Vaeira 5775

And Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon, and he For the same reason, G-d
said, “Go sacrifice to your G-d in this land.” And Moshe commanded Moshe and Aharon to
speak respectfully to Pharaoh, as Rashi
said, “It is not proper to do that, for we will slaughter the
says (6:13). The time of the redemption
deity of Egypt to Hashem our G-d; behold, if we were to had not yet arrived, and talking
slaughter the deity of Egypt before their eyes, would they arrogantly to Pharaoh would have been
not stone us?” (Shemos 8:21-22) considered “provoking the nations.”

This answer given by Moshe seems So how could Moshe have been Moshe continued, “Three days

strange. Moshe and the Jews never let afraid of the Egyptians stoning the Jews? journey we will go in the desert, and we

fear of the Egyptians stop them from And if he was not really afraid, but just will sacrifice to Hashem our G-d as He

doing anything. Moshe came and went used this as an excuse to Pharaoh, why will say to us.” Seemingly, the words “as

in Pharaoh’s palace without permission, did Pharaoh believe it? And if for some He will say to us” are unnecessary. But

giving him harsh warnings. On the day reason he was afraid, why did he say the meaning is: we must do everything

before the Exodus, the Jews did indeed “it is not proper to do that”? He should just as G-d tells us. We will sacrifice here

slaughter the lamb, the deity of Egypt, have used much stronger words: “we in Egypt, but only when He tells us to do

before their eyes. are afraid to do that” or “it would be so. It is not that we fear the Egyptians.

dangerous to do that.” They will not be able to stone us, but

The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 16:3) says they will certainly want to, and it is not
this explicitly: “The Holy One, blessed The answer is that yes, when proper to provoke them like that. (Divrei
is He, said to Moshe: By your life, Israel the time of redemption arrived and Yoel, p. 161)

will not leave here until they slaughter
the god of Egypt before their eyes. I will
show them that their god is nothing…
on that night Israel slaughtered their
G-d instructed the Jews to slaughter
the deity of Egypt, they could do so
without fear. But now it was not yet ‫לע"נ מרים לאה צפורה‬
)‫בת ר' שמואל ע"ה (קאהן‬
the time of redemption, and G-d had ‫נפטרה ג' תשרי תשע"ג‬

pesach offerings and ate them, and the not commanded them to slaughter ‫לע"נ הרה"ח ר' מנשה ב"ר‬
)‫ישעי' יעקב ע"ה (בירנבוים‬

Egyptians saw their firstborn killed and the deity of Egypt before their eyes, ‫נפטר כ' סיון תשע"ב‬

‫לע"נ ר' חיים ב"ר מתתי' ע"ה‬

their gods slaughtered, and they could so this slaughter would have been a ‫נפטר ערב יוה"ק תשס"ט‬ )‫(ראטה‬

do nothing… Let all those who serve transgression of the prohibition on

idols be ashamed!” provoking the gentiles during exile.

For additional copies of this publication, The True Torah Jews

or to sponsor an issue, 183 Wilson St. PMB 162
PLEASE CALL 718-873-0756 Brooklyn, NY 11211