“Where There Is No One — Be the Person” — A Lesson for Our Times

In Parshas Shemos, Moshe Rabbeinu witnesses an Egyptian striking a Hebrew slave. The Torah says: “ויפן כה וכה וירא כי אין איש” — he looked carefully and saw that no one was stepping in. Chazal explained that Moshe was not only observing others; he was asking himself: Who will act? Who am I going to be in this moment? The Torah deliberately leaves the word ish open — it is not about who is around us, but who we choose to be right now. Moshe weighs two options: his own comfort and safety, or standing up for what is right. Then he realizes: if no one else will act, I must be the person to do it. The Torah later calls him “והאיש משה ענו מאד” — he became a true ish, not because of power or position, but........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)