The following is a Dvar Torah that was written for American University Hillel’s January 24, 2025 Shabbat service. All views, opinions, and beliefs are the author’s own.
Good Evening, and Shabbat Shalom.
My name is Zachary Austrager. I am a freshman in the School of Communication and a member of the Hillel Programming Committee. This week’s Torah portion is Va’era, which in English means “I appeared.”
In the portion, G-d reveals himself to Moses and tells him to return to Egypt, get the Israelites out of there, and go to Mount Sinai and the promised land beyond. So, that’s what Moses and his brother Aaron try to do. Only to repeatedly fail. So, G-d does what we all know he does: the plagues! The Nile turned to blood, and frogs took over the land, et cedera et cedera, yet still, the Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go.
So, in short, there’s a struggle between the people of Israel and Egypt. The former desperately wants to go one way, while the latter is stubborn and at a standstill.
We have all been in a position where we want to do something a new way or differently than our peers might imagine the best way. Yet, when we try to get other people to join us, or, in this case, let us do what we want, it usually starts with failure, being told that you should just let the old ways continue to be used as seen fit even when it can be seen that the “correct” way of doing is wrong. Both by what you are saying and by the exterior changes. The “plagues” of the world, if you will.
But do you give up that easily? No! You keep convincing others to give the new system or idea a chance. People who deeply care about such an issue will continuously try to get others on board with the problem. Similar to how Moses kept going back to Pharaoh to convince him otherwise. Both Moses and you have something in common: They keep trying until they eventually get what they want—either freedom of their lives in the Israelites’ case or freedom of choice in modern culture. Don’t let people stop you; if they don’t, the “plagues” will just come after them sooner.
Alongside the fact that if you, yes, you, are the one pushing off doing something, no matter how pure your intentions may be, and ignore those who see the light and potential danger that may come into conflict, then when the world comes tumbling down, or everything fails. Don’t say you weren’t made aware because you were. Some people want the best for everyone, not just those who are currently succeeding at this time.
Thank you.