Tiferet Yisrael: Bo

The 4th of Shevat is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yisrael Charif from Stanov, author of Tiferes Yisrael, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. “Come to Pharaoh because I have hardened his heart.” Why should Moshe “come” to Pharaoh “because” God hardened Pharaoh’s heart? How is the latter an explanation for the former?

Pharaoh sinned against God, against Joseph and against Israel. Each sin was on three levels, which totals nine. The first nine plagues were the response to the nine sins, and the tenth plague, The Slaying of The First Born, connected all nine in a single unit.

God is compassionate to all His creations, especially people. God is especially generous to those who walk in His ways to do good. God is the God of all the powers and gods of the world.

The word “Bo,” or, “Come,” was used to introduce the final three plagues, which were the response to Pharaoh’s denial of these three qualities of God. Pharaoh had to learn that each of these was real, and therefore, at this point, God hardened his heart so that the final three plagues would come, and Pharaoh would learn about each of these qualities of God.