Vaeira - Huddle Up

Victory lies not in the score, but in the game itself.

The Philadelphia Eagles have made it to the NFC Championship game, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the Super Bowl. As Eagles fans rally behind our team (I am clenching my teeth as I say our team), I think we can discern an interesting connection between the nature of the game and this week's parsha, Va’eira. Football is a unique sport in the way it allows for ongoing reassessment and adjustment. After each play and especially when things do not go as planned, the team huddles, takes stock of the situation, and recalibrates its strategy. This pause in action is not just about making corrections; it is an integral part of the game, providing clarity and perspective for tackling the challenges ahead.

A similar dynamic is found in Parshat Va’eira, which begins at a moment of crisis, after the previous parsha, Shemot, ends in disappointment. When Moshe obeys God’s command to approach Pharaoh, he not only fails to secure the release of the Jewish people but inadvertently intensifies their suffering. Pharaoh reacts in anger by imposing harsher labor upon them. In frustration, Moshe demands of God, Hatzel lo hitzalta et amecha?—"Why have You not saved Your nation?" God’s response is brief but profound: Ata tireh—"Now you will see what I am going to do!"

This exchange raises an important theological question. If God had the power to redeem the Jewish people immediately, why prolong their suffering? Why not perform one decisive miracle that ends their enslavement? Instead, the process of redemption unfolds over a series of ten plagues, each building upon the last. The answer to this question lies in the very structure of creation itself.

Pirkei Avot 5:1 teaches that God used ten utterances (maamarot) to create the world, even though He could have simply issued a single command. The Mishnah explains God’s rationale: He chose to create a framework for meaningful reward and punishment, allowing those who sustain the world to be acknowledged and those who seek to destroy it to be held accountable. However, there is a deeper message embedded in this teaching. The fact that the world was created in stages suggests that the process of creation is in itself significant. Had creation occurred in a single moment, human beings would not be able to fully comprehend its depth and intricacy. The unfolding of creation in ten steps allows for a greater awareness of its complexity and a deeper appreciation of its value.

This concept applies directly to the story of the Exodus. Just as the world was created in a series of ten utterances, the Jewish people were redeemed through a sequence of ten plagues. The redemption from Egypt was not meant to be a one-time event but a gradual process of transformation. If the Exodus had occurred instantly, the people would have missed the opportunity to internalize its significance. Each plague served as a step in reorienting their perception, helping them move from a mindset of subjugation to one of freedom. The drawn-out nature of the redemption was not a flaw in the plan; it was the very foundation of the plan.

This idea is reinforced by an unusual structural element in Va’eira. Midway in the narrative, the Torah introduces a partial genealogy, listing the leaders of the tribes in an incomplete manner. The list begins with Reuven, continues with Shimon and Levi, and then stops after detailing the lineage of Moshe and Aharon. The abrupt ending is striking. Why does the Torah provide only part of the genealogy instead of listing all twelve tribes? The interruption appears to mirror the theme of the parsha itself—life rarely unfolds the way we expect it will. The journey toward redemption, experienced by individuals or by an entire nation, is never a matter of quick and easy resolution. Instead, we are often left in the middle of the story, learning to navigate uncertainty and boldly continue on the winding path ahead.

This shift in perspective is what distinguishes parshat Va’eira from parshat Shemot, which focused on the expectation of immediate salvation. When Moses first confronted Pharaoh and was met with defeat, his immediate response was disappointment. He had approached the situation with a results-oriented mindset.

וְהַצֵּ֥ל לֹא־הִצַּ֖לְתָּ אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ

and still You have not delivered Your people. [Exodus, 5:23]

But in Va’eira, we learn to see through a different lens. God’s reply, Ata tireh / You will see, reveals the imperative to view the process differently—not as a single event, but as a journey that must unfold step by step.

This perspective has implications beyond the story of the Exodus. In many aspects of life, we tend to focus solely on achieving the result while overlooking the richness of the path we take to get there. We often overlook the fact that in personal growth, relationships, or spiritual development, the process of becoming is often more transformative than the final destination. Learning to appreciate the steps along the way can lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment and understanding.

But let’s face it, when it comes to football, we still want results. The Eagles may appreciate the process, but ultimately, their goal is to win the Super Bowl. The lesson of our parsha, however, is that in life our greatest victories often come not from the final score, but from the ability to celebrate the game - the journey of life itself.

Shabbat shalom,

Eliezer Hirsch