Session 3: Parashat Vaera

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, May 17, 1776

Repeatedly in the Moses narrative, the issue of speech surfaces, and in this parasha Moses specifically raises his inability to persuade the Israelites. The word he uses to describe is lips is “uncircumsized,” the same word Jeremiah uses to describe the ears of the stubborn people. Both texts raise the problem of dysfunctional political discourse—either people cannot speak, or they will not listen.

During the Revolutionary period, communication between the colonists and the British monarchy broke down, but open political speech became the cornerstone of the movement for independence. The freedom and ability to speak and move an audience motivated the colonies to risk life and treasure for separation from the King. In this week’s Daf, John Adams writes to his wife, Abigail, with wonder about his ability to move the people. The text is simultaneously about Adams’ private feelings and his public persona. Thus it offers a fantastic jumping off point for conversations about how individuals feel about finding their political voice. This pertains to speech inside our institutions as well as within local, state and national political arenas.

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