09 Jan VAEIRA: ACQUIRING EMUNAH

The pasuk in this
week’s parashah states
(7:7) “Moshe was
eighty years old, and

Aharon was eighty-
three years old when

they spoke to Pharaoh.”
Why does the Torah tell
us their ages?
Reb Shimon Shwab zt’l
explains that
mentioning their ages
served as a hint to
Pharaoh that it is
impossible to go
against Hashem’s will.
“Eighty-three years
ago, you enslaved the
Jewish people to
prevent the nation from increasing. But did
your decree help? Behold, Aharon is now
eighty-three years old. He was born at the
time of this gezeirah (see Shemos Rabba
26:1). Your decree couldn’t prevent Aharon’s
birth. And eighty years ago, you decreed that
every Jewish male be thrown into the sea. Did
that decree help advance your objectives?
Behold Moshe Rabbeinu is standing before
you, and he was born at the time of this decree.
“So, you see, you can’t fight Hashem’s plan.
What He wants will be.”
The words “I am Hashem” are repeated

several times in this week’s parashah (see 6:6-
7, 7:5, 8:18, 9:13-14), and it states “You will
know that I am Hashem.” This is because the
primary message of this parashah is to know
that everything happens through Hashem’s
hand, nothing happens by chance, and no one
can change Hashem’s plan.
This awareness is acquired through constant
review and by bringing the emunah from the
mind into the heart.
The Chofetz Chaim told the following mashal:
A wealthy person owned an expensive bird
that was able to speak. Once, before leaving
on a business trip, he gave instructions on how
to care for the bird to his butler. “Read the list
every morning and evening because the bird is
very precious, and I don’t want it to get hurt
while I am away.”
The butler replied, “Don’t worry. I will do as
you say.”
When the wealthy man returned home, the
bird was dead. “Why didn’t you take care of
the bird as I requested?”
“I did exactly as you said,” the butler replied.
“I read the list twice daily.”
The wealthy man got angry and said, “I
intended that you should read the note twice
daily and do as it says. It doesn’t help me that
you read the note if you didn’t put the ideas to
practice.”
The Chofetz Chaim explains that the Torah
tells us to remember yetzias Mitzrayim twice

every day (Devarim 16:3). The purpose isn’t
just to mumble off the words. The goal is to
acquire emunah in Hashem.
The Imrei Emes writes in a letter to his
grandson, “Regarding your request that I
should write to you about yiras Shamayim,
behold it states (9:20) ‘He who feared the
word of Hashem [that Hashem warned that the
plague Barad is coming] drove his servants
and livestock into the houses, but he who
didn’t take Hashem’s word to heart,’ he left
his servants and livestock in the field. We see
from this pasuk that having yiras shamayim is
about taking Hashem’s word to heart.”
The Beis HaLevi’s zt’l father-in-law once
hosted Reb Moshe Kobriner zt’l. The Beis
HaLevi was from a litvishe background, while
Rebbe Moshe Kobriner was from the chasidic
schools, and the father-in-law wanted them to
meet. He was curious what would occur. So he
left Rebbe Moshe Kobriner’s suitcase in the
room where the Beis HaLevi studied.
When Rebbe Moshe was ready to leave, he
asked his host where he could find his suitcase.
The host directed him to the Beis HaLevi’s
room.
When they met, the Kobriner asked,
“Yungerman, did you learn the first halachah
of Shulchan Aruch?”
The Beis HaLevi replied, “I learned it, but I
didn’t understand it. It is written there, ‘When
a person thinks that the great King, Hakadosh

Baruch Hu, Whose honor fills the world, is
standing above him and is watching his deeds,
immediately he will have fear and humility
before Hashem.’ I think these matters, but I
can’t say that I am overtaken with fear and
humility.”
The Kobriner replied, “It states ‘When one
puts to his heart that the great King, Hakadosh
Baruch Hu is standing above him, watching
his deeds…’ It isn’t sufficient to think about it;
you must bring it to your heart.”
The Arizal teaches that Pharoah spells Haeref
(neck). The neck is situated between the brain
and the heart. This represents Pharaoh’s
attempt to separate the intellect from the heart.
The Lechovitzer zt’l said that the distance
from the brain to the heart is greater than
heaven to earth.
The Tzanzer Rav zt’l told his doctor when he
asked him what he does for a living, “I build
bridges.” The doctor appeared bewildered, so
the Tzanzer Rav replied, “I am busy building
a bridge that will close the gap between my
brain and my heart.”
That is our avodah, and when one tries,
Hashem helps.