[Avodah] Va'eira "Too Much Dust Clouds The Mind With Lust"

[Richard Wolberg]

Rabbenu Bachya explains why the monarch of Egypt was called "Pharaoh."  
He says that the letters spelling "afar" (dust/earth) are contained in  
the name "Pharaoh." Meaning that the Egyptians only believed in the  
earthiness of existence. For the Egyptians, spirituality did not  
exist. Pharaoh believed that the magicians in his court were able to  
perform wonders only by manipulating physicality within the context of  
nature. The natural order could not be overcome, overridden, or  
transcended in any way.

Pharaoh is described as a great crocodile, which fits with what the  
staff turned into when cast before Pharaoh by Aharon, at Moshe's  
instruction (from God).

[It is interesting to note that the Gemara tells us that one is only  
permitted to give tithes to the Kohen only if he is a Torah scholar.  
If he is classified as an "aam ha'aretz -- then one is not permitted  
to give him the tithes. The basis for giving the tithes and gifts to  
the Kohen is to facilitate his Torah study. Therefore, if he is not  
engaged in that pursuit, then there is not reason to provide for his  
other needs].

Adapted from Rabbi Yosef Kalatsky and Torah Tidbits
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