In light of the above, one might expect Moshe Rabbeinu, the transmitter of the Torah, to have been physically unattractive. Yet the Torah tells us the opposite. When he was born, it is written, “She saw that he was good” (Shemos 2:2), which many meforshim interpret to mean beautiful in appearance. Chazal further teach that the house was filled with light upon his birth.
Even more striking, after receiving the Torah, “the skin of his face radiated light” (Shemos 34:29–30). Furthermore, the Gemara (Shabbos 92a) notes that for prophecy to rest upon a person, he must possess an impressive stature, just like that of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Moshe Rabbeinu’s role as the greatest of prophets and transmitter of the Torah required him to possess a majestic beauty and striking appearance. How do these qualities align with Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya’s teaching, that wisdom and beauty cannot coexist?
