Amid the tragedy that occurred last Shabbat in Tuscon, Arizona, where a lone gunman opened fire on Congresswoman Giffords of Arizona; killing 6 including a 9 year old girl and wounding 14 including the congresswoman; - amid all that chaos and bloodshed, leaders of both the Democrat and Republican parties as well as the conservative and liberal news media began a rather destructive war of words based on little fact, much innuendo and plenty of finger pointing and defensiveness. Out of this ugliness came two models of leadership. One model portrayed a leader who chose to rise above the fray and to appeal the goodness that resides within us. One model portrayed a leader that chose to step into the fray and appeal to the same defensiveness and finger pointing that has plagued the political environment. Included in the comments that leader who chose to step into the fray was a rather unfortunate and poor choice of words. She claimed that the media has committed a greater evil since the media had manufactured "a 'blood libel' that serves to incite the very violence and hatred that it purports to condemn". Truthful or or not, perceived accuracy or not, one thing is for certain; such language and comments do not exactly demonstrated statesmanship, and bridge building.
As an American living in Toronto, as an American Rabbi serving a Toronto congregation; there is no question that I frequently feel compelled to explain, and defend the behavior and actions of various American leaders as well as listen to criticism of these leaders. I always listen; sometimes I respond and sometimes I stay quiet and just smile. It was rather amazing that in the course of the day I went from being embarrassed for my home country, to being incredibly proud of my country and its leadership. After listening to a rather defensive statement in which a leader refused to take any responsibility for the political climate to which she contributed; I listened to a leader focus upon those who had been slain, those who had been wounded and those who acted heroically by preventing even more destruction. Instead of blaming other institutions and opponents as a means of promoting the agenda of a specific constituency, I was reminded that for all of us who survive or witness such tragedy, we have an obligation to learn from the tragedy and use it as a means of improving ourselves, our homes, and our communities. Such a message goes way beyond one's political constituency, such a message transcends self interest, self promotion and self defense by appealing to the very goodness that exists within all our souls.
Every year when I arrive at the narrative of Parshat Beshallach, I begin to experience a certain disappointment with my ancestors. No, I do not want to defend them. I don't think that I have to. However, the fact that this group of slaves, listens to G-d and celebrates the first Pesach in Parshat Bo, and bakes and eats the Matzah (which, according to the Anti-Semitic rhetoric of the Middle Ages, was baked with the blood of a christian child, hence the term 'Blood Libel') explains to their children what they are about to experience and then begins its journey of freedom; well I am often inspired. Yet after experiencing the miracle of that night when the Malach HaMavet passed over their homes, now Bnai Yisroel complains. As we read about each complaint, we read about a people who are learning an important lesson about faith. That lesson culminates, at least in this parsha, in the narrative about Moshe holding up his hands in order to defeat the Amalekites. As long as he can hold up his hands, Bnai Yisroel wins the battle. When Moshe begins to lower his hands, Amalek begins to win the battle. With the help of Aharon and Hur, Moshe keeps his hands elevated long enough for Joshua to lead Bnai Yisroel in battle against Amalek and ultimately defeat them.
It was faith in G-d that would eventually permit these former slaves to learn what it is to be a responsible and free nation. Yes, it takes this former community of slaves numerous fits and starts to acquire a level of faith that allows them to learn from moments of tragedy as opposed to pointing fingers and avoiding responsibility. With the defeat of the Amalekites, comes an important lesson. Bnai Yisroel realizes that they must be active participants in their freedom. Bnai Yisroel has taken the first steps to being responsible enough receive a more formal covenant from G-d (next weeks' Parsha Bnai Yisroel receives the Ten Commandments). For this very brief moment, they set aside their hunger and their thirst. For a moment they stopped lying to themselves that in Egypt they were better off, for this moment, in response to the tragedy of what befell them at the hands of the Amalekites and place their faith in G-d and themselves to be better than they had been.
Yes, I was embarrassed earlier when a national leader refused to take responsibility for contributing to polluted if not poisonous political discourse. Her focus upon herself rather than on the victims, her self-portrayal as a victim rather than focusing upon the both the victims and heroes in Tuscon suggested that there is a certain lack of faith in the public's ability to learn from this tragedy, and make society a little better, a little safer, a little kinder than it had been.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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