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PARSHAT VA'EIRA THE BITTERNESS OF THEIR SPIRIT "And Moshe spoke so unto the children of Israel, but they
did not listen unto Moshe through anguish of spirit and through
hard service." (Shemot 6:10) The Jewish people were unable
to hear about the forthcoming redemption, because of the heavy burden
of their servitude. People of bitter spirit cannot think about anything
but how to satisfy their immediate needs. They are looking for instant
relief alone, and do not have the menuchat haNefesh (ease of mind)
it takes to envision redemption or yearn for freedom. All they can
think about is how to provide for their next meal. "Behold the children of Israel have not listened to me; how
then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?"
(Shemot 6:12) Sfat Emet explains that there is a direct connection
between the prophet's ability to prophesy and the people's capacity
to listen. The reason why Moshe was of uncircumcised lips is because
Israel could not listen to him. It was this inability of the Jewish
people to listen, which prevented them from receiving the Ten Commandments
directly from G-d. Speech is in exile as long as the receivers are
not prepared to listen to the words of G-d. The midrash explains
that Israel could not listen to Moshe, because it was difficult
for them to separate themselves from idol-worship. The word for
idol-worship in Hebrew is avoda zara which literally means, strange
work. Therefore, any kind of "strange work" can block
our ability to hear the voice of G-d. Before sinning, Adam and Eve
lived in the Garden of Eden, where they could enjoy its fruits without
having to work at all. They were free to devout themselves totally
to hearing the voice of G-d. Because they misused this opportunity
to listen, it was taken away from them. From now on man is cursed
to work with the sweat of his brow in order to make a living. Being
caught up in hard work can prevent him from hearing the inner voice
of G-d, in the same way the men in Egypt were unable to hear the
words of redemption.
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