Why Do We Fight So Much?
Moses Faced Two Enemies: One He Could Handle; the Other Eluded Him
- January 14, 2012
- |
- 19 Tevet 5772
Rabbi YY Jacobson
1630 views
Why Do We Fight So Much?
Moses Faced Two Enemies: One He Could Handle; the Other Eluded Him
Rabbi YY Jacobson- January 14, 2012
The War Is Over?
A man in Germany felt that he needed to confess, so he went to his priest. "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. During World War Two, I hid a Jew in my attic.""Well," answered the priest, "that's not a sin.""But I made him agree to pay me $50 for every week he stayed.""I admit that wasn't good, but you did it for a good cause.""Oh, thank you, Father; that eases my mind. I have one more question...""What is that, my son?""Do I have to tell him the war is over?"Two Incidents of ViolenceIn this week’s portion (Shemos) the Hebrew Bible introduces us to Moses, through two incidents (Exodus, Chapter 2):“It happened in those days that Moses grew up and he 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 way and he saw that there was no man, so he struck down the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”The Bible continues:“He went out the next day, and behold! Two Hebrew men were fighting. He said to the wicked one, ‘Why would you strike your fellow’? He replied: ‘Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Moses was frightened.”As a result, he escapes from Egypt. Only later would he return to the country and liberate his people from slavery.It is no coincidence that these are the only two vignettes the Bible shares with us concerning Moses’ youth in Egypt, and that the Bible emphasizes that these two episodes occurred during two consecutive days. It seems that these two episodes somehow encapsulate Moses’ life-mission and destiny; they seem to capture his particular story. How so?Two Conditions of ExileExile for the Jewish people consists of two dynamics – oppression from without and erosion from within. The former might be more painful, but the latter is more lethal. Hence, the first and emblematic Jewish leader, Moses, as he is growing into his position, is immediately confronted with these two problems that would define the Jewish condition in exile.On the first and most basic level, Jewish exile – from Egypt till today – has been defined by the “Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man.” Persecution, abuse, oppression, expulsion, random torture and murders, even genocide, have been the fate of the Jewish people from Pharaoh to Hitler. In almost every generation the Jew needed to reckon with the tragedy of baseless Jewish hatred that never ceased to claim innocent lives. The Jew turns this way and that way and sees “that there is no man” who cares enough. The world—The UN—will remain silent.Yet with all of its crude and incomprehensible brutality, Moses finds a solution to this crisis. “He struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Moses taught us, that there are times when we have no choice but to take up arms and strike the enemy, in order to protect innocent lives. The use of moral violence must always be the last resort, but when all other attempts fail, righteous might is the only response to immoral violence.The Second DayOn the second day, after Moses rescued his fellow Jew from the external enemy, he is confronted with a new challenge: A Jew fighting a Jew. One would think that the solution to this problem would be easier than the former one. After all, this is only a quarrel between Jews themselves. Yet, astoundingly, in this incident Moses fails. His attempt to create reconciliation gets thrown back at him. In a typical Jewish response, Moses is told: “Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us?” Who do you think you are to tell me how to behave?Anti-Semitism is dangerous, very dangerous, and we need much determination and courage to combat it wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. Yet since the enemy is clearly defined, we have no problem identifying the target and eliminating it, either through peaceful methods or through justified conflict. However, discord within the Jewish people – the strife and mistrust between communities as well as the animosity within communities and families – is a silent disease that eats up at our core, and does not allow us to experience liberation. At first it does not seem so destructive; its negative potency shows up only in time, especially in moment of crisis when we need each other most but the trust has been eroded.The Jewish people has often been threatened by hostile civilizations, from ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, to the Third Reich and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century, and by fundamentalist Islam in our own times. But the most fateful injuries have been those the Jewish people has inflicted on itself: the division of the kingdom in the days of the First Temple, which brought about the eventual defeat of both halves and the loss of ten of the twelve tribes; the internecine rivalry in the last days of the Second Temple, which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the longest exile in Jewish—indeed, in human—history.There have been only three periods of Jewish political sovereignty in four thousand years. Two ended in and because of internal dissension. The third age of sovereignty began in 1948, and already Israeli society is dangerously fragmented. The democratic process alone does not guarantee the existence of the body politic; it needs also some shared culture and identity—a shared sense of purpose and destiny. Israel at war is defined by its enemies. Israel in pursuit of peace is less easily defined and may erode from within.When Moses, more than three millennia ago, observed the Jew fighting the Jew, he grew frightened. Moses knew that as long as unity prevailed among his people, no force from without could crush them. But the moment they became fragmented within, their future is dim.Today, in 2012, we are still in exile, and we suffer from both problems. There are the people who wish to strike us down, and there is conflict within our own ranks. And, just as it was with Moses, it seems at times that the former challenge is easier to address than the latter. It is easier to gain a consensus concerning Ahmadinejad and Hamas than it is to create peace in a family and community. Will we at least this time around have the courage to dull our egos, open our hearts and embrace each of our brothers and sisters with unconditional love?- Comment
Class Summary:
Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein- in the loving memory of a young soul Alta Shula Swerdlov the daughter of Rabbi Yossi and Hindel Swerdlov.
And in the merit of Yetta Alta Shula, "Aliya," Schottenstein
The War Is Over?
A man in Germany felt that he needed to confess, so he went to his priest. "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. During World War Two, I hid a Jew in my attic."
"Well," answered the priest, "that's not a sin."
"But I made him agree to pay me $50 for every week he stayed."
"I admit that wasn't good, but you did it for a good cause."
"Oh, thank you, Father; that eases my mind. I have one more question..."
"What is that, my son?"
"Do I have to tell him the war is over?"
Two Incidents of Violence
In this week’s portion (Shemos) the Hebrew Bible introduces us to Moses, through two incidents (Exodus, Chapter 2):
“It happened in those days that Moses grew up and he 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 way and he saw that there was no man, so he struck down the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”
The Bible continues:
“He went out the next day, and behold! Two Hebrew men were fighting. He said to the wicked one, ‘Why would you strike your fellow’? He replied: ‘Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Moses was frightened.”
As a result, he escapes from Egypt. Only later would he return to the country and liberate his people from slavery.
It is no coincidence that these are the only two vignettes the Bible shares with us concerning Moses’ youth in Egypt, and that the Bible emphasizes that these two episodes occurred during two consecutive days. It seems that these two episodes somehow encapsulate Moses’ life-mission and destiny; they seem to capture his particular story. How so?
Two Conditions of Exile
Exile for the Jewish people consists of two dynamics – oppression from without and erosion from within. The former might be more painful, but the latter is more lethal. Hence, the first and emblematic Jewish leader, Moses, as he is growing into his position, is immediately confronted with these two problems that would define the Jewish condition in exile.
On the first and most basic level, Jewish exile – from Egypt till today – has been defined by the “Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man.” Persecution, abuse, oppression, expulsion, random torture and murders, even genocide, have been the fate of the Jewish people from Pharaoh to Hitler. In almost every generation the Jew needed to reckon with the tragedy of baseless Jewish hatred that never ceased to claim innocent lives. The Jew turns this way and that way and sees “that there is no man” who cares enough. The world—The UN—will remain silent.
Yet with all of its crude and incomprehensible brutality, Moses finds a solution to this crisis. “He struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Moses taught us, that there are times when we have no choice but to take up arms and strike the enemy, in order to protect innocent lives. The use of moral violence must always be the last resort, but when all other attempts fail, righteous might is the only response to immoral violence.
The Second Day
On the second day, after Moses rescued his fellow Jew from the external enemy, he is confronted with a new challenge: A Jew fighting a Jew. One would think that the solution to this problem would be easier than the former one. After all, this is only a quarrel between Jews themselves. Yet, astoundingly, in this incident Moses fails. His attempt to create reconciliation gets thrown back at him. In a typical Jewish response, Moses is told: “Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us?” Who do you think you are to tell me how to behave?
Anti-Semitism is dangerous, very dangerous, and we need much determination and courage to combat it wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. Yet since the enemy is clearly defined, we have no problem identifying the target and eliminating it, either through peaceful methods or through justified conflict. However, discord within the Jewish people – the strife and mistrust between communities as well as the animosity within communities and families – is a silent disease that eats up at our core, and does not allow us to experience liberation. At first it does not seem so destructive; its negative potency shows up only in time, especially in moment of crisis when we need each other most but the trust has been eroded.
The Jewish people has often been threatened by hostile civilizations, from ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, to the Third Reich and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century, and by fundamentalist Islam in our own times. But the most fateful injuries have been those the Jewish people has inflicted on itself: the division of the kingdom in the days of the First Temple, which brought about the eventual defeat of both halves and the loss of ten of the twelve tribes; the internecine rivalry in the last days of the Second Temple, which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the longest exile in Jewish—indeed, in human—history.
There have been only three periods of Jewish political sovereignty in four thousand years. Two ended in and because of internal dissension. The third age of sovereignty began in 1948, and already Israeli society is dangerously fragmented. The democratic process alone does not guarantee the existence of the body politic; it needs also some shared culture and identity—a shared sense of purpose and destiny. Israel at war is defined by its enemies. Israel in pursuit of peace is less easily defined and may erode from within.
When Moses, more than three millennia ago, observed the Jew fighting the Jew, he grew frightened. Moses knew that as long as unity prevailed among his people, no force from without could crush them. But the moment they became fragmented within, their future is dim.
Today, in 2012, we are still in exile, and we suffer from both problems. There are the people who wish to strike us down, and there is conflict within our own ranks. And, just as it was with Moses, it seems at times that the former challenge is easier to address than the latter. It is easier to gain a consensus concerning Ahmadinejad and Hamas than it is to create peace in a family and community. Will we at least this time around have the courage to dull our egos, open our hearts and embrace each of our brothers and sisters with unconditional love?
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Rabbi YY JacobsonWhy Do We Fight So Much? - Moses Faced Two Enemies: One He Could Handle; the Other Eluded Him
- January 14, 2012
- |
- 19 Tevet 5772
- |
- 1630 views
Why Do We Fight So Much?
Moses Faced Two Enemies: One He Could Handle; the Other Eluded Him
Rabbi YY Jacobson- January 14, 2012
The War Is Over?
A man in Germany felt that he needed to confess, so he went to his priest. "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. During World War Two, I hid a Jew in my attic.""Well," answered the priest, "that's not a sin.""But I made him agree to pay me $50 for every week he stayed.""I admit that wasn't good, but you did it for a good cause.""Oh, thank you, Father; that eases my mind. I have one more question...""What is that, my son?""Do I have to tell him the war is over?"Two Incidents of ViolenceIn this week’s portion (Shemos) the Hebrew Bible introduces us to Moses, through two incidents (Exodus, Chapter 2):“It happened in those days that Moses grew up and he 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 way and he saw that there was no man, so he struck down the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”The Bible continues:“He went out the next day, and behold! Two Hebrew men were fighting. He said to the wicked one, ‘Why would you strike your fellow’? He replied: ‘Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Moses was frightened.”As a result, he escapes from Egypt. Only later would he return to the country and liberate his people from slavery.It is no coincidence that these are the only two vignettes the Bible shares with us concerning Moses’ youth in Egypt, and that the Bible emphasizes that these two episodes occurred during two consecutive days. It seems that these two episodes somehow encapsulate Moses’ life-mission and destiny; they seem to capture his particular story. How so?Two Conditions of ExileExile for the Jewish people consists of two dynamics – oppression from without and erosion from within. The former might be more painful, but the latter is more lethal. Hence, the first and emblematic Jewish leader, Moses, as he is growing into his position, is immediately confronted with these two problems that would define the Jewish condition in exile.On the first and most basic level, Jewish exile – from Egypt till today – has been defined by the “Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man.” Persecution, abuse, oppression, expulsion, random torture and murders, even genocide, have been the fate of the Jewish people from Pharaoh to Hitler. In almost every generation the Jew needed to reckon with the tragedy of baseless Jewish hatred that never ceased to claim innocent lives. The Jew turns this way and that way and sees “that there is no man” who cares enough. The world—The UN—will remain silent.Yet with all of its crude and incomprehensible brutality, Moses finds a solution to this crisis. “He struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Moses taught us, that there are times when we have no choice but to take up arms and strike the enemy, in order to protect innocent lives. The use of moral violence must always be the last resort, but when all other attempts fail, righteous might is the only response to immoral violence.The Second DayOn the second day, after Moses rescued his fellow Jew from the external enemy, he is confronted with a new challenge: A Jew fighting a Jew. One would think that the solution to this problem would be easier than the former one. After all, this is only a quarrel between Jews themselves. Yet, astoundingly, in this incident Moses fails. His attempt to create reconciliation gets thrown back at him. In a typical Jewish response, Moses is told: “Who appointed you as a prince and leader over us?” Who do you think you are to tell me how to behave?Anti-Semitism is dangerous, very dangerous, and we need much determination and courage to combat it wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. Yet since the enemy is clearly defined, we have no problem identifying the target and eliminating it, either through peaceful methods or through justified conflict. However, discord within the Jewish people – the strife and mistrust between communities as well as the animosity within communities and families – is a silent disease that eats up at our core, and does not allow us to experience liberation. At first it does not seem so destructive; its negative potency shows up only in time, especially in moment of crisis when we need each other most but the trust has been eroded.The Jewish people has often been threatened by hostile civilizations, from ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, to the Third Reich and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century, and by fundamentalist Islam in our own times. But the most fateful injuries have been those the Jewish people has inflicted on itself: the division of the kingdom in the days of the First Temple, which brought about the eventual defeat of both halves and the loss of ten of the twelve tribes; the internecine rivalry in the last days of the Second Temple, which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the longest exile in Jewish—indeed, in human—history.There have been only three periods of Jewish political sovereignty in four thousand years. Two ended in and because of internal dissension. The third age of sovereignty began in 1948, and already Israeli society is dangerously fragmented. The democratic process alone does not guarantee the existence of the body politic; it needs also some shared culture and identity—a shared sense of purpose and destiny. Israel at war is defined by its enemies. Israel in pursuit of peace is less easily defined and may erode from within.When Moses, more than three millennia ago, observed the Jew fighting the Jew, he grew frightened. Moses knew that as long as unity prevailed among his people, no force from without could crush them. But the moment they became fragmented within, their future is dim.Today, in 2012, we are still in exile, and we suffer from both problems. There are the people who wish to strike us down, and there is conflict within our own ranks. And, just as it was with Moses, it seems at times that the former challenge is easier to address than the latter. It is easier to gain a consensus concerning Ahmadinejad and Hamas than it is to create peace in a family and community. Will we at least this time around have the courage to dull our egos, open our hearts and embrace each of our brothers and sisters with unconditional love?- Comment
Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein- in the loving memory of a young soul Alta Shula Swerdlov the daughter of Rabbi Yossi and Hindel Swerdlov.
And in the merit of Yetta Alta Shula, "Aliya," Schottenstein
Class Summary:
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Eli Shimshoni -7 years ago
Is there a sicha on this insight that can be studied in depth?
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