Parshat Shemot

January 18, 2025

This is a drasha I delivered to my synagogue community.

The story of Shemot is one all of us know—a tale of our people suffering as slaves, crying out for help, and being rescued by God. But there is another important message in this story: a journey from ingratitude to gratitude. This inner change is demonstrated by the two main characters: Pharaoh and Moses. Their actions represent two very different approaches to life—one that ignores our connections to others and one that truly values them.

Pharaoh's attitude in Shemot is encapsulated in his refusal "to know." When he ignores the legacy of Joseph—a man who brought wealth and stability to Egypt—he is not just forgetting the past; he is rejecting the idea that we owe anything to others or that we need anyone outside of ourselves. This extreme self-reliance blinds him to both the signs of God's work and the needs of his own people. By refusing to recognize the debt he owes to Joseph and to God, Pharaoh shows us exactly what ungratefulness looks like.

Moses, by contrast, gives us a powerful example of both gratitude and humility. When God calls him through the burning bush to go to Egypt and rescue His people out of slavery, Moses does not immediately rush off with pride or claim divine wisdom. Instead, he refuses God four times. Even as God reminds him that He is the God of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, Moses hesitates, saying, "But they will not believe me." He continues to resist until God, in His frustration, presses him further. Some might view this repeated reluctance as mere stubbornness, but I believe Moses' unwillingness to leap forward without reflection ultimately made him a more attractive leader in the eyes of God. Deep down, Moses recognized the challenges of leadership and approached them with genuine humility.

Humility and gratitude are closely linked because both call upon us to acknowledge that we are not self-sufficient. When we embrace humility, we recognize our limitations and the ways in which our successes depend on the support, kindness, and help of others—such as when God tells Moses that his brother Aaron will assist him in speaking for him. This openness to our own dependence paves the way for true gratitude, allowing us to deeply appreciate every act of assistance and shared strength.

This lesson is as important today as it was thousands of years ago. Consider the recent, heartbreaking fires in California. Disasters like these strip away the outer layers of our everyday routines and reveal just how much we depend on one another. In such difficult times, it would be easy to succumb to despair or to isolate ourselves. Yet, the response to the California fires has been marked by remarkable care and unity.

Across the region, many groups are stepping in to help. Temporary housing is being offered to those who lost their homes. Organizations are providing food, medical help, and essential services. Community groups, like the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and individual synagogues such as IKAR, are working together to support both immediate needs and long-term recovery.

These collective efforts remind us that even in tragedy, there is much to be grateful for. They show us that we are not alone. Like Moses, who understood that he needed the help of others to lead his people, we learn that gratitude is not just a feeling but a bridge that brings us closer together. Every meal donated, every shelter provided, and every act of kindness is a sign of hope—a reminder that we can overcome even the deepest isolation when we care for one another.

In our own lives, the choice is ours: we can try to do everything alone—ignoring our shared history and rejecting our connections, much like Pharaoh did—or we can open our hearts, value our bonds with one another, and follow Moses' example of gratitude and humility.

Of course, while we can all strive to follow Moses' example, I wouldn't recommend rejecting a request from God four times! Maybe not even once.

And I know that we are all thinking about the difficult moments that are about to come, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes place. But may we all be inspired to live with gratitude for the ones who have survived, and support each other and pray for the families, as we hear about the news to come.

Shabbat Shalom.