Believing in the Future (From Last Year 2024)

Insight of the Week

Parashat Vaera begins with Hashem's response to Moshe Rabbenu, who, in the final pesukim of last week's parashah , expressed his angst over the plight of Beneh Yisrael in Egypt. Hashem had sent him to Pharoah to demand that he allow Beneh Yisrael to leave, but Pharaoh not only refused, but made things much worse – ordering that Beneh Yisrael would now have to find their own straw for bricks, but produce the same number of bricks every day. Moshe cried to Hashem, and Hashem replied: וארא אל אברהם אל יצחק ואל יעקב בקל שד-י, ושמי ה' לא נודעתי להם. Hashem told Moshe that he had appeared to the avot (patriarchs) – Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov – with the Name קל שד-י , but not with the Name Havayah (the Name spelled yud , heh , vav and heh ). Most of the commentators explain that Havayah is the Name of Hashem that signifies His mercy and compassion, and this was not shown to the avot . Hashem made promises to each of the avot , assuring them that a great nation would emerge from them, which would reside in the Land of Israel. But none of the avot ever saw this happen; each of them died well before there was an Am Yisrael residing in Eretz Yisrael . Nevertheless, they did not question or challenge Hashem. They lived with firm belief that these promises would eventually be fulfilled. The secret to this faith can be found in a pasuk in last week's parashah , Parashat Shemot. When Hashem first appeared to Moshe in the burning bush, and commanded him to return to Egypt and inform Beneh Yisrael that they would soon be leaving, He told Moshe to convey to them that His Name was אהיה אשר אהיה – "I shall be that which I shall be" (3:14). What is the meaning if this Name – אהיה אשר אהיה ? The word אהיה is in the future tense. It means that whatever is happening now, things will be better in the future. This Name holds the secret of Jewish optimism. Hashem was telling Moshe that even in the darkest periods, the Jewish People must continue holding onto this belief – that things can and will turn around for the better. We have always lived with this spirit of hope and positivity, knowing that no matter what we're going through, Hashem is holding our hand and will get us through it. We don't break or give up. We hold our heads high, and handle whatever life throws our way with the confidence that a brighter future awaits. This is the secret to the faith of the avot . They did not see the fulfillment of Hashem's promises, but they believed with all their hearts that these promises would eventually be fulfilled. I saw this optimism on full display when I visited Israel in the midst of the war, several months after October 7 th . I visited, among other places, the ruins of Be'eri, the site of the Nova festival massacre, and the ward of Tel Hashomer hospital where wounded soldiers are treated – many of whom are missing limbs. Wherever I went, I was amazed by the spirit of the Israeli people, by their hope and optimism. Despite all they had gone through, they were smiling. I spoke with a wounded IDF soldier who had lost a leg and who told me with a big smile that he was so grateful to be alive, and that he wished he could return to battle to continue the fight. This is the meaning of אהיה אשר אהיה – the unwavering belief that no matter how bad things seem now, no matter what we're struggling with, Hashem is with us, and He will get us through this and turn things around for the better. Let us try to cling to this faith, to always believe in the future even when today is challenging, and to trust that Hashem is always holding our hand and helping us at every step along the way.