Parshot/Festivals
Gate is always open for the worst of sinners
At the start of this week’s Torah portion, Bo, the Torah tells us of the 8eighth plague, the plague of locusts. G-d commands Moses to warn Pharaoh of the impending plague. However, G-d states that Pharaoh will not heed the warning: “For I have hardened his heart… in order that you tell in the ears of your child and your child’s child that which I have wrought in Egypt.”
Rabbi Yossi Baumgarten
Principal Rabbinical Supervisor
If the locusts were a punishment for Pharaoh’s refusal to heed G-d’s warning, when his heart had been hardened and he was unable to free the Jews, it would appear to be unjust. How could he be punished for not letting the Jews go if G-d removed his free choice to do so?
Some commentators say that Pharaoh did have free will during the first five plagues. Had he so chosen, he could have indeed freed the Jewish people from their bitter slavery. However, when Pharaoh brazenly uttered his rebellion by saying: “Who is G-d that I should listen to His voice?” his free will was taken away by G-d.
The commentators say this justified the punishment. Pharaoh had strongly questioned G-d’s authority and boasted of his own might, and was therefore shown that he was powerless, and even unable to make his own decisions. Pharaoh was fully subjugated to the will of G-d.
This was underscored during the plague of locusts. His servants had had enough, and pleaded with him to free the Jewish people. Pharaoh immediately agreed and declared to Moses and Aaron: “Go worship your G-d.” But at that very instant G-d hardened his heart and Pharaoh changed his mind, and his impotence was revealed to all.
But, if Pharaoh did not have a choice, and G-d was completely asserting his will over Pharaoh’s decision making, why would Moses and Aaron bother issuing a warning or requesting the Jews’ freedom? The outcome was predetermined!
There are certain transgressions for which Jewish tradition states the transgressor is “not given a means to repent”. There are unforgiveable sins. However, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the first Chabad Rebbe, explains in his Chassidic work, the Tanya, that even such transgressors can return to G-d. The gate is always open for the worst of sinners to express true regret and return to G-d.
Thus even Pharaoh had that opportunity, had he truly desired to repent and do good in the eyes of G-d. If this was true of the wicked Pharaoh, each and every one of us is most certainly able to overcome any and all of our negative character traits.
Each Jew has a soul which is a part of G-d. It always remains a part of G-d no matter what transgression we commit. It is merely our external bodies which are transgressing against G-d, but our innermost soul allows us the power to return and become close with G-d once again.