Parshat Vaera

Dear STOCS Friend: 

The first two plagues inflicted upon Egypt were imitated on a smaller scale by the Egyptian magicians. However, when it came to the plague of lice, they hit an impassable barrier and could not replicate it. Acknowledging their failure, they informed Pharaoh and declared: אֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים הִוא — "It is the finger of God!"

One would think that this would catch Pharaoh’s attention. Instead, he becomes more stubborn:  וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם  He did not listen to them. 

Rabbi Yaakov Menken points out:  “Pharaoh was so committed that he rid himself of the magicians rather than admit his error. He never called upon them again, because he knew that they were “weak” — meaning they saw reality staring them in the face.”

The frightful response of Pharaoh is quite disturbing. People who deny reality can accept diabolical actions as being nonexistent.

Dr. Daniel Graham writes about the Oscar-winning film Zone of Interest, which chronicles the day-to-day life of a Nazi death camp commandant and his family, who live adjacent to the camp. The characters are aware that the Nazi concentration camps are death camps. But, by living life as normal, they reaffirm the lie that daily atrocious acts against humanity aren't happening, despite unambiguous evidence from next door. Without this irrationality, the evil they committed would have been impossible.

It was Pharaoh's mindset that allowed the continued enslavement of the Hebrews. It ultimately brought about the destruction of his kingdom by the hand of Hashem—all a result of the insidious power of denial.

I look forward to seeing you in shul this Shabbas.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Shore