In this week’s Parsha, Vayikra, God calls to Moshe and gives him the laws of the Korbanot, the sacrifices given to God as offerings. Moshe was a fascinating figure in Jewish history. He was chosen to lead the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery, but suffered from a speech impediment that affected his ability to speak publicly. Moshe described himself as “slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Midrash Shemot Rabbah explains that Moshe became impaired after he “seized the coal and placed his hand with the coal into his mouth, and his tongue was burned” in the Egyptian palace.
This story reminds us that Moshe’s greatness was not based on charisma or eloquence. He was not chosen for his power or confidence, but rather for his humility and ability to rise above personal challenges.
Parshat Vayikra opens with the phrase “and He called to Moshe.” In the commentary Sichos Mussar on the Parsha, Rabbi Neventzal talks about the idea that Moshe had multiple names. Each name referred to a unique aspect of his personality, and, ultimately, God chose to call him “Moshe.” This leads to an interesting question. Why, of all the unique names of Moshe, such as “Avigdor” and “Yered,” did G-d choose to call him the name that means “drawn from water?” What was the significance of Moshe being drawn from the water, and why was that the name that he was called throughout history?
When Pharaoh made the decree that every Jewish boy should be killed, Moshe was placed into a basket in the water. The daughter of Pharaoh drew Moshe from the water, rescuing him and risking her reputation in the process. This was an incredibly selfless act to save a Jewish boy. It went against everything that her father stood for, and showed kindness to a stranger.
Because of Pharaoh’s daughter’s extraordinary act of kindness, the name she gave, Moshe, became eternal. Although Moshe had several other names given to him by his family, it was the name chosen by the daughter of Pharaoh that the Torah used consistently. And more than that, it is the name that God Himself used when speaking to Moshe.
This shows that when one acts with courage and compassion, one’s impact can ripple through generations. Although the Pharaoh’s daughter was not Jewish, her bravery and kindness were immortalized in the Jewish story. Her decision to act against injustice and save a child gave rise to a leader who would one day save an entire nation. So when G-d calls to “Moshe” in Vayikra, it is not just a name, it is a tribute to the selfless act that set everything in motion.
