Timeless Torah

In this week’s Biblical reading we are introduced to one of the most revolutionary people ever to live, Moses, the Lawgiver and Redeemer. If anyone, it is he that should be credited with the widespread acknowledgment of monotheism, the nature of contemporary judicial law and the legislation of morality. Even the world’s major religions that opposed his word as final are based on the Torah he brought down from Sinai. So while we know what became of Moses, we have to wonder, what made him Moses? Who inspired this shepherd of sheep to evolve into a master of men and a deliverer from despots? Which individual imparted to Moses his ethics, his compassion, his sense of absolute right and wrong?

The final book in the Hebrew canon, Chronicles, states: “And his wife, Yehudiah, gave birth to Yered Avi G’dor and to Chaver Avi Socho and to Yekusiel Avi Zanoach, these are the sons of Basya the daughter of Pharoah.”

The Talmud explains that all of these so-called ‘sons’ are in reality the same person (Moses) masquerading under different names. Consequently the Talmud asks, how can the verse state that Basya (a.k.a. Yehudiah) gave birth to Moses? She may indeed have raised him but she did not give birth to him! From this question the Sages derive the teaching that a person who raises an orphan is considered as if they actually gave birth to that child.

Tangentially, one worries why Moses would need so many names. Did his job require an alias? Did he moonlight as another leader utilizing another identity? The truth is that in the ancient Hebrew a name carries incredible significance. Whereas in other languages a name is simply a label attached, allowing us the convenience of easily identifying one another, in the Holy Tongue a name describes the very essence of that person.

As Rabbi Shimon Raphael Hirsch points out, the Hebrew words “shaim - שם” (for name) and “shom - שם” (for there) are related, not just through their similar spellings, but conceptually as well. For what is the point of a name if not to make it easy to locate someone in time (Joseph died before the Exodus) and space (Sarah lives on the next block, four doors down on the left). In a sense, a name like the word there pinpoints individuals. Departing from that simplistic but useful purpose, a Hebrew name signifies a person’s spiritual coordinates.

The function of Moses’ many names now is made clear. In order to accurately depict this multifaceted and versatile personality, the first leader of the Jews was referred to as Yered (from the Hebrew, to descend), because he brought the Torah down to this world. Moses was also called Chaver (to connect), because he connected the Children of Israel to their Father in heaven. Avi Socho, another title merited by Man with the Big Stick, means the father of all prophets, and so on. Thus each of these names portrays a different aspect of who Moses was.

Still, with all of those names describing the Prince turned Preacher’s outstanding and almost superhuman traits, G-d in His Torah exclusively uses the name given to him by Basya, the daughter of Pharaoh. Why did she in fact call him Moses? “Because from the water (m’shisihu - משיתהו) I drew him out.” At first glance this seems difficult to comprehend. Why choose a name that doesn’t describe Moses, but rather that which Basya did for him? Perhaps she should have been called Moses! After all, drawing the infant out of the water was her accomplishment!

Our actions have a profound effect on our surroundings. This holds true even more so on those whom nature has decreed we naturally influence, like our students or children. This axiom is amplified even further, when our actions go beyond that which could be expected. In fact, our noble and selfless acts often affect our charges to the point that our deeds become incorporated into that individual’s psyche.

Basya risked her own life to save an infant from the Nile. Her father’s decree, her upbringing, her status in the Egyptian society, all shouted loud and clear that she should turn her back on the crying Hebrew child. Instead, she found the boy a Jewish wet nurse, raised him, cared for him and ultimately nurtured the very person who would destroy her family and countrymen. This unconditional kindness and absolute morality that she possessed was undoubtedly infused into the child she drew from the river. Indeed, it became the very essence of the young lad.

The redeemer of Israel was molded from an act of defiance to a tyrant, coupled with compassion for the downtrodden. He drew his strength from a princess who drew him certain death.

Hence his name: Moses.