Anonymous You

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

It was a very difficult time. The slavery in Mitzrayim was exceptionally harsh and was taking a terrible toll. Even those who were not physically enslaved suffered as the fledgling Jewish nation experienced wonton killings, beatings, and searches for Jewish boys to be killed. It was at this time that “A man from the tribe of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.” As becomes clear from the passages that follow, this man was Amram, the father of Moshe; the woman was Yocheved, Moshe’s mother. They resolved to marry and attempt to build the Jewish people despite the oppressive times. But why is their act recorded with such anonymity? Why as they proceed with the marriage are their names not disclosed?

Later in the Parsha, Moshe experiences a revelation and dialogue with Hashem in which Moshe debates his worthiness for seven days. Moshe is convinced that he is not worthy of the mission to redeem the Jewish people. We must take a moment and wonder: What indeed did Hashem see in Moshe that made him worthy of this assignment?

When we meet Moshe in the verses we are introduced to a person who sees a challenge and is prepared to act to try to alleviate the problem. The Medrash writes that when Moshe saw his brethren working so hard he approached them and lent his shoulder to bear the burden too, in an effort to help a bit and make things easier. When he saw a Jew being beaten mercilessly he acted; when he saw that Yisro’s daughters were being treated unfairly he rose to help them.

Too often in life we encounter people who have great ideas or notice wrongdoing, but do nothing. “Tsk, tsk,” they are prepared to say when something is improper. The lesson of Moshe is not just to notice, to think, and to comment. The lesson of Moshe, repeatedly, is that he acted and pursued the course of action he realized was needed.

Moshe had good role models. His mother Yocheved was known to spend time with the newborns and care for them, making them look nice, and then endearing them to their mothers. His sister Miriam would lovingly coo to the babies making the parents view the new child as the greatest treasure, despite the oppressive times. One wonders: Couldn’t anyone do those things? Couldn’t anyone bathe, wrap, and sing sweet songs to a child. The answer is “Yes,” anyone can do it. But what was unique about Yocheved and Miriam is that they did do it.

There is a myth that claims that all great people are simply destined for greatness, and that great leaders are simply born leaders. This is not true. Many great people are born like anyone else; many great leaders were not born as leaders. Actually they were people just like the rest of us… But they acted in a moment of need, and they became great.

Perhaps that is why the Torah records the marriage of Moshe’s parents with such anonymity. Had it been recorded with their names people would read the section and say, “This has nothing to do with me.” Instead the Torah records the story in anonymity expecting us to see ourselves also as capable of greatness.

A well known Rosh Yeshiva recounted how in his youth he collected pictures of great people, framed them, and treasured them. But one day he framed a mirror, and wrote a life challenge on it: Why not you, too? Because by doing great things, we also can become great.

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