Parshas Va’eira: 5786

“Bnei Yisrael will not listen to me and how will Pharaoh listen to me since I am of sealed lips?” (Shemos 6:12)

Why does Moshe go backward to the old excuse of his speech impediment? Wasn’t that dismissed by the burning bush?

The Sfas Emes offers the following explanation. Because Klal Yisrael weren’t ready to hear, therefore, Moshe’s speech was impeded since he had no audience.

There’s no question that Moshe was our greatest teacher, hence his title, “Rabbeinu.” All the Torah for all generations traces back to him. Yet, there’s an even greater teacher we can learn from. The word “Torah” means teaching. Hashem is our greatest teacher and we can learn from the way He teaches. (Rabbi Label Lam)

AS

a student, I had a hard time sitting in the classroom. I was mostly bored and wished I could be anywhere else besides those uncomfortable plastic chairs.

You’d think with such a background in schooling, I’d never return to the classroom, but surprising all, I started teaching when I was 19 and discovered there are two sides of the classroom. I loved teaching.

Standing in front of the classroom, I didn’t forget what it had been like to be sitting on the opposite side of the desk. I was determined that my classes would be interesting enough to pull in the most bored student.

Teaching can be like acting in a play, and setting the props and the scenery all became part of my job.