IT WILL NEVER WORK

Before going in for a second meeting with Pharaoh in Parshat Va’era, Moses feared that his mission was doomed, and that whatever he said would never work. After all, he told God, if the Jewish people won’t listen to me, how is it possible that Pharaoh will take me seriously? This, says, Rashi is one of ten examples of a “kal vachomer” in the Torah. In this fascinating shiur, using his grandfather’s commentary, Mikdash Halevi, Rabbi Dunner unpacks Moses’ “kal vachomer” argument, and explains what Moses was saying to God, and why.