DUAL PLAN

“Life is the continuous adjustment of external relations "
    This statement comes to mind as we read this week's Parsha, Parshas Bo and study the continuous dialogue between Moshe and Paroh.  Moshe, by the directive of Hashem, continues to demand that Paroh send עם ישראל out of Egypt and release them from bondage, so that they may travel to their destination   The culmination of this act is B’nei Yisroel receiving the Torah on Har Sinai. We see how Paroh's heart becomes hardened and he continues to deny Moshe's request. Only until the last Makah of מכות בכורות did he acquiesce to let them go.

    All this is truly interesting, but as a student who enjoys the study of personalities, I am intrigued by Moshe's actions and more so by the response of Paroh. We seem to be experiencing a duel between two leaders. A duel of words and philosophies. A duel that places the lives of so many in jeopardy. One wonders what the full intent of Moshe was and understandably what the full intent of Hashem was, in this duel of words.

   To answer my query in a way that will satisfy our questions, permit me to share a brilliant analysis by the Rav of this entire dialogue that pours over in so many pages of our Chumash.

   The Rav wrote that there was a schism running through the personality of Paroh. While he was certainly an evil despot, he was a person, a human being and a father. Yes, says the Rav even Paroh was created in G-D's image. 

  Hear the Rav's words well. They are not only fascinating, and truly intriguing, they can inspire us in our tumultuous world that continues to envelope us on a daily.

“When Hashem says to Moshe בא אל פרעה, come to Paroh, it is different from the wording used in the Torah in Sedrah Va'era when G-D sent Moshe to confront Paroh for the first plague of blood at the Nile River. There we find the word לך go. The words בא and לך are characteristic of the message. Moshe was told to approach Paroh as the emperor and, also, to approach "Another" Paroh: the private person, the individual. When he approached Paroh as the king, it is .לך אל פרעה - He met him at the Nile, the symbol of power in Egypt. "Address yourself to the power oriented Paroh at the source of power, the Nile. Stop him, block him, tell him there are forces stronger than him. Place yourself strongly in front of him and protest". In our Sedrah this week we find a change in language, בא אל פרעה, "Go into the king in his home, where he is an ordinary man, a person, a father. Tell him how wrong he is to throw a child into the water. Tell him about Avraham and tell him about morality. Perhaps he will respond. There is a spark of good even in the most wicked. We use the word בא when we ask someone to come closer.”

   I read and re-read these fascinating and most enlightening words of the Rav. Not only does it clarify the whole episode of the confrontation between Moshe and Paroh, it elucidates, for us, a fantastic study in the different personalities of man and how important it is to know how we are to relate to each other to achieve the optimum in human relationships. 

  The Rav suggests there are situations that require confrontation, challenge, even battle, and there are times that require a different approach. A more person to person dialogue, which is an appeal to the other's sense of decency. The plan, as enunciated by the Rav, regarding Paroh, was a dual plan. When he was challenged publicly as king and his beloved Nile turned to blood he acted in a stern fashion.  When he was approached privately by Moshe, he could let his guard down because his subjects were not watching, and could be persuaded by Moshe to do the right thing. 

   This is truly an amazing understanding of how we are to relate to one another and achieve our goals for a more humane society-especially when we realize that Hashem accompanied Moshe when he went to Paroh in his palace and together they attempted to connect with the צלם אלוקים hidden inside Paroh, the man. Moshe reached out to Paroh who may have related to him as a father or brother. Now Moshe was offering Paroh an opportunity to rise above and to respond with the greatness and grandeur befitting all children of G-D, especially a king. 

   What an amazing analysis the Rav shares with us which is a lesson to all of our political figures throughout the world and how they need to learn how to act with each other to achieve a better world for all humanity. Equally so, on a more personal level the Rav's words will show us how humanity can live with each other in harmony and friendship and when doing so we will herald a world where the משיח will be welcomed with loving arms, for then we begin to realize that we are all created בצלם אלוקים. 

           שבת שלום ומבורך