YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Bo
As Israel prepares to leave Egypt, the Pasuk tells us: "And Hashem caused the Jewish People to be viewed favorably by the Egyptians; Moshe, too, was admired as a great man in the eyes of Pharoah's servants and the people of Egypt." (11:3)
What a stunning, amazing statement! We surely would have expected a far different reaction! After years of anti-Jewish incitement and demonization by the Pharoahs, after 10 Plagues that decimated the Egyptian landscape, economy & daily routine, we'd have thought the Jews would be utterly detested and ridden out of Mitzrayim on a rail. Instead, we left b'Yad Rama, with hand held high, showered with lavish gifts! Earlier (5:21), Bnei Yisrael had complained to Moshe that they were so detested that "even our very scent is abhorrent to the Egyptians!" What happened so that now we came out smelling like a rose?!
I suggest the Egyptian’s perception of us radically changed when our own perception of ourselves changed! As long as we saw ourselves as a pitiful, pitiable people, others viewed us likewise, & their pity soon turned to contempt. If we had no pride in who we were, if we ourselves had no self-respect, how could we possibly expect others to respect us?
Moshe changed all that. The first task assigned to him by G-d (6:6-7) was to take us out of "sivlot Mizrayim." The word "sivlot" can mean "burden," but it can also mean "tolerance," the tolerance of being brutally mistreated by Egypt and simply accepting it, doing nothing to stop it. Moshe taught us to stand up for ourselves, to fight back, to view ourselves and conduct ourselves as an Am Segula, not as a degraded slave people. Our defining moment came when we were commanded to take a lamb – the Egyptian deity - and offer it to the One, true G-d. Tough? Absolutely. But - no guts, no glory! We would gather up our courage and proudly declare that we are Hashem’s first-born and that we fear Him and Him alone.
Hashem promises that one day we shall be looked up to by the world as a model for holiness in human form. While that seems so very far away, we have recently been granted a glimpse of what the future holds for us. When the Emirates broke ranks with other Arab-Muslim nations and established diplomatic and economic relations with us, they expressed their whole-hearted admiration and respect for Israel and the Jewish People. This was truly a prophecy come to life.
The longest journey begins with the 1st step. And that first step is to stand straight & walk tall, clothed in Midot & Mitzvot, secure in our role as G-d's treasured nation.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
