Moshe grew up as an Egyptian prince in the house of Pharaoh. But he learned his spiritual heritage from his mother, Yocheved, who nursed and taught him. So we are not surprised to learn: "When Moshe grew up he went out among his brothers and saw their burdens." Rashi teaches us that "Moshe grew up" refers to his physical maturity, and "he went out among his brothers" refers to his spiritual maturity.

To identify with the pain of others is to see beyond oneself -and to achieve a sense of connectedness to and love for one's neighbour. Moshe did even more. He acted upon his feelings and he came to the aid of a Hebrew slave who was being beaten by an Egyptian taskmaster. He translated his sympathy into "identity." This is Jewish empathy - doing something about your feelings of compassion, by identifying yourself with your fellow to such an extent that you are "one" with him and you can't help but connect yourself to him.

I performed many weddings at the New West End Synagogue in London. I often shared the following story with my brides and grooms as they stood under the chuppah: The righteous man of Jerusalem, Rabbi Aryeh Levin, once accompanied his elderly wife to the doctor. When Rebbetzin Levin was called in to be examined, Rabbi Levin followed her into the consultation room.

"Rabbi," said the doctor, "your wife has been my patient for many years. You need not accompany her into the examination room."

"Doctor," said Rabbi Levin, "you don't understand. My wife's foot hurts us..." Rabbi Levin so identified with his wife that he felt her joys and her pains. To become one emotionally integrated unit is the goal of marriage. So, too, albeit on a less intense level, must it be with our fellowmen, neighbours, and friends. We must begin to feel our neighbour's pain. Then we can begin the process of contributing to Jewish unity.

This Dvar Torah is based on Rabbi Yisroel Roll's book, "Inner Peace -Achieving Self Esteem Through Prayer." You can find the book at www.feldheim.com.