“And the King of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives,one was Shifrah and the name of the second was Puah.”(Shemot 1:15)
Rashi states that Shifrah was a second name for Yocheved, Moses mother. She was called Shifrah because she did everything for the betterment of the babies in her care. Puah was another name for Miriam, Moses sister. She was called Puah because of the comforting sounds she would make to the infants to calm their cry. These two women went against Pharaohs orders to kill all the Jewish boys that were born at that time.
According to Rav Yeruchem, in creation there is nothing in itself small or great. Everything depends on the person himself who is doing an action. The great person will do great acts even in seemingly minor behaviors. On the other hand, a small person will take a situation that could be great and turn it into garbage.
One example could be what we do with money. Money can help a person obtain high levels of chesed and kindness or it could be a poison that kills peoples lives with excess and a meaningless life.
A great person will see greatness in every opportunity they encounter. A nice word, a smile, a nice gesture towards someone else.
The example Shifrah and Puah give us, that even in pampering babies, we can reach the highest levels of kindness. Yocheved and Miriam have a special place in the Torah as Shifrah and Puah for their compassion for babies.
Excerpts taken from “Growth Through Torah” Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
www.livealittlehigher.com
