OU TORAH YU TORAH NAALEH.COM Chief Criterion By Shira Smiles

Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein (L’iluy nishmat my brother Shmuel ben Avraham Halevi Koplowitz who, although not in a recognized position of leadership, impacted so many others and epitomized so many of the midos highlighted in this shiur.) Parshat Shemos traces the development of our enslavement and the beginning of our redemption through the birth of Moshe and Hashem’s choosing him to be the savior of Bnei Yisroel. Hashem’s first interaction with Moshe is at the phenomenon of the burning bush that was not being consumed. The Torah records that Moshe was a shepherd who led the sheep far into the wilderness when an angel of Hashem appeared to him in this strange manner. What needs to be explored, writes Siach Mordechai, Rabbi Mordechai Kokos, is why Hashem chose to wait to appear to Moshe here. After all, Moshe had already shown tremendous self sacrifice in standing up for Bnei Yisroel when he killed the Egyptian slave master and was forced to flee for his life. Why not reveal Himself to Moshe then? Why wait until now?