 Tevet 5786
This week’s parsha of Vaera, we see the Egyptians struck by plagues one through six. These plagues consist of blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, pestilence, boils, and hail. But why these specific plagues? One answer given by the Midrash is that each one of these plagues were tied to specific actions done by the Egyptians to the Jewish people. Thus, these plagues are examples of middah k'neged middah, or measure for measure. An eye for an eye.
First, the Nile is targeted as a deity of the Egyptians. Just as the Egyptians disrupted the family lives of the Jewish people by forbidding them mikvaot (ritual baths), the waters of the Nile turned to blood. As Moses is the leader of the Jewish people and the action of striking the river does not involve a speaking role, one would have expected him to be the one to bring the plagues on Egypt. Yet when Moses is commanded to bring on the plague of blood, G-d tells him to “say to Aaron, take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…” Why is this a task for Aaron and not Moses?
Remember that in last parsha, Moses was sheltered in the reeds of the Nile under the watchful eye of his sister, Miriam. It would be wrong for Moses to strike the river that saved him, even though the river is an inanimate object, his sister was the one doing the action, and the river had no “choice” in the matter. The lesson we learn from this is the immense importance of Hakaras Hatov, showing gratitude. How much more so does this apply to people? When Moses is later commanded to attack Midian, the Midrash notes that he does not do so personally, because of the time he lived peaceably in Midian while on the run for killing an Egyptian (see last parsha). Moses interprets G-d’s command correctly, that even though he is commanded to attack Midian, he cannot do so himself.
This coming weekend, our country will be celebrating the public holiday of Martin Luther King Day. Often described as a day of service, this is an opportunity to express our gratitude for the country we live in, the civil rights we now enjoy, the freedom to practice our religion openly, and the protections afforded to us. As they say, make it a “day on, rather than a day off”, volunteer, lend a hand, help a friend, or just show some kindness to one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
First, the Nile is targeted as a deity of the Egyptians. Just as the Egyptians disrupted the family lives of the Jewish people by forbidding them mikvaot (ritual baths), the waters of the Nile turned to blood. As Moses is the leader of the Jewish people and the action of striking the river does not involve a speaking role, one would have expected him to be the one to bring the plagues on Egypt. Yet when Moses is commanded to bring on the plague of blood, G-d tells him to “say to Aaron, take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…” Why is this a task for Aaron and not Moses?
Remember that in last parsha, Moses was sheltered in the reeds of the Nile under the watchful eye of his sister, Miriam. It would be wrong for Moses to strike the river that saved him, even though the river is an inanimate object, his sister was the one doing the action, and the river had no “choice” in the matter. The lesson we learn from this is the immense importance of Hakaras Hatov, showing gratitude. How much more so does this apply to people? When Moses is later commanded to attack Midian, the Midrash notes that he does not do so personally, because of the time he lived peaceably in Midian while on the run for killing an Egyptian (see last parsha). Moses interprets G-d’s command correctly, that even though he is commanded to attack Midian, he cannot do so himself.
This coming weekend, our country will be celebrating the public holiday of Martin Luther King Day. Often described as a day of service, this is an opportunity to express our gratitude for the country we live in, the civil rights we now enjoy, the freedom to practice our religion openly, and the protections afforded to us. As they say, make it a “day on, rather than a day off”, volunteer, lend a hand, help a friend, or just show some kindness to one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
