The Thorn Bush: Empathy Builds Leaders
Parshas Shemos opens with a difficult time for Klal Yisrael. After Yosef and his generation passed away, the Jewish people multiplied in Egypt, but a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Yosef. He enslaved the Jewish people, imposing harsh labor and suffering:
וַיִּשְׂרְצוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּרְבּוּ וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ וַיַּרְבּוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד; וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ אֹתָם
(שמות א:ז)athy T
וַיָּרָע הַפַּרְעֹה לִפְנֵיהֶם, וַיְעַנֵּם אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
(שמות א:יד)
It is in this context of pain and oppression that Hashem chooses Moshe Rabbeinu to lead His people. Later, while Moshe is in Midian tending Yisro’s sheep, Hashem appears to him in the burning bush:
וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ ה’ אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה, וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל
(שמות ג:ב)
Why a bush? Why not a mighty cedar or oak?
Rashi explains: Hashem chose a lowly bush to teach a fundamental lesson:
“עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְּצָרָה” — I am with them in their suffering.
The bush, burning but not consumed, represents Klal Yisrael: we burn, we suffer, we struggle—but we are never destroyed, because Hashem appears among us in our pain.
Moshe sees the bush and says:
אָסֻרָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת הַמַּרְאֶה הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה
(שמות ג:ג)
And the Torah continues:
וַיַּרְא ה’ כִּי סָר לִרְאוֹת — וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו אֱלֹקִים מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה
(שמות ג:ד)
At first glance, it might seem Hashem chose Moshe because he was curious about a miracle. But Chazal explain that what really impressed Hashem was Moshe’s care for his people years earlier. While still in Pharaoh’s palace, Moshe went out to see the suffering of the Jews:
וַיֵּצֵא אֶל אֶחָיו וַיַּרְא בְּסִבְלֹתָם
(שמות ב:יא)
Moshe didn’t have to. He could have stayed safe and comfortable. But he went to feel their pain. That quality—“נושא בעול עם חברו”—is what made him the right leader.
This same middah appears with Yosef. The Torah says:
וּלְיוֹסֵף יֻלַּד שְׁנֵי בָנִים בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא שְׁנַת הָרָעָב
(בראשית מא:נ)
Chazal teach that during times of suffering, a person should refrain from personal pleasure to show solidarity with those in need (Taanis 11a). Yosef restrained himself because he felt the pain of others.
The Baal HaTurim points out: the phrase “וּלְיוֹסֵף” appears only twice in the Torah—here at the birth of his children and later in Moshe’s blessing:
וּלְיוֹסֵף אָמַר מְבֹרֶכֶת ה’ אַרְצוֹ
(דברים לג:יג)
The Baal HaTurim explains: this is a linguistic link teaching a lesson. Because Yosef empathized with others and restrained himself, he merited a fertile, blessed land—measure-for-measure. Empathy brings blessing, both spiritual and material.
Moshe’s blessing continues:
מִמֶּגֶד רְצוֹן שֹׁכְנִי סְנֶה
(דברים לג:טז)
“From the goodwill of He who appeared in the thorn bush.” Moshe is saying: Yosef, because you carried the burden of others, may your land be blessed by the One who Himself revealed His presence among the thorns.
The lesson is clear. Hashem appeared in the thorn bush to show His presence among His people. Moshe went out to see the suffering of his fellow Jews. Yosef refrained from personal pleasure to share in the pain of others. And we are expected to do the same.
All of this is expressed in the timeless teaching:
“הנושא בעול עם חברו” — One who carries the burden with his fellow.
When we truly feel the struggles of another Jew, when we share in their pain and stand with them in hardship, we reflect the attribute that Hashem values most. That is what makes true leaders. That is what brings blessing. That is how Klal Yisrael survives, thrives, and endures through all challenges.
