Va’era: Do Good First, Then Turn from Evil: The Power of Passion
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
This week’s parsha recounts seven of the ten plagues that Hashem brought upon the Egyptians before the ultimate redemption from slavery. Among these, the first two plagues—the plague of blood and the plague of frogs—carry a powerful and timeless lesson.
In the first plague, Hashem transformed the waters of the Nile and all of Egypt’s water supply into blood. Water, by its nature, is cold, tasteless, and plain, symbolizing indifference and apathy. Blood, on the other hand, represents warmth, vitality, and passion. This transformation highlights the first step toward redemption: igniting passion and enthusiasm in our service of Hashem, replacing emotional coldness with fervent devotion.
The second plague involved swarms of frogs overrunning Egypt. Frogs, being cold-blooded and slimy, symbolize detachment and indifference. Yet these very frogs leapt into the Egyptians' burning ovens, demonstrating the paradoxical power of neutrality. While the first plague teaches us to ignite passion for holiness, the second plague underscores the importance of remaining indifferent and cold toward material pursuits that distract us from our spiritual mission. Together, these plagues convey a dual approach: passionate devotion to Hashem paired with detachment from worldly distractions.
The order of these plagues reveals a significant insight into personal growth and redemption. Conventionally, we follow the principle of “Sur mei’ra v’aseh tov”—“Turn from evil and do good.” The assumption is that one must first remove negativity before fully engaging in Torah and mitzvos. However, these plagues teach us the opposite: the path to redemption begins not by focusing on avoiding evil but by actively doing good. The first step is to ignite passion and develop a connection with Torah and mitzvos. This newfound enthusiasm naturally leads to turning away from negativity.
Why does Chassidus emphasize this approach? Because waiting to rid ourselves of all imperfections before engaging in Torah might take forever. Instead, the Torah encourages us to start by engaging positively, even amidst our struggles. When we light the fire of passion for Judaism, the darkness of negativity diminishes on its own.
This concept is especially relevant in parenting and education. Children respond far better when they feel loved and cared for than when bombarded with rules or reprimands. When we show them warmth and inspire them with positivity, they are more willing to listen and internalize values. Similarly, by first fostering a love for Hashem and a connection to mitzvos, we naturally distance ourselves from the things that hold us back.
A beautiful story about the Lubavitcher Rebbe illustrates this idea. A Kohen, who had been in a forbidden relationship according to halachic standards, was gradually becoming more observant but struggled to end this relationship. When he met the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him something remarkable: “They say about me that I am a Talmudic scholar,” the Rebbe said. Gesturing to the many sefarim in his study, he added, “Even if I mastered every one of these books and gained all the wisdom within them, I still could never become a Kohen. It is not something Hashem gifted me with—but it is something He gifted you with.”
This message, emphasizing the unique and precious gift of being a Kohen, inspired the man to end his forbidden relationship. Rather than focusing on what he couldn’t do, the Rebbe showed him the beauty and potential of what he could achieve, leading him to make a difficult but meaningful choice.
When we start with love, passion, and positivity—turning our indifference into fiery enthusiasm for holiness—we naturally draw closer to Hashem. By following this path, just as we were redeemed from the first exile in Egypt, we will merit the ultimate redemption from this final exile with the coming of Moshiach.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha”