Lately, I have been asked about all the anti-Semitism that we currently see in America. Although we are not happy with this new wave, it is not new to us. Jews have been experiencing anti-Semitism here since the birth of our nation, but long before that, while we were in Egypt.
It all started when we were in Egypt way back when, after Joseph died, which occurs in this week’s Torah portion. “A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” The rabbis point out that this can be taken literally: “A new king.” Or, the king made out as if he were new, i.e., he made out as if he did not know Joseph. Either way we interpret the verse, we see that anti-Semitism is born. The lack of appreciation for what Joseph did for the Egyptians was evident, but then it became time to strike back.
To gain a deeper understanding of this concept and how we as Jews are affected by it, we should continue reading the story. If we look closely, we see that two stories are told concurrently: the story that happens to us from the outside and the story that happens to us from within our own community.
I would like to focus on the story that happens from within our own community.
In the original story, after Moses neutralized an Egyptian for beating up a fellow Jew, he found out that word about his violence spread to the palace and his life was placed in danger. Moses said, “Behold, it became known.” In other words, people were talking negatively about Moses. Clearly, someone reported his deed to the palace, so he concluded that there was an informer amongst the Jews. Such behavior was considered unacceptable.
Moses escaped and years passed. Eventually G-d appointed Moses to be the leader of the Jewish people and to take them out of their exile. Moses witnessed their suffering, which became so much worse than it was before he left. Moses said, “Now I understand why the Jews are suffering.” He didn’t mean that as a form of punishment, but rather as a form of enlightenment.
You see, even when we suffer and experience anti-Semitism (which is inexcusable), and even if it was brought upon us because of our own behavior (although that is not always the case), there can also be a silver lining. That is what Moses witnessed—Moses saw that the Jews came together. No longer was one Jew talking negatively about another. They were not backstabbing each other. Instead, he observed a united Jewish community. When his eyes beheld that scene, he knew that they would be redeemed. There would be an end to the suffering, an end to their pain.
In our own time we have witnessed this as well. Less than two weeks ago on a beautiful Sunday morning, Jews from all stripes and colors walked hand in hand. Orthodox Jews and Reform Jews. Chasidic Jews and Conservative Jews. It didn’t matter because labels don’t matter. A Jew is a Jew, and we stand by each other’s side. Each put politics and differences aside and were united with one voice. We are one family, one people. When we witness such unity, we know that there will be an end to the hatred in this world.
Just as in Moses’s day when the Jews triumphed, so too today, we will succeed in stopping hatred from spreading and we will dispel the darkness with light, and replace hate with love, and usher in an era of peace and prosperity.