Printer Friendly

PESACH

What new idea can still be written about Pesach? Over the thousands of years of Pesach one would think that the topic has been pretty well exhausted by now. But it is always current events that provide the framework in thinking about Pesach and its significance.

The Jewish people and especially the Jewish state are currently beleaguered, isolated and under dire threats of ultimate extinction, God forbid. In such a climate when proclaimed friends are really something else entirely, and proclaimed enemies apparently mean what they so brazenly say about our destruction, Pesach allows a look back into other troubled times and timely deliverances.

The Rabbis taught us that the Pharaoh of Egypt had three advisors on the Jewish question and problem. They were Yitro, Bilaam and Iyov. Each of them had a different view of the matter. Yitro advised caution and restraint in dealing with the Jews. He was opposed to coercing them into servitude. Pharaoh was greatly displeased by this counsel and Yitro had to flee into Midian to save himself from Pharaoh’s wrath.

But Yitro eventually achieved immortality in the Torah and became the father-in-law of Moshe. His courageous and ethical stance on behalf of the Jews paid great dividends in later times. We could use a few counselors and leaders in the world today that would represent the courage and worldview of Yitro in dealing with the Jewish people and state toady.

But pious “humanitarian” bias and ingrained stubbornness in not admitting past policy failures rule the halls of power in most of the world’s governments as far as Jews and Israel are concerned. The Yitros are always few and far between and usually have to flee from the powers that be.

Bilaam openly told Pharaoh to enslave and destroy the Jews. He openly advocated a “final solution” to the Jewish problem plaguing the then-known world. Of course Bilaam would have nice complimentary words later to say about the Jewish people. But Bilaam is the speaking in theory, in platitudes of praise but not about real live people who he intends to curse and destroy.

Bilaam receives a large fee for his efforts from the Pharaoh. He is the classic gun for hire in the biblical era. For unknown reasons he somehow has come to hate the Jews and this hatred clouds his judgment and even works against his own self interest. The great seer that he claims to be cannot envision the tragic consequences of suffering and pain that his advice will bring to thousands of innocents.

He also does not realize the loathing of centuries that his name will now inspire in the eternal people. And he certainly cannot forecast that he himself will be killed by the very people that he came to enslave, curse and destroy. But the bitter lesson of history is that those who rise against the Jews eventually are themselves destroyed, humbled and punished in a manner that no one can predict.

It is clear that there are many Bilaams around today. Pesach in essence reminds us of their ultimate fate. Jewish history records carefully and eternally who are Yitros and who are Bilaams.

The third counselor Iyov is well meaning, truly pious and generous - but hopelessly naïve and passive. He takes a neutral even-handed position. He is silent about the entire matter. But there are many times in life when silence is tantamount to complicity. Iyov is punished with suffering. I think that Iyov’s suffering is not only the physical pain and the family tragedies that he is forced to endure but it is the deep suffering of his own inner conscience for having been silent when he realized that morally he should have taken a stand and spoken up.

American Jewry, amongst others, still feels the suffering and pangs of conscience regarding its inaction and silence during the years of the Holocaust. The fact that it may not truly have made any difference then is beside the point. I would think that most of the Western world is in the position of Iyov regarding the Jews and Israel today – silent, passive and unwilling to speak up for what their conscience tells them is right and moral.

Our Pesach celebration stands as a wakeup call to us and to them as well. History’s conscience will not allow these responses to be forgotten and ignored. There are always consequences to one’s actions or inaction. At the Seder, all past history is reviewed and judged once more. This is one of the great benefits of this glorious holiday of our freedom and survival.