Holding the Tail: Turning Fear and Suffering Into Redemption

Tzvi’s phone rang in the middle of the Amidah prayer. He glanced at the screen and decided to answer. “Mmm… mmm…” he muttered into the phone, mixing his conversation with the words of prayer. 

After the prayer, the rabbi approached him holding a copy of the Shulchan Aruch and explained that one may not interrupt during the Amidah, even quoting the law: “Even if a snake is wrapped around his heel, he should not interrupt.” Tzvi nodded knowingly, then pointed to the continuation: “But if it is a scorpion, he may interrupt.” “What does that have to do with anything?” the rabbi asked. “That was my mother-in-law,” Tzvi replied.

From Palace to Exile

When reading about the Egyptian exile, one can even find a small measure of perspective in difficult times. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was cruel and filled with hatred toward the Jewish people. Yet, despite his schemes to destroy them, Divine providence turned events in an unexpected direction: he ended up raising the very child who would one day redeem them. 

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, but as a young man he went out to see the suffering of his people. After defending a Hebrew and killing an Egyptian, he was forced to flee for his life. He spent years in distant lands, even ruling in Cush according to some traditions, before eventually settling in Midian, marrying Tzipporah, and becoming a shepherd. By the time God revealed Himself to him at the burning bush, Moses was already advanced in age.

The Staff, the Snake, and the Questions

At that moment, Moses expressed concern that the people would not believe him. In response, God told him to throw his staff to the ground, where it turned into a snake. Moses fled from it. Then God instructed him to grasp its tail, and it turned back into a staff. This raises several questions. How could Moses flee in the middle of a Divine encounter? Why would he be afraid of a snake at his stage in life? And if the snake was created by God’s command, what was the point of running from it?

Pain Reveals What Lies Beneath

A story is told about a man in the town of Lutsk who had abandoned religious observance entirely, not out of weakness but out of defiance. He mocked everything sacred. Because of his connections with the authorities, no one could oppose him, and the community suffered in silence. 

Eventually, he fell gravely ill, and it became clear that his life was nearing its end. When Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin heard about this, he decided to visit him — not to praise his life, but to show that his opposition was to the man’s actions, not to the man himself. When the man saw the rabbi, he broke down and pleaded: “Rabbi, pray for me that the suffering should ease.” The rabbi was astonished. This was the same man who had rejected everything, and now he was asking for prayer. 

After the visit, the rabbi addressed the community and said: do not think that rebellion comes from a lack of faith. Often, what is missing is not faith, but comfort. When pain strikes, a person suddenly remembers to turn to God.

The Snake That Brings Redemption

According to one explanation, Moses’ reaction to the snake was instinctive. Another approach suggests that he understood the appearance of the snake as a signal from God that he should respond by fleeing. 

Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz offers a deeper insight. The Talmud teaches that when a deer is giving birth and struggles, God sends a snake to bite it, which helps it deliver. The pain becomes the very mechanism that brings life. Similarly, the redemption of Israel can come through suffering. If the people are not ready to return through their own efforts, God may appoint a harsh ruler whose decrees awaken them to repentance. The snake shown to Moses symbolized Pharaoh. The suffering inflicted by Pharaoh would ultimately lead the people to change and prepare for redemption.

Holding the Tail: The Secret of Endurance

Moses feared that the people might not be able to endure such suffering. His flight expressed that concern. God then told him to grasp the tail of the snake. This was not just a physical act, but a lesson. The way to endure suffering and transform it into redemption is through humility and acceptance. The “tail” represents lowliness. By holding onto that humility, even painful experiences can be transformed. The snake becomes a staff. What once appeared threatening becomes a tool for salvation.

The light of redemption is always waiting to emerge. Sometimes, it is preceded by difficulty that pushes us to reflect and grow. Challenges can be seen as obstacles or as opportunities to return, to realign, and to reconnect. The message is simple but powerful: when faced with fear or hardship, do not only run from it. Learn how to “hold its tail,” to face it with humility and understanding. And in doing so, what once seemed like a threat may become the very path to healing and redemption.