A thought on Parshas Shmos
"...va'yomas Yosef v'chol echav v'chol ha'dor ha'hu..."
"...and Yosef died, and all of his brothers and all of that generation..." (1:6)
This verse seems to preface the events which follow, which recount the saga of Moshe needing to flee Egypt in reaction to the danger he was in. That danger, we learn, came about because other Jews spoke ill of him.
The Ralbag observes that the Torah is teaching us one of the reasons that exile lasts so long. When our people fail to care for one another, when we create strife and foster ill will among ourselves, the ordeal of golus increases and our exile persists. The only solution for ending our exile is to focus on closeness with the Divine, yet the key for drawing closer is becoming closer as a nation.
This is the reason that the passage begins with the above verse. Yosef and his brothers had their differences. We learned about those in the closing parshios of Bereishis. Yet, as we learned last week in the final passages of Va'yechi, the brothers resolved their issues. They made amends. They forgave and drew close again. That is why, says the Ralbag, the suffering of exile could not begin as long as they were alive. They lived in a manner which fended off the national exile. They settled their differences. As long as they were alive, the harsh decree of golus was in abeyance.
Only upon the passing of that blessed and exemplary generation would the yoke of exile be felt. This is why our verse, which at first seems like a historical footnote, is the explanatory prelude to how the oppression in Egypt began.
When we Jews interact with compassion, when we collaborate on worthy causes, when we draw near and are supportive and caring, we hold the key to bringing about geula. When we neglect each other, when we are callous or self-absorbed, when we turn against our fellow Jews, we block the geula.
During these last few weeks, while living in Jerusalem, I sensed a cohesiveness among the people in the streets. Religious, secular, whatever skin tone or accent, Jews seemed to be drawing close. Sometimes the scourge of war at our borders can bring about that achdus.
The Ralbag teaches us that we shouldn't wait for our fear to bring forth our kindness! Whatever our circumstances, being considerate and sensitive is good for us always. Moreover, it is the key to releasing us from the shackles of suffering.
Good Shabbos. D Fox
This verse seems to preface the events which follow, which recount the saga of Moshe needing to flee Egypt in reaction to the danger he was in. That danger, we learn, came about because other Jews spoke ill of him.
The Ralbag observes that the Torah is teaching us one of the reasons that exile lasts so long. When our people fail to care for one another, when we create strife and foster ill will among ourselves, the ordeal of golus increases and our exile persists. The only solution for ending our exile is to focus on closeness with the Divine, yet the key for drawing closer is becoming closer as a nation.
This is the reason that the passage begins with the above verse. Yosef and his brothers had their differences. We learned about those in the closing parshios of Bereishis. Yet, as we learned last week in the final passages of Va'yechi, the brothers resolved their issues. They made amends. They forgave and drew close again. That is why, says the Ralbag, the suffering of exile could not begin as long as they were alive. They lived in a manner which fended off the national exile. They settled their differences. As long as they were alive, the harsh decree of golus was in abeyance.
Only upon the passing of that blessed and exemplary generation would the yoke of exile be felt. This is why our verse, which at first seems like a historical footnote, is the explanatory prelude to how the oppression in Egypt began.
When we Jews interact with compassion, when we collaborate on worthy causes, when we draw near and are supportive and caring, we hold the key to bringing about geula. When we neglect each other, when we are callous or self-absorbed, when we turn against our fellow Jews, we block the geula.
During these last few weeks, while living in Jerusalem, I sensed a cohesiveness among the people in the streets. Religious, secular, whatever skin tone or accent, Jews seemed to be drawing close. Sometimes the scourge of war at our borders can bring about that achdus.
The Ralbag teaches us that we shouldn't wait for our fear to bring forth our kindness! Whatever our circumstances, being considerate and sensitive is good for us always. Moreover, it is the key to releasing us from the shackles of suffering.
Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 1:14 PM
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