So Why Egypt?

Ahh...it's that time of year again...The smell of Matzah and Horseradish is in the air! Passover (besides for the cleaning and avoidance of leavened edibles), is always fun, a great time to spend with family & friends. We've become quite accustomed to celebrating this age old holiday every year, but have we ever stopped and asked the most glaring of questions? That being: Why did the Jewish nation have to go down to Egypt and be enslaved in the 1st place!? Couldn't G-d have kept us in the holy land, safe and sound, and given us the Torah there?

I heard a very interesting answer to this question this past week. To preface: What has practically every nation who has ever abused the Jewish people have in common with one another? From Egypt to Rome, Babylonia to Greece, Spain in the late 15th century and Germany in the mid 20th, all of these nations were powerful. But more than that, each of these nations excelled, perhaps led the world, in modernity and cultural advancement. The democracy & philosophy of Greece & Rome, the golden age of Spain, the love of art and music in Germany, each of these nations were at the forefront of their times in their appreciation of an enlightened culture in their time. But did that equate to a moral country? It seems quite the contrary! The more culturally advanced the nation was, the more cruel and disgusting their actions!

Let's look at this on an individual level. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was brilliant. By 6 years old, when most kids his age were learning to read, Mozart had composed an entire symphony, to be performed by a full philharmonic orchestra! Ludwig van Beethoven, after becoming completely deaf, composed some of his most famous symphonies - unable to hear even one note of his composition! Niccolo Paganini composed such a complex violin concerto, that for 150 years no one was able to play it - except for Paganini himself. These brilliant souls obviously were blessed with amazing skills. But what type of people were they? From what we know, they had terrible character traits! Each one more unpleasant than the next. But how could that be!? Like the nations mentioned above, the reason why these amazing innovators weren't kind and gentle, was very simply because culture isn't Torah. Skills, knowledge, culture don't translate into goodness. Why? Because it doesn't penetrate one's core - who I really am. Torah was given to the world to change one's inner self, to penetrate one's being in a way that refines the animal within. In simple yiddish: To make you into a mentsch.

And THAT'S why we had to go down to Egypt, as a precursor to accepting the Torah. If we never had, perhaps there would be wonder and curiosity as to whether we were missing out on the amazingly advanced culture of the super power Egypt! Pyramids, math, heiroglyphics! G-d said: "OK, go and see if this advanced culture translates into a good society, the best way of living life." Like the Nazis who lived culturally aware lives to the highest of degrees, we Jews have experienced every leading nation and their cultures, but none have offered as kind and just an outlook as what the Torah has given us. When we left Egypt, we could now truly appreciate Mt. Sinai.

May we remember today in our lives, that as great as the advanced nations we live in today are (with much of the goodness heavily influenced by the Torah), we must always turn to Torah and its guiding principles as our inspiration and guide to living a good life.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

True Self Defense

And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming to Egypt... (Exodus 1:1) Thus begins the 2nd of the 5 books of the Torah known as Shemot (Exodus). The Rabbis note how strange the wording of this verse is. We're talking many years after Jacob and his family came down to Egypt, so why doesn't the verse say: "the Children of Israel who came..." in the past tense?? The answer is, that the Egyptian people looked at the Jews, not as equal residents and one of their own, but as foreigners - even generations later. It was still as if they had just moved down to Egypt.


As we've seen many times before, the Torah is a blueprint and guide for us in whatever generation we find ourselves in. We see this perhaps clearest in the classic anti-semitism shown by the Egyptians, led by Pharaoh, toward their Jewish citizens. The method and thinking of the Egyptians, and the reaction of Moshe & the Jewish people, can teach us much about anti-semitism & how to combat it in 2012. '(Pharaoh) said to his people, "Behold! the people, the Children of Israel, are more numerous and stronger than we. Come, let us outsmart it lest it become numerous and it may be that if a war will occur, it, too, may join our enemies, and wage war against us and go up from the land."' (Exodus 9-10)

1st of all, it's highly doubtful that the young Jewish nation was "more numerous & stronger" than Egypt, the superpower of the time. But it's understandable to use that falsehood as a fear tactic for the masses. Ask the average person how big they think Israel is, or how many Jews there are in the world, and you are also likely to hear "I don't know, the size of Texas?" And "maybe 150 million?" Try 1/32 the size of Texas and 14 million. Because of how well Jews worldwide have done in every position imaginable, we're imagined bigger and stronger than we are. And then Pharaoh used a classic claim, that Jews would side with the enemy invader if a war occurred, a claim perpetuated by many throughout history, even though the Jewish community has proven the most loyal, generous, and supportive of their respective countries. Ask my grandfather who fought for the French in WWII, or Obama or Romney who receive massive contributions from Jews. Jews have always been very active in the support and development of the countries they live in. So where does anti-semitism, seen throughout history, really come from? And what can we do about it?

If we look a few verses later, we can find allusions to the answer.
'It happened in those days that Moses grew up and went out to his brethren and observed their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, of his brethren. He turned this way and that and saw that there was no man, so he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.' (Exodus 2:11-12)
How did Moshe "strike" this Egyptian? There are 3 general opinions brought by the Sages: 1) Moshe simply hit him with his fist. 2) Moshe picked up a hammer or shovel and hit him. 3) Moshe said a secret name of G-d which caused his death. (Rashi) From these 3 opinions of how Moshe dealt with the anti-semitic threats of his day, we can learn for our present day circumstances: 1) We must be physically strong; like having an army (the IDF) for defense. 2) We must build institutions that help protect us (like AIPAC, lobbying & advocacy groups, etc.) 3) We have to trust in G-d, engaging in Torah, prayer, and mitzvot, for ultimately it is G-d who watches over us and our safety.

After Moshe kills the Egyptian, he flees Egypt, ultimately meeting with his destiny when he encounters a thorn bush that burns, but isn't consumed, where G-d speaks to him. This teaches us that G-d is with his people even in the thorn bushes of life, the painful and tough situations. And we must remember that, no matter how much the nations of the world try to destroy us, we Jews have never been consumed - and never will.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

The Need for Sinai

"Upon your taking out the nation from Egypt, they shall serve G-d on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)


As we approach Passover, let's take a look at probably the most simple, and most fundamental, Passover question: Why did G-d Have to Enslave the Jewish People in Egypt!? Why couldn't we just have been given the Torah & moved on? Evidently, our time in Egypt had an intrinsic connection to the giving of the Torah.
It had to serve as some sort of a preparation...

It's interesting to note under whom the Jewish People have been victimized most. The first exiles were caused by the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and then Romans. Later it was the Inquisition in Spain, and we all know what happened 70 yrs. ago. in Germany (skipping many others). What do all of these nations have in common? They were leaders of their time. Culture, art, philosophy, modernity, government. These nations led the way in their respective times. And so did Egypt. At the time of their enslavement there, the Egyptians were an extremely advanced nation! The pyramids are a prime example of their architectural prowess at that time. Astronomy, mathematics, science; Egypt was the most advanced culture and nation of their time.

And perhaps that's what G-d Wanted to show us. 'Before I Give you the Torah, take a good look at the "advanced" human race. Maybe the world, maybe you, don't need Torah? Surely all can be found in the human mind and reason?' But the Jewish People saw a principle in Egyptian society, that has held true throughout history, in every nation across the world: Wisdom, advancement, does not correlate to true morality. From Egypt to modern Germany, from Plato to Mozart, genius and modern progress often has nothing to do with that person or nation acting justly. For that we need a set of Divine ideas & rules - beyond human thought - given by G-d: The Torah. "Chochma b’goyim ta’amin, Torah b’goyim al ta’amin - If you find Wisdom among the nations, believe it; Torah among the nations, don’t believe it."

The Jewish People had to experience the "best" the world had to offer, and only then, after realizing the emptiness, could they truly appreciate the Torah. "Yisron Ohr Min Hachoshech" - Great is light from darkness. As Passover approaches, let us remember that even here in 2011, in our very advanced and moral Western Civilization, only Torah can be our true guide for living a just life.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Leaving our Personal Egypt

B"H

Egypt. Man... That place really sucked.
Egypt, as many of you know, is called in Hebrew "Mitzrayim." Funny
enough, there is another word in Hebrew
with the exact same spelling: "Maytzarim", meaning limitations or constraints.

When the Jewish People left Mitrayim, they left it not only
physically, but spiritually. They left the limited outllook on life
they had in Egypt, and embraced an entirely new appreciation for G-d
and free life afterword.
Every Jewish Holiday is a time frame, whether a day or 8 days, in
which a certain spiritual energy from what occurred in that time is
present now.
Passover is that time of the yr. in which we have a special ability to
leave our own personal limitations, our Mitzrayim. For some of us its
jealousy or greed; there's laziness or depression, anger, addiction,
arrogance, ego. There's the feeling of having to always please others.
So how do we break through these "limitations" that seem to be so a
part of us?

First of all, we have to Identify that we have a problem to begin
with. Now, a very essential way of breaking out of our limitations is
by using our MINDS, and not our hearts. I see a rich person driving a
Ferrari and FEEL jealous? THINK about the life of this person you
don't end up seeing-perhaps his life isn't so great once he parks his
car at home. I feel angry and impatient b/c someone's driving slowly
in front of me? I THINK "if this were the last day of my life, how
important would this be." Or I THINK about 'how everything's Divine
Providence, controlled by G-d, even this. I'll end up at my
destination when I'm meant to.' Or the one I like most; to think: 'By
practicing my being patient NOW Even when I don't feel like it, I
improve my ability to be patient with those I love later on. I also
become a more truly patient person through this practice.'
In every situation, each of us has the ability to overcome our natural
impulses. We also have the obligation to. Our Rabbis tell us that "in
every generation, and every day, A Jew must recall the leaving of
Egypt." In various situations throughout our day, we have the ability
to win. To think, feel, and act what's right. To show that we have
some control over ourselves. We're not just like animals who are
limited to their natures and impulses. We are human beings, and Jews,
who have a G-dly Soul and a mind which can check that impulse and
feeling. What's deeper, is that most likely- our feeling is Wrong, and
our thought out conclusion is really right. Chassidus explains that
our soul resides primarily in our brain. Almost everything, that we feel
right away is "for sure true" ["that she hates me" or "he's full of
himself" or "everyone's out to get me today"] -is false. When we use our minds and truly exert ourselves to think from someone ELSE's
perspective, to put ourselves in their shoes-why he might be acting
this way, or why I'm really feeling this way about it, we can realize
the truth.
By learning more Torah and about character improvement, and by trying
to act right and not just how we want to act, we can fulfill our
missions here on earth.

Even though we're supposed to break out of our limitations every day
of the yr., we have the special ability to do so at this time of yr.
(Passover begins this Sat. Night and continues for 8 days). This
Passover, let's make the firm decision to change ourselves, to break
through our personal limitations, our personal Mitzrayims.
Good luck and Happy Passover!

-Daniel
P.S. if anybody needs a place for the seders, contact me or visit
Chabad.org for the location of the seder near you.