Imagine a Monty Python-esque skit. We are in the "Office of Plague Revocation." An officious looking clerk sits behind the counter, radiating ennui. Three men walk in dressed respectively as Moses, Aaron and Pharaoh.
Clerk: "Can I help you?"
Moshe: "I'd ike to ancel a pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-pl-"
Clerk: "What?"
Aaron: "He'd like to cancel a plague." [indicating Moses]
Clerk: "Well, let him speak for himself then."
Aaron: "He's got a bit of a speech impediment. I'm his spokesperson-and also his
brother."
Clerk: "His brother you say? And he lets you do all the talking? Gor Blimey!
Would that my own brother would shut up and let me do all the talking."
Moshe:"..e...ague....a...ague...."
Aaron: "Yes, that's all very nice, but we just want to
cancel a plague."
Clerk: "Very good, sir. Just what kind of plague is it that you, or rather your
brother wishes to cancel?"
Moshe: "Frogs."
Clerk: "Can you be more specific?"
Moshe: "I beg your pardon?"
Clerk: "Well, are they tree frogs, land frogs, river frogs? With pestilence or
without pestilence?"
Moshe: "Oh, I see. I believe they are just river frogs, no special additions
like pestilence and that sort of rot."
Clerk: "And are you the curser or the cursee for this plague?"
Moshe: "No curse, just a plague of frogs."
Clerk: "Yes sir, I understand. But are you the person upon whom the plague has
descended, or are the one who called upon the Almighty for this plague?"
Moshe: "We didn't exactly call upon the Almighty."
Clerk: "What do you mean, didn't call upon the Almighty?" No one gets a plague
sent against their enemies without asking the Almighty."
Moshe: [pantomimes while Aaron explains}
Aaron: "The Almighty said to us 'Stretch out your hand over the waters and bring
forth frogs.'"
Clerk: "You are joking, of course? The Almighty spoke to you? And told you to
call forth a plague of frogs?"
Aaron: "Well, yes, that pretty well sums it up."
Moshe: [nods agreement]
Clerk: "And now you'd like this plague of frogs stopped?"
Aaron: "Yes."
Clerk: "well, this is all somewhat irregular, my good man. I'm going to have to
check with the home office."
[Clerk steps into a back room. Moses is behind Pharaoh making funny faces at
Aaron trying to get him to laugh.]
Pharaoh: "I hate all this petty bureaucracy. It is so much easier when you
yourself are a g"d, as I am."
Aaron - whispered to Moses: "See, I told you he wasn't getting it..."
Clerk re-enters
Pharaoh: "What is hold-up? I have little patience for you pesky bureaucrats."
Clerk: "Come, come now, good sir. I'm sure those pesky frogs have made you just
a wee bit testy, but there's no reason to take it out on me for just doing my
job, is there sir?"
Pharaoh: "So much easier, when I am g"d."
Clerk: "Did you say you were a g"d sir? [to Moshe and Aaron] "Did he just say he
was a g"d?"
[Moshe and Aaron nod yes.]
Clerk: "Well, can't he make the bloody frogs go away on his own then?"
Aaron: "Well, there's some slight difficulty with that, as you see...."
Clerk: "Oh yes sir., Say no more. Say no more. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Just
thinks he's a g"d, eh? I've had a dozen of those today
already."
[Phone buzzes and clerk answers]
Clerk: "Yes...........yes...........I'll found out.....yes.......I
see........very good, then."
[Clerk puts down phone and grabs a scroll from under the counter.]
Clerk: "Well, do pardon me, gents, I didn't realize you were so close with the
boss. Seem's the boss has taken a special interest in your case, then."
Aaron: "Well, then, can we get this plague cancelled?"
Clerk: Of course, sir. Just have your brother initial [unrolls a rather long
scroll] here, here, here, here, here, here, here....and here.....and sign here."
Aaron hands scroll to Moses who signs it.
Clerk then stamps the scroll repeatedly.
Clerk: "Very good, sir, thank you."
Aaron: So we're done here?"
Clerk: "Well, just one more question."
Aaron (and Pharaoh and Moshe): "Yes?"
Clerk: "When?"
Aaron: "When what?"
Clerk: "When would you like the plague stopped?"
Aaron: "Well, right away I.....[Moshe is gesturing furiously at Aaron]
Aaron, aside and annoyed, to Moshe: "What? What is it, dear brother?"
Moshe points at Pharaoh and says "Let him choose."
Aaron: "You want me to ask Pharaoh when the plague should stop?"
Moshe nods yes.
Aaron: "but...."
Moshe gives Aaron a dirty look, holds his staff up. [Sound effect: thunder[
Aaron: "Show off!" To Pharaoh: "OK, Pharaoh, when do you want the plague
of frogs to end?"
Pharaoh: "You're asking me?"
Aaron: "Yes."
Pharaoh: "Well, as soon as possib.....hey, wait a minute. Is this some kind of
trick question?"
Aaron: "You're a g"d, you figure it out!"
Pharaoh: "You're probably all expecting me to say right away. But I won't play
your little game. How about....let's see now....hmmmm.....how's......tomorrow?"
Clerk: "What time tomorrow, sir?"
Pharaoh: "Don't bother me with piddly little details. Just pick a time. Anytime
tomorrow will be fine."
Clerk: "Happy to oblige sir. Do come back and visit us again.
Moshe: "Thank you."
Clerk: "My pleasure sir. [whispered, to Moshe and Aaron] "Just wait until he
gets a whiff of all those dead frogs tomorrow."
Voice-Announce: "And now for something completely different..."
Now, the rabbis give us a perfectly plausible explanation as to why Pharaoh would be asked when the plague should stop. Having it stop at exactly the time that Pharaoh asked for, as opposed to that which Moses decreed, is a more powerful reminder to Pharaoh of who is really in control here, and who is really a g"d.
Still, if that's the case, why such a vague answer from Pharaoh? Why not "an hour from now" or "when the cock crows" or " when the sun, my golry, is high in the sky" ? If he wished to keep up some pretense of caring for his people, surely Pharaoh would have opted for "right now."
What can we learn here? What is this all about? Rashi gets fixated on the fact that although Pharaoh has asked for the frogs to be gone tomorrow, Moshe still goes out and prays right away for that to happen. For me, that's not the issue. It's why Pharaoh said "tomorrow" in the first place. Aren't you just the least bit curious? Or do we just chalk it up to the unseen hand of G"d once again meddling directly with Pharaoh's thoughts (although the text does nothing to so indicate.)
I'm going to let the question linger-why did Pharaoh ask for the plague of frogs to be gone by tomorrow? If you come up with a good answer, I'd love to hear it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Adrian
©2006 by Adrian A. Durlester
Shabbat Shalom,
Adrian
© 1997, 2002, 2006 by Adrian A. Durlester
Some previous musings on the same parasha:
Va'era
5765-Brighton Beach-Last Stop!
Va'era 5764-Imperfect
Perfection and Perfect Imperfection
Va'era 5763
- Pray for Me
Va'era 5761-Just Not Getting It
Va'era 5762-Early will I Seek You