Parshat Vaera Exodus 6:2-9:35

What is the secret of Jewish eternity? If medical opinion is beginning to maintain that one of the most important variables in achieving longevity is an optimistic outlook on life, one of the most unique and important messages that Judaism gave to the world is the optimistic notion of world redemption. Our Western culture is formed by the Greco-Roman civilization and by what is generally known as the Judeo - Christian tradition. The Greeks saw the world and life in a cyclical pattern of endless repetition without purpose or end-game; “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow beats on this petty pace to the last syllable of recorded time”… “life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Judaism, on the other hand, taught the prophetic notion of eventual human perfection at a time when “nation will not lift up sword against nation and humanity will not learn war any more”. I would maintain that what has kept us going despite exile, persecution and pogrom is this fundamental belief that what we do counts and that eventually we will succeed in perfecting the world in the Kingship of G-d.

This revolutionary concept is built around the name of G-d revealed at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion: “And G-d spoke to Moses, and He said to him I am the Lord (YHVH)” (Exodus 6:1). The Bible goes on to say that our patriarchs knew of the name “Almighty G-d” (El Shaddai) but this generation of Moses will be privileged to know the new name of G-d, the Lord YHVH. And it is specifically within the context of this new revelation of Name that G-d confirms the establishment of the Covenant, the entry of Israel the people into Israel the land, and the exodus from slavery and oppression to freedom and redemption.

What does this new revealed name have to do with redemption? In last week’s Torah reading we read of the dialogue between G-d and Moses which is the beginning of the explanation. The Almighty reveals Himself to Moses in a burning bush. And bestows upon him the mission of taking the Jews out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). Moses asks for G-d’s name which is another way of asking for a working definition of G-d which he could communicate to the Israelites. “And G-d said to Moses, ‘Ehyeh asher ehyeh’” which is best translated, “I will be what I will be”. What kind of name is this? It seems to be vague, not at all defined, and very much open ended. Moreover, the verb form around which this phrase is built is identical to the verb form of the newly revealed name of G-d, both of them coming from the verb to be (HYH).

In order to complete the elements of our puzzle, we must invoke the first commandment which G-d will give the newly formed Jewish people “This renewal of the moon shall be for you the beginning of the months….” (Exodus 12:1). The Israelites are commanded to search the darkened sky for the new moon, the light which emerges each month from the blackened heavens devoid of light. The sacred Zohar, in explaining the importance of the moon and our celebration (even with Hallel) of its renewal each month, declares, “The Jewish nation is compared to the moon. Just as the moon wanes and seems to have completely disappeared into darkness only to be renewed and reborn, so will the Jewish people often appear to have been overwhelmed by the forces of darkness and evil only to reemerge as a nation reborn in a march towards redemption. So did the Babylonian Talmud emerge from the destruction of the Second Temple and the reborn State of Israel emerge from the tragedy of the Holocaust. From this perspective, the message of the moon is a message of ultimate optimism. The Almighty G-d Himself guarantees not only survival but salvation. The paradigm for the cycle of exile and redemption is our experience in and out of Egypt.

But let us pay special attention to the words of this first commandment: “This renewal of the month shall be for you the beginning of the months…”. The Hebrew word ‘for you’ seems superfluous. Its meaning, however, as explained by the Sages of the Talmud make it central and pivotal to the world as the Bible sees it. Our G-d is not only the G-d of creation, El Shaddai, the G-d who set limits on each element as he created the heavens and the earth, the sands and the seas, mineral, vegetable, animal and human life; He is also the G-d of history, who has a built-in plan for the world which includes its ultimate betterment and even perfection. If creation is an act of One, events in history must at least be the result of partnership between the Divine and human beings, G-d and His chosen people. Hence in the marking of the renewal of the month, which is really the marking of historical time, the Lord clearly tells His people that time is in their hands to do with what they will. If indeed how many months we may have depends on many factors aside from ourselves, what we do with the time at our disposal depends mostly on us “this renewal of the month is for you the beginning of the months”.

Hence, when G-d asks Moses to be His agent, the first Divine Name He reveals to him will be “I will be what I will be”; since I am the G-d of history, and I am asking you to be My partner in history, My ultimate design for the world will depend not only on Me but also on you. Yes, it will be within the context of the promises of redemption made to the patriarchs (Exodus 3:15). But when that will happen depends on you as well as on Me. No wonder this name of G-d is indecisive.

And this is the meaning of the newly revealed Name which G-d gives to the generation of the Exodus: YHVH, literally He will bring about. This name reflects optimism - the redemption is after all guaranteed by G-d, the light will definitely some day emerge from the darkness - but exactly when cannot be revealed. That depends upon us. And although the uncertainty contains an element of frustration and even despair - as evidenced in the question that we Jews so often ask each other “So what will be?” - it also contains the seed of satisfaction. After all, if G-d didn’t think that we were capable, He would never have made us His partner in the first place!

Shabbat Shalom