During my first year of yeshiva in Israel, I recall many of the skills and tenants of learning that were etched in my brain. I recall how the Rambam is meticulous in how he categorizes mitzvot or how Rashi’s manner of quoting the text of the Torah gives us insight into what the question he is trying to answer. The word choices that are made by Hashem in the Torah and in how the commentaries grapple with the text matters. That is why this week’s torah portion is so puzzling.
We know the story of the exodus from Mitzrayim. It is a classic underdog story of a small, fledgling group that rises up against their persecutors through the hand of Hashem and His messenger, Moshe. After ten tumultuous plagues, the Egyptian people prevail on Pharaoh to let the Jewish people leave. We refer to this period as יציאת מצרים, the exodus from Egypt. Why is our פרשה not called יציאה, Leaving, as opposed to its accurate name, בא, Coming?
I am sure many of you are chomping at the bit to ask, “Does Rabbi Silvestri even read the פרשה?” Well, if he did he would realize that the word בא is referring to Hashem’s directive to Moshe to go to Pharaoh again to warn him of the next plague to come if he doesn’t let the Jewish people go. Seems simple and straightforward. What is Rabbi Silvestri talking about!
If we look further in the פרשה, the term יציאה appears when Moshe and Aharon direct the people to leave:
וַיִּקְרָא֩ לְמֹשֶׁ֨ה וּֽלְאַהֲרֹ֜ן לַ֗יְלָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ ק֤וּמוּ צְּאוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ עַמִּ֔י גַּם־אַתֶּ֖ם גַּם־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּלְכ֛וּ עִבְד֥וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּדַבֶּרְכֶֽם
[Pharaoh] called out to Moshe and Aharon that night saying, “Get up and go out from within my nation, you and your nation, and go to serve Hashem as you spoke to me.”
- Shemot 12:31
The term of leaving, of יציאה, is mentioned here in this portion and in almost every time we reference leaving Mitzrayim in our tefillot and countless commentaries. Thus, my question, why is the name of our weekly portion בא?
The חזקוני, Chizkuni, a Midrashic commentary compiled in the 13th century by Rabbi Chezkiah ben Manoah, highlights that the word בא used in our opening line of the פרשה is the only time such a phraseology is used when referring to the plagues. As Moshe is about to embark on the final three plagues, there is less dialogue with Pharaoh. Hashem has given him the time to make choices. He did not and the option no longer exists for him and his people. The final three plagues are coming no matter what he does.
The word בא has two translations - going and coming. It refers to both the act of leaving one space and entering a whole new one entirely. Moshe was not only referencing that his dialogue with Pharaoh was entering a new stage, the journey of the Jewish people was well. Prior to the official exodus, Moshe makes it a point to teach the Jewish people their first mitzvah, קידוש החודש, the act of establishing a new moon. That seems odd? What value would that bring to a slave looking for nothing else but freedom?
The act of establishing a new moon and a new month is a process of creating a new opportunity that didn’t exist before. What took place last month is old news. Maybe we didn’t make the best choices, prioritize our relationship with Hashem, our family and our communities. Whatever took place prior, the new month is a rebirth of possibilities. That is the exact message that the Jewish people needed to hear before being ready to leave.
The Jewish slaves were stuck in a slave mentality. They questioned their worth, their reach and the limitations of their world. Moshe needed to remind them that we are not just leaving Egypt, we are journeying to a new place where we will become a nation ready to realize the promises made to our forefathers and mothers.
With ראש חודש שבט, the new month of Shvat taking place this past Monday that time for rebirth and renewal begins today. It is the month that we celebrate the birth of the trees and the budding of the fruit. It is a wonderful time to take a moment to reflect and consider where have we faltered, where are we not focusing and how can we make an adjustment for a stronger and more fruitful month ahead.