Rabbi's Sermons

Shabbat Shalom,

The first time book I knew about the Book of Shemot that we begin this week, it was known to me by the name of Exodus. In Hebrew, Shemot means “NAMES”, and it is taken from the first verse of the book: "These are the NAMES of the people of Israel who came to Egypt...". This name was changed in the Greek septuagint version, to: EXODUS from the Greek ὁδόσ (odos) that means “way”, and ἐξ (ex) – “outside”. This is the way it has been adopted by all the Latin versions of the Bible around the world. Interestingly, the Ramban (Nahmanides) called it - "The book of exile and redemption". The book of Shemot is the natural continuation of the book of Genesis. In this book, we can find the foundations of the Jewish religion: the first version of the ten commandments that make up the Carta Magna of the Jewish religion and morals; the determination of the great holidays; and the bases of the Hebrew civil law.

The book begins with a story, in the time after Yosef’s and his generation’s death. The story specifies that the children of Israel reproduced in a phenomenal way, as it is written on verse seven: ז וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, פָּרוּ וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ וַיַּעַצְמוּ-ִּמְאֹד מְאֹד; וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ, אֹתָם – “And the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them”. Then, it explains that a new Pharaoh that didn’t remember Yosef, was afraid of the overwhelming number of Hebrews that were on their lands, and that could, hypothetically, join forces with the natural enemies of the Egyptians and overthrow him from the throne. Something similar to what the elected president of this country believes today, having more than 35 million Mexicans, living throughout the southern states of the United States, many of whom speak only Spanish and enjoy tacos, tequila and guacamole, while celebrating “5 de Mayo”. Practically a culture within another culture.

The way the Torah describes this disproportionate growth, is very peculiar: “⁷ And the children of Israel were fruitful (1) and increased abundantly (2), and multiplied (3) and waxed exceeding mighty (4) in the extreme (5), and the earth was filled with them (6)”. Six words to describe it, which even led Rashi and Baal Haturim to interpret: "that they gave birth to sixtuplets", and other Midrashim discuss the possibilities of pregnancies of six babies at a time! Midrash Raba on Exodus 1:8, goes even further, by saying: “Each one gave birth to six babies each time, as it is written ‘were fruitful and increased abundantly' but there are those who indicate that they were pregnancies of twelve, two for each expression"! This remind me the Hagada of Pesach, when explaining the plagues of Egypt. The Midrash continues and explains: "And don't be surprised that there are six, because the scorpion that belongs to the insects has seventy"... The midrash is trying hard, to justify an idea that is totally out of the ordinary, by comparing the Israelite women with scorpions, that can keep seventy offsprings in their bodies! No further comments...

This absurd attempt to interpret the verse, surely, comes from the complicated mathematics that needs to be applied, trying to understand the numbers mentioned in the Torah. How is it possible, that in 400 years, the children of Israel had grown their population from 70 souls who entered Egypt, to the amount of 600 thousand men (not counting women and children) described in the book of Numbers, as those who left Egypt? The solution was rather simple: Having pregnancies of sixtuplets, or up to twelve babies in a single birth! Today, those who have used advanced computer programs and generational calculators, mention that it “may be feasible” but perhaps not possible to reach those numbers. All the explanations, and many among them, some of them absurd, that you will find in the stories of the Midrash, absolutely lose any meaning, reaching chapter two when Moses is born as it is written: “² and a woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son”, one son, not six or twelve. Therefore, it is necessary to understand Pharaoh's fear, using a very different analysis.

We learned a few weeks ago, that Yosef, in a few dramatic moments, went from being a slave to Pharaoh's second, by just interpreting his dreams. We also read Midrash stories, that criticize him severely, because after having a new high rank social position, despite his physical beauty and intellectual abilities to interpret dreams, and even knowing that his father was still mourning for his alleged death, the degradation of his moral values ​​lead him to avoid visiting his own father, and free him from his suffering. That being said, we may understand Pharaoh's concern. I find it hard to believe, that in one sunny morning, Pharaoh had received the annual report from the Egyptian statistics center, and suddenly, decided that there was a serious problem of exponential population growth of the Hebrews in the land of Egypt. What I do believe, is that he discovered a lack of spiritual values ​​among the Israelites, and a lack of loyalty, in their human and social values. Just as Yosef had a fall in spiritual values, so the people of Israel did, after experiencing changes in their lives in 400 years. Just as Yosef became a slave by living in Egypt, in the same way, the people of Israel would become slaves, and loose their human values. Once, the governor of California was asked about the Mexicans living in the southern states of the United States, and he said: “The problem is not that there are 35 million Mexican immigrants in the southern United States, the problem will be if they decide to have their own independent country or decide to become part of Mexico and not complying with the laws of the USA”. Likewise, the same issue arises here, as in many countries that receive immigrants. The problem is not the extreme Muslim Arabs who live in USA or Israel, the problem is that they openly declare not to be loyal to the country in which they live, nor want to abide by its laws. The best-known and traditional Midrash in Shemot Raba 1:28, describes, in a “romantic” way, how the people of Israel kept their ancestors’ traditions, their culture and their Hebrew language: “Rab Huna said in the name of Bar Kapara: for four things were redeemed Israel from Egypt: because they did not change their names, their language, their tradition, nor did they give their women”. But there is a complete opposite version, which describes the people of Israel as disloyal towards their traditions. The same Shemot Raba 1:8 explains: "When Yosef died, they stopped complying with circumcision, they said ‘we will be like the Egyptians!’. From here we understand why Moses had not circumcised his own son". And even after that, they did not keep this tradition either, as we read in the book of Joshua chapter 5: “⁵ Now all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised”. Rabbi Ovadia Sforno supports the idea of ​​the lack of values ​​of the Israelite people, by interpreting the word "וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ", Vayishretzu which translates as "and multiplied". This word in Hebrew comes from the root SHERETZ, that means "insect or bug", and comments: "After the 70 souls died, they acted like bugs running to a source of perdition"! Another Midrash exceeds that, and does not forgive Moses even, for his behavior. Midrash Tanaim to the book of Devarim 31, relates: “Rabbi Eliezer Hamudaí says: Moshe asked God: Creator of the Universe! Since it was determined that I will not be able to enter the land of Israel in life, when I die will my bones enter the Land of Israel? - The Holy one replied: I have ruled that neither in life nor in death will you enter the land of Israel. Moshe replied: Lord of the Universe! Yosef's bones will enter the land of Israel and my bones won't? The Holy one replied: Whoever identifies with the Land (of Israel) is buried in the Land, he who does not identify with the Land is not buried in the Land. In Gen. 40:15 Yosef replied: ‘For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews…’ so his bones will reach the Land. But in Ex. 2:19 YOU, listened to Yitro's daughters who introduced you as ‘An Egyptian who delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds’ and YOU KEPT SILENT! instead of clarifying that you were Hebrew, so your bones will NOT enter the Land”.

This eventual change of behavior, displayed by the children of Israel, was the cause of Pharaoh’s suspicions and insecurity, because he felt threatened by a large population, which had lost the most basic moral and spiritual values! That is why it is not that he "did not know Yosef" physically, as his history may have been recorded in the history books of the Egyptian people, but after 400 years, he did not recognize in those generations, the moral values ​​that represented the good image and name that Yosef represented. In fact, Pharaoh's question was "Who are those people who now act like bugs and insects?"

I do not intend to justify it - God forbids - the subsequent Pharaoh’s reaction to a large part of the population, killing babies and enslaving people, in a clearly racist way. More and more news leave me surprised, when it comes to what is happening recently in Israel: One person who murdered his children and his wife, a son who murdered his parents, numerous cases of rapes, pedophilia, elders who are attacked, things you cannot imagine! As the former Chief Rabbi of the country, who is currently in jail for embezzlement, a former president who is still in jail for sexual harassment, a former prime minister who is in jail for theft of millions, and the list goes on! A year ago, some friends from Cancun wrote to me, telling me they had recently been ripped off by Israelis, and asked, bitterly "are all Israelis like this doing business”?. Of course, still in shock, I replied that it was an unfortunate and unusual case. After living so many years in Israel, I don't really know what happens in the communities in the diaspora, and my impression is that, it is different, and that the behavior of the communities is more noble and moral. Although, we must always remember these Midrash stories, and maintain the high ethical and moral values, which identify our people. This is our business card before the nations of the world, and these values ​​protect us, in our relations with other peoples. Not acting as "bugs running into a source of perdition", but being worthy representatives of Yosef, is one of the secrets of our strength, because there will always be "a king who forgets Yosef", and that is where we can remind the world our mission, as light among the nations.

Shabat Shalom!

Rabbi David Laor

January 17^th, 2025