We
were watching the news the other day, and our kids happen to see a story about
U.S. presidential campaign. They showed clips of various candidates giving
their stump speeches throughout Iowa, and New Hampshire. In particular the
clips showed Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and the reporter commented upon how
these candidates have tapped into the anger and dissatisfaction that has
affected much of the American electorate. Our kids listened to parts of their
speeches, the candidates’ anger, vitriol, negativity and frustration. They were
curious as to why the people seemed angry and rather than the candidates trying
to make it better they seemed to make it worse. I explained that sometimes, in
order to get elected, candidates will use fear and ignorance in order to get
themselves elected. Thankfully, they aren’t old enough to be too cynical. So I
reminded them of Yoda from Star Wars. In teaching his disciples about the Force
and to combat the Dark Side, Yoda teaches that "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to Suffering" The Force is light, goodness and
purity of soul. The Dark Side is just that; it is the perversion of the soul. I explained that extremism, the extremism that
breeds hate, injustice, and terror exists everywhere; everywhere people feel
threatened, paralyzed, or scared or feel as if they lack control over their own
lives. As a result, political extremism,
or religious extremism, in any form, breeds closed mindedness, ignorance, fear,
and ultimately a flirting with and perhaps a union with the Dark Side.
This
week's Parsha is Bo. The ten plagues
culminate with locusts, darkness and finally the killing of the first born. On
the night of the last plague, God instructs Moshe to tell B'nai Yisroel, to
declare and sanctify the New Moon, and to slaughter a lamb for each family.
Blood should be painted onto the door- post. The sacrificed lamb must be
completely eaten that night with no leftovers.
The command continues with God instructing Moshe to reiterate this story
to the children of each family. The Parsha concludes with the command to
sanctify the first born, remember this night, remember what God did for B'nai
Yisroel, and how B'nai Yisroel eventually returned to the land.
Parts of the Parsha are read on Pesach. Those parts
dealing with the Paschal sacrifice, as well as the Mitzvah of
"Telling" the child about the impending redemption, are read. However
there is one phrase that is particularly interesting and revealing. The ninth
plague is Choshech, darkness. VaYomer Adonai el Moshe N'Teih
Yadchah al Hashamayim - And God said
to Moshe "Stretch forth your hand toward the heavens, Va'Yehi
Choshech al Eretz Mitzrayim-
"And there will be a darkness upon the land of Egypt , Vayameish Choshech - and the darkness will be felt.
[tangible] (Ex. 10:21). What does it mean that the darkness will be felt? What
will it feel like? Will it be hot or cold, wet or dry? Maybe it will thick like
some type of fog. Maybe it will be the horrible emptiness as if one is falling
through an abyss with nothing all around. Whatever kind of darkness it is, it
can be felt. It is noticeable and therefore extraordinarily different than the
standard night -time or even an eclipse. B’nai Yisroel still had light in their
dwellings while the plague occurred. Pharaoh could not stand the darkness
anymore and told Moshe to take everyone including the children and leave if
that would alleviate the darkness in Egypt. The Or HaChaim, (18th
Century Morocco) reminds us that while there was complete darkness in Egypt,
there was light where the Jewish slaves lived: Goshen. U’LeChol B’nai Yisroel Haya Or B’Mishvotam – but for all the Children of Israel there was light in their dwellings
(Ex. 10:23). Egypt was already in a state of primordial Darkness, a spiritual
darkness without the acknowledgment of God’s presence. As a result, Egypt had
become a twisted, closed minded, corrupt society whose enslavement of B’nai
Yisroel was a function of ignorance and fear - a world devoid of the
acknowledgment of HaShem. The plague of Choshech, of Darkness, was merely Egypt
becoming aware of their darkness. As a result, Pharaoh all but pleaded with
Moshe to take the slaves of Egypt. Eliminated the source of Egypt and Pharaoh’s
fear, and then light would return to Egypt. B’nai Yisroel was already in a state of
primordial Light, a spiritual acknowledgment of God’s presence; U’LeChol B’nai Yisroel Haya Or B’Mishvotam – but for all the Children of Israel there was
light in their dwellings. B’nai Yisroel already had a sense of their relationship
to God, and a sense of purpose. Moshe had already told them that they would be
freed, and they would return to the land that had been promised to their
ancestors.
As our children continue to watch the news, and see stories about Jewish Right Wing extremist being found guilty of murdering a Palestinian child, as they continue to hear about ISIS, as they hear politicians brag about the size of the crowds coming out to hear the "truth"; they are keenly aware that there are lots of angry people out there and lots of fearful people out there. One of our children commented that it seems harder to be thoughtful when there is too much anger. They realized that it seemed much easier to allow oneself to be consumed by anger, and fear, minimize thinking, move
to the Darkness, sit in Darkness, and to remain in a state of Darkness.
Moving toward the light, toward the Force, requires more effort, and requires
greater vigilance to remain in the Light and part of the Force. Of course
Darkness requires less thinking and responsibility, Light requires more
thinking and assuming more responsibility for making the world a better place.
Peace
Rav Yitz
No comments:
Post a Comment