In parshas Va’era, the miraculous plagues that Hashem brought upon Pharaoh, his countrymen and the land of Egypt begin to unfold.  As punishment for the more than a century-long enslavement of the Israelite nation, the Ten Plagues wreak havoc upon Mitzrayim.  The makkos decimate the mighty Nile River, the sand and dust of the land of Egypt, the animals of the Egyptians, and the Egyptians themselves.  Nothing in the country is spared the wrath of G-d when the makkos are brought upon the land. 

In quick succession, Mitzrayim is struck by: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Wild Beasts, Pestilence of domesticated animals, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, and the Plague of the Firstborn. 

In regard to the first three plagues, the Torah draws our attention to the fact that it was Aharon, not Moshe, who would be the shaliach (messenger) of Hashem to bring about these makkos.   In regard to makkas dam (Plague of Blood), the pasuk tells us: וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה-יָדְךָ עַל-מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם … וְהָיָה דָם בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, and Hashem said to Moshe, speak to Aharon (and command him, saying): “take your staff and stretch your hand over the waters of Egypt, and there will be blood in the whole land of Egypt” (Shemos 7:19).  And Moshe and Aharon did so, as G-d commanded (v.20). 

Similarly, in regard to makkas tzefar’dei’ah (Plague of Frogs), the pasuk tells us: וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן נְטֵה אֶת-יָדְךָ בְּמַטֶּךָ, עַל-הַנְּהָרֹת עַל-הַיְאֹרִים וְעַל-הָאֲגַמִּים; וְהַעַל אֶת-הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, עַל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - and Hashem spoke to Moshe (saying): speak to Aharon (and say to him): “Stretch your hand, with your staff, over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt” (8:1).  And Aharon stretched his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog came up and covered the land of Egypt (8:2).  

And with the third plague, makkas kinim (Plague of Lice), the pasuk tells us: וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן, נְטֵה אֶת-מַטְּךָ וְהַךְ אֶת-עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ; וְהָיָה לְכִנִּם, בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - and Hashem said to Moshe: speak to Aharon (and say to him): “Stretch your staff, and strike the dust of the land, and it will be lice in the whole land of Egypt” (8:12).  And thus they did, and Aharon stretched his hand, with his staff, and he struck the dust of the land, and there was lice upon man and animal (8:13).  

If Moshe was Divinely chosen to lead the Israelites to freedom, why was it Aharon who was commanded to bring about the first three plagues?  The Medrash (Shemos Rabbah 9:10) tells us that Hashem said to Moshe: 

וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם לָמָּה לֹא לָקוּ הַמַּיִם עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַמַּיִם שֶׁשְּׁמָרוּךָ כְּשֶׁהֻשְׁלַכְתָּ לַיְאוֹר אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיִּלְקוּ עַל יָדֶךָ, חַיֶּיךָ לֹא יִלְקוּ אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן

“And Hashem said to Moshe to speak to Aharon” - Why were the waters not afflicted by Moshe?  HKB”H said to Moshe: Since the waters protected you when you were cast into the river (as a baby in the basket), it is not appropriate that they should be afflicted by you.  By your life, the waters will be afflicted by Aharon, and not by you, Moshe. 

Hence, the plague of Blood and Frogs - wherein the water needed to be struck to bring the plague about - had to be brought about by Aharon, and not Moshe.

As for the third plague, Lice, which required the sand and dust of the land to be struck, this too had to be done by Aharon.  Rashi, quoting the Medrash, explains: לֹא הָיָה הֶעָפָר כְּדַאי לִלְקוֹת עַ"יְ מֹשֶׁה, לְפִי שֶׁהֵגֵן עָלָיו כְּשֶׁהָרַג אֶת הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ בַּחוֹל, וְלָקָה עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן, the dust did not deserve to be hit by Moshe, because it protected him when he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Shemos 2:12); therefore, the dust was afflicted by Aharon (Rashi to Shemos 8:12).

From here we learn the importance of the middah of ha’karas ha’tov, recognizing the good that is done for us, and being grateful to the benefactor of that good.  Only when we recognize the good, can we give thanks for the good.

And if this is the degree of ha’karas ha’tov that one must have to inanimate, unfeeling objects - such as water and dust! - how much more so must we be grateful to those individuals in our lives who do good for us.  Every one of us is dependent upon others in some way - our existence is immeasurably enriched by family, friends, community, teachers, rabbonim, our shuls and our schools.  If Moshe had to show his gratitude to water and sand, how much more so must we always remember to be grateful to the people with whom we share our lives, and from whose favors and kindnesses - both large and small - we benefit from all the time.  And if this is the degree of thanks we are expected to show to inanimate objects, and even more so to express our gratitude to basar va’dam - man of flesh and blood, קל וחומר, בן בנו של קל וחומר למלך מלכי המלכי, הקדוש ברוך הוא - how much more so must we recognize the all the good that Hashem does for us, for our nation and for our Land; for all the tovos, we must give thanks.  

Even in times of great confusion and national pain - such as our nation is going through in the days since Oct. 7 - we must focus on the goodness of Hashem, on the miracles that abound, and for all of these, we must be grateful and give thanks.  

This past Sunday, in the early morning hours, in a dramatic, daring, and bold mission: IDF special forces and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have retrieved from Gaza the body of St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul, the military announced on Sunday (19 Teves 5785, Jan. 19, 2025).  On July 20, 2014, Shaul, 20, entered the Shejaia neighborhood near Gaza City in an armored personnel carrier with six other soldiers. The APC was struck by a Kornet anti-tank missile fired by Hamas, killing all those inside.

The secret operation, which involved Shayetet 13 and other special forces, was carried out overnight between Saturday and Sunday from somewhere in northern Gaza.

“I am in shock,” Zehava Shaul, Oron’s mother, said during a press conference on Sunday. “I’ve been waiting for Oron for 10 and a half years. And believe me, I didn’t believe I would see this moment.”

PM Netanyahu commented on the operation, saying, “In a special operation conducted by the Shin Bet and the IDF just before the ceasefire took effect, we successfully brought back to Israel the body of Golani Brigade soldier Oron Shaul, of blessed memory.  I extend my heartfelt embrace to the Shaul family and express my deepest gratitude to the Shin Bet and IDF forces for their unwavering courage and determination.  For many years, the images of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, of blessed memory – who fell during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 – have stood in my office as a daily reminder of my commitment to bringing them home.  Tonight, we fulfilled the mission of returning Oron. We will not rest, and we will not stop until Hadar Goldin is also brought back to Israel.  Our dedication remains steadfast: We will continue working to bring all our captives home – both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “Oron Shaul has come home.  After more than a decade of anguish and anticipation, the IDF and Shin Bet have recovered the body of Golani Brigade soldier Oron Shaul. This is a solemn moment, yet it brings a measure of closure for the Shaul family, who never stopped fighting to bring their son home.  I extend my heartfelt embrace to the Shaul family during this painful time and salute the dedicated security forces who worked for years with an unwavering commitment to ensure Oron could finally be laid to rest in Israel” (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838158).

Avraham Avinu went to great lengths to ensure that righteous Sarah would merit proper kevurah.  Not in the middle of the field, amongst the graves of the Chittim would she be buried, but “at the edge of the field”, separate, apart and distinct from the nations of the world.  A Jew remains separate in life, and so too, in death.  

With the purchase of the Me’aras Ha’Machpela (Bereishis 24), Avraham Avinu instituted the necessity of kedusha accorded to the deceased, the zechus of proper burial, the blessing of kevurah ba’Aretz (burial in the land of Israel), and the importance of ensuring every Jew is buried with dignity, respect, and an eternal resting place amongst our people. 

To HKB”H, for answering our tefillos of the past 10 1/2 years; to the IDF and special forces who conducted the recovery and rescue mission; to Oron Shaul HY”D himself, for his ultimate sacrifice for his nation and land; and for the kevurah ba’Aretz that he has now merited - for all of this, we must recognize the tovos, and give thanks.  ברוך מתיר אסורים. ברוך דיין האמת.  

הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה- בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ, may we merit the day that for all the tears we have shed in this long and bitter exile, we will reap in joy (cf. Tehilim 126:5).  

בברכת בשורות טובות ושבת שלום