"Beshalach — Part I — Crisis, Crying Out, and Covenant"

1.4 — Moshe’s Hands: Orientation, Not Magic

When Symbols Are Mistaken for Power

Parshas Beshalach reaches a dramatic moment during the war with Amalek. As the battle rages below, Moshe ascends a hill overlooking the field, raising his hands heavenward. The Torah records a striking correlation: when Moshe’s hands are raised, Yisrael prevails; when they fall, Amalek advances.

At first glance, the image invites misunderstanding. Do Moshe’s hands cause victory? Is this a form of spiritual mechanism or ritualized magic? The Torah anticipates this confusion—and rejects it.

Abarbanel’s Rejection of Magical Thinking

Abarbanel is emphatic: Moshe’s hands possess no independent power. They are not conduits of supernatural force, nor are they symbolic talismans. Rather, they function as orientation—a visible act that directs the nation’s consciousness upward.

The verse states:

[וַיְהִי יָדָיו אֱמוּנָה עַד בֹּא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ — “And his hands were steadfast until the sun set”]

Abarbanel explains that the Torah does not describe raised hands, but steadfast hands. The emphasis is endurance, not gesture. Moshe’s posture teaches that faith is not momentary inspiration—it is sustained alignment under strain.

The Mishnah’s Clarification: Orientation, Not Causation

Chazal crystallize this idea with piercing clarity. The Mishnah teaches that it was not Moshe’s hands that defeated Amalek; rather, when Yisrael looked upward and subordinated their hearts to Hashem, they prevailed. When that orientation weakened, so did their resolve.

This teaching dismantles superstition entirely. The hands do not act upon heaven; they educate the people. They remind the nation where victory truly originates.

From this we learn:

• Symbols do not replace faith
• Gestures do not override responsibility
• Orientation shapes outcome only when internalized

Why Physical Orientation Matters

If Moshe’s hands are not magical, why are they necessary at all?

Because faith is not only intellectual—it is embodied. In moments of fear, ideas alone falter. Physical posture reinforces spiritual truth.

Moshe’s raised hands accomplish several things simultaneously:

• They fix the nation’s attention beyond the battlefield
• They counter panic with visible steadiness
• They translate belief into sustained focus

Abarbanel emphasizes that leadership must teach faith in real time, under pressure, not only in moments of calm.

Endurance as the Measure of Emunah

The Torah highlights that Moshe’s hands grow heavy. Faith is exhausting. Orientation requires effort.

This detail is essential. Had Moshe’s hands remained effortlessly raised, the lesson would be hollow. Instead, the Torah insists on strain—on the reality that sustaining trust over time is difficult.

Enduring faith demands:

• Perseverance when outcomes remain uncertain
• Support when strength alone is insufficient
• Visibility so that others may draw courage

Supported Hands, Shared Responsibility

When Moshe’s strength wanes, the Torah records:

[וְאַהֲרֹן וְחוּר תָּמְכוּ בְיָדָיו — “Aharon and Chur supported his hands”]

This moment completes the teaching. Orientation is not sustained by individuals alone. Even Moshe requires support. Leadership, faith, and victory are communal achievements.

From this we learn:

• Faith is upheld collectively, not privately
• Leaders must allow themselves to be supported
• Responsibility flows in all directions

Abarbanel stresses that this shared posture prevents faith from collapsing into spectacle or hierarchy. No one stands alone before Hashem.

The War Below Mirrors the Posture Above

As Moshe’s hands remain steadfast, Yisrael prevails below. This is not causation but correspondence. The physical battle mirrors the spiritual orientation of the nation.

The Torah teaches that:

• When hearts align upward, hands fight with clarity
• When orientation falters, strength dissolves into fear
• Victory reflects consciousness before it reflects power

Amalek’s threat is not merely military—it is spiritual disorientation. Moshe’s posture counters that threat at its root.

Conclusion: Faith That Directs, Not Manipulates

Parshas Beshalach rejects magical religion outright. Moshe’s hands do not bend heaven; they aim the people. Orientation, not manipulation, is the Torah’s path.

Abarbanel’s teaching reframes faith as disciplined alignment—sustained, visible, and shared. In moments of crisis, the Torah does not ask for rituals that replace responsibility. It demands posture that shapes consciousness and endurance that carries the nation through.

Moshe’s hands teach that true emunah is not about controlling outcomes, but about standing oriented toward Hashem until the struggle passes—together.

📖 Sources

• Full sources available on the Mitzvah Minute Parshas Beshalach page under insights and commentaries.