V’eira: Too Busy to Hear God? A Lesson from the Parshas V’eira

In Parshas V’eira, Moshe Rabbeinu asks a powerful question: if Bnei Yisrael couldn’t listen to his message of redemption, how could Paroh possibly listen? Drawing on Rashi, the Sforno, the Ba’alei Mussar, the Ohr HaChaim, and teachings from the Mir Yeshiva, Rabbi Dovid Gleizer of the Portland Kollel explores the deeper meaning of kotzer ruach—not an inability to hear, but an inability to internalize.

This class examines how busyness, self-absorption, and external pressures prevent us from making space for the word of Hashem, and how Torah expands the heart—marcheves libo shel adam. The episode concludes with a powerful lesson in hakaras hatov, showing how gratitude and dignity shape who we become and open the door to personal redemption.