וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֶת־צִפֹּרָה אֵשֶׁת מֹשֶׁה אַחַר שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ׃ וְאֵת שְׁנֵי בָנֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר שֵׁם הָאֶחָד גֵּרְשֹׁם כִּי אָמַר גֵּר הָיִיתִי בְּאֶרֶץ נׇכְרִיָּה׃ וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד אֱלִיעֶזֶר כִּי־אֱ-לֹהֵי אָבִי בְּעֶזְרִי וַיַּצִּלֵנִי מֵחֶרֶב פַּרְעֹה׃

So Yisro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Tzipporah, Moshes’ wife, after she had been sent home,and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”; and the other was named Eliezer, meaning, “The God of my father was my help, delivering me from the sword of Pharaoh.” (18:2-4)

Ramban (Nachmanides) writes that the point being made here is to see the kindness that Hashem bestowed upon Moshe. His children’s names depict his gratitude to Hashem for saving him from Pharoah’s sword by becoming a stranger in a foreign land. Look at where he started from. Now see how far he’s come! He is now the leader of the Jewish nation who have miraculously marched through the sea as their former masters perished in those same waters. Moshe epitomizes the praise we sing about Hashem in the prayer of Hallel- “He raises the poor from the dust, from the garbage heaps he lifts up the destitute to sit with the nobles,with the nobles of the nation.”

The commentary, Pardes Yosef, suggests that Moshe chose these names to convey a message of caution to his children. “At first I lived a life of privilege being raised as a prince in the palace of Pharaoh. But it all came crashing down and I had to run for my life to a foreign land where I had nothing. My dear children, until now life has been tranquil for you but know that there are no guarantees.”

Pardes Yosef cites the Jews of Spain as an example. During the era known as the Golden Age of Spain, Torah life flourished and the Jews prospered. They were well respected and their leaders were advisors to kings. That all changed when forces hostile to Jews convinced the monarchy to turn on them. Years of terrible suffering culminated with the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. A more contemporary example would be the Jews of Germany until the rise of Hitler to power.

I’d like to suggest that Pardes Yosef’s message of caution compliments Nachmanides’ message cited above. Never be complacent about your security because life can suddenly change and become very insecure. But when that happens never lose hope that your situation can vastly improve because that’s what happened to Moshe.

The story is told of a general who received a message that the enemy had broken through his forces’ lines of defense. Visibly shaken, his wife turned to him and said, “I have received a message far worse than the one you have received.”

“What is it?” he asked her anxiously.

“Looking at your face I see you have given up hope,” she said. “Discouragement is far worse than the loss of our lines of defense!”

We must always bear in mind that no one knows what life may bring. But we must also bear in mind to have hope for a better tomorrow even when the situation looks hopeless because we are in the hands of Hashem.

And if you need some encouragement about that just take a look at the life of Moshe.

Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak