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There is a
Torah concept of “a descent for the sake of a ascent.”1 The descent acts
as a springboard to launch that which is falling upwards. Moreover,
the descent is, in fact, a necessary preparation for the ascent, and
its ultimate purpose is the ascent; the descent is nothing other than
a part of the ascent itself.”2
Through this spiritual lens, Israel’s exile down to Egypt can be
viewed as the prelude to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.3
Doing Right by Doing Wrong
Consider the
life of Moses. Born during Pharoah’s decree of male infanticide
against all babies, Moses’s survival was against all odds. These were
desperate times indeed. In what might be considered the first
recorded act of civil disobedience,4
midwives Shifra and Puah, who our sages identify as Moses’s mother
(Yocheved) and sister (Miriam), selflessly endangered their lives by
boldly assisting Hebrew mothers safely deliver their babies in
defiance of Pharaoh’s brutal decree.5
As we know from
the narrative, when she felt that she no longer could hide her baby,
Yocheved relinquished her infant son to Divine Providence by placing
Moses in the Nile River inside a waterproof basket. As Miriam stood
watching from a distance, an astounding occurrence took place.
Pharaoh’s daughter and her handmaids appeared. In an unpredictable
turn of events, Pharaoh’s daughter rescued what was clearly an
endangered Hebrew baby, while her own handmaid reprimanded her for
blatantly transgressing the law.6
Pharaoh’s daughter listened to her conscience, thereby defying her
father.
Hearing the Cry
“She … saw him,
the child, and behold, a youth was crying” (Exodus 2:6).
A puzzling
discrepancy comes to light in the wording of this verse. It first
describes the three-month old Moses as “the child” (hayeled)
and then speaks of a “youth” (na’ar). Every word in the Torah
is deliberate, so how are we supposed to understand these words?
Rashi explains that both terms refer to Moses who, although just a
baby, had a cry that sounded like that of a fully grown boy.
Baal HaTurim,
however, presents a fascinating counter-interpretation.7 He agrees that
“the child” (hayeled) refers to Moses, but proposes that the
crying “youth” (na’ar) is actually Moses’s older brother,
Aaron. He derives this from a gematria—a method of revealing
numerical correspondence between Hebrew words in the Torah. The words
“youth cries” (na’ar bocheh) are numerically equivalent to
“Aaron, the Priest” (Aharon ha-Cohen).
This
understanding presents a broader perspective through which past and
present events connect. Two events, occurring many years apart, are
profoundly connected in time. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit.
As Joseph cried out, they chose not to listen, deafening their ears
to his despair. This cruelty became the catalyst that led to Joseph's
and, later, their own descent into Egypt. By contrast, Aaron’s
tearful response to his brother’s plight set off a parallel reaction
from above. Divine Providence interceded, overriding the natural
order of things.
Now, we can
better understand why Pharaoh’s daughter appeared just at the right
time. We can perceive the hidden force that propelled her to
radically reject her father’s harsh decree. Without the cries of
Aaron and the courage of Yocheved, Miriam and Pharaoh’s daughter,
there may not have been a Moses.
Taking Time to Notice
There are
pivotal times in our lives when we’re given the choice of whether or
not to change our direction or, perhaps, seem forced to make a
change. At times, a change may appear to be a setback, as when Joseph
was sold into slavery or Moses became a fugitive, fleeing for his
life. But as we can see from these examples, the setback may just be
a setup for a greater purpose that takes time to be revealed.
Seeing beyond
the status quo and taking action are characteristics that distinguish
great people. These traits can also distinguish you and me.
Strive to find
purpose even while you wait. We’re not merely human beings; we are
human “becomings.”
Challenge
yourself to become more. When things seem down, know that tomorrow
they could start to rise. If you should find yourself plagued by
crisis or trauma and your faith is put to the test, try to remember:
Every descent is for the sake of a greater ascent.
Making It Relevant
- Think about positive steps you can take to
remain resolute in your faith, even when being put to the test.
- Recognize the pattern of downs and ups in
your life. What have you learned? How have you grown?
- Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you know
is right, even if it seems to go against societal “norms.”
- Use “setbacks” as “setups” for personal,
spiritual or societal growth.
 By Katia Bolotin More by this author
Katia Bolotin strives to inspire and motivate Jews of
all backgrounds. Her thought-provoking articles and audio talks
highlight the enduring relevance of the Torah in our ever-changing
world. Katia's focus on personal growth harmonizes with the Torah's wisdom
of how best to cultivate and maintain it. She is also a pianist,
songwriter, and composer of contemporary classical music. Her
original musical compositions can be streamed at Katia Bolotin on
SoundCloud.
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