Mind My Business, Shmos
Many of us are interested and curious about the lives and personal matters of others. We like to get “the scoop” on things, to be “in the know” about others’ personal business. In fact, the business of finding out other people’s business is big business! There is an entire industry of paparazzi and others whose sole purpose is to snoop around and share the personal business of those around them. The question is, is minding someone else’s business a Jewish business?
We can gain some insights from the giants of our parsha which seem to teach us that minding someone else’s business can very much be a wonderful Jewish trait.
The pasuk informs us, “vayigdal Moshe vayaytze el Echav”- and Moshe got bigger and went out to his brothers. Many commentators note that we were told just a few verses earlier that Moshe grew bigger. If so why repeat it. They say that while the first pasuk tells us that Moshe physically grew and matured, the second pasuk adds that Moshe also grew spiritually by taking an active interest in his brothers and sisters. Their hardships and their lives concerned him. He gets involved when he sees an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Jew. He takes a personal interest in the quarrel between two fellow Jews, seeing how he can be of assistance. It seems that not only is being interested in someone else’s business a positive trait but perhaps it is precisely THE trait that catapults Moshe to greatness and leadership. The Torah makes no mention of Moshe’s financial portfolio, nor any mention of academic accomplishments. We are not told of his physical prowess, great powers of analysis, nor even of Moshe’s prophesy at this point. The Torah distinguishes Moshe specifically by this trait of caring and getting involved with others for the purpose of assisting and benefitting them. Moshe, as the stepson of Pharoh, had every opportunity to turn a blind eye to the troubles and burdens of slaves. Instead, the Torah points out that “he went out to his brothers” and got involved in their business. It was this trait which speaks to Moshe’s greatness.
Later, we see this trait in action once again, when Moshe observes the daughters of Yisro being harassed at the well. Moshe was a wanderer, a stranger. He could easily have turned a blind eye to strange girls at a well. It was not his concern. But as a leader, it was his concern, and once again Moshe intervenes in someone else’s business to assist and help.
Where did Moshe get this Jewish trait of caring about others? We are told earlier in the parsha about two Jewish nursemaids, Shifra and Puah. We all famously know that chazal identify Shifrah and Puah as the great personalities Yocheved and Miriam. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, the husband of the gadol ha’dor, Amram, the leader of his generation. She was the mother of Ahron, Miriam, and Moshe. A superb resume! Not to be outdone, Miriam was a great prophetess, inspiring her father to remarry Yocheved leading to the birth of Moshe Rabbeinu. At the splitting of the sea, the Torah specifies that it was Miriam who grabbed musical instruments with which to lead the Jewish women in praise and song. It would have been so understandable for the Torah to introduce us to these giants by their actual names, Yocheved and Miriam. Yet, they are instead introduced as the mere nursemaids, Shifra because she beautified the infants and made them look appealing, and as Puah, because she cared enough to soothe and coo the babies when they were crying. To them, the job of being nursemaids meant more than just assisting the mothers give birth. They personally cared for the infants as if they were their own. They got involved in the business of others by cooing, soothing, bathing, and scenting the babies. They went beyond the call of duty and got involved in everyone’s business! All the accomplishments of Yocheved and Miriam did not stand up to the qualities of Shifra and Puah. It was this spiritual legacy that was passed to Moshe which enabled him to become the paradigm of what it means to be a Torah leader and a model of what care and concern for others should be.
So, it seems minding someone else’s business is very much a positive Jewish trait for us to emulate. When getting involved to ease another’s burden, to demonstrate empathy, to alleviate problems, and bring joy and pleasure to another person is following in the footsteps of the greatest personalities in the Torah.
