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What did "vayigdal Moshe" mean? Rashi (רש"י) reveals Moshe wasn't merely important in Egypt—he became Paroh's chief administrator over the Jewish slaves. This position allowed him to institute Shabbos (שבת) rest for the Jews and ultimately drove him to risk everything when he saw an Egyptian beating a Jew.
The shiur analyzes the Torah (תורה)'s seemingly superfluous statement "vayigdal Moshe" in Shemos. Why does the Torah need to tell us that Moshe grew up and received an important political position in Egypt? This appears disconnected from the rest of the narrative, which immediately continues with Moshe going out to see his brethren and their suffering. Rabbi Zweig brings a critical Rashi (רש"י) from the Aseres HaDibros on the phrase "mi'beis avadim" (from the house of slaves). Rashi explains that this refers not to Egypt being a house of slavery in general, but specifically to "beis Paroh"—the Jews were Paroh's personal slaves. This transforms our understanding of what "al beiso" means when the Torah describes Moshe's position.
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Shemos 2:10-12
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
