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The Gemara in Masechet Sotah (12b) notes that Pharaoh’s daughter went to the Nile that day in order to cleanse herself of the idolatrous life she had been living thus far, with the intention of converting and becoming Jewish. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who was commonly known as “the Rav,” said that although it seems that two different things were occurring simultaneously; namely, the impending conversion of Pharaoh’s daughter and Moshe being saved, both events were in fact related to each other.
The Torah says וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל עָלָ֔יו – she took pity on him. (Shemot 2:6) In doing so, the Torah is emphasizing the important role that the characteristic of displaying pity played in Moshe’s rescue. The Midrash in Shemot Rabbah tells us that an angel hit Moshe in order to cause him to cry, thereby engendering a sense of pity from Pharaoh’s daughter. According to the Gemara in Masechet Yevamot (79a), having an innate sense of compassion is a quality that often manifests itself in Jews. As Pharaoh’s daughter was intending to become Jewish, she possessed that trait of compassion at that very moment and saved Moshe.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, zt”l, notes that the sense of compassion that Pharaoh’s daughter demonstrated was not an isolated incident. She didn’t merely save Moshe and then move on. She named him, raised him and cared for him, which likely merited her the special status of being one of just nine people who entered Gan Eden alive, as noted in Masechet Derech Eretz Zuta.
The story of Pharaoh’s daughter teaches us an important and powerful lesson. Demonstrating a sense of virtuousness and compassion can have a lasting impact on others, even if the act of kindness itself may not seem so significant at the time. As Jews, we have a strong moral compass that can point us in the right direction at all times. It is up to us to ensure that we keep that foremost in our minds and never pass up an opportunity to show compassion for others when the situation warrants it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Nachi Troodler
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