Fear of the unknown. It has no doubt caused a great deal of pain in the course of human history. We see many instances of fear of the unknown being highlighted in the Torah. One obvious example is Balak, whose fear of bnei yisrael results in his hiring the prophet Bil’am to curse Israel. Fortunately in that story Bil’am’s status as a true prophet, and his willingness to be guided by truth rather than prejudice (and of course a little help from a recalcitrant talking donkey) resulted in the curse being turned upside through the famous words “Mah tovu ohelecha Ya’akov, mishknotecha Yisrael – how goodly are your tents O Jacob, your dwellings O Israel!”
This week’s parsha though doesn’t end so well. In the beginning of Parshat Shemot we learn: “vayakom melech chadash al mitsrayim asher lo yadah et Yosef — a new king arose over Egypt who knew not Joseph.” Although he didn’t know Joseph, he nonetheless feared him, or at least his descendants. He was afraid that b’nei yisrael would grow too numerous to be contained, using scant Egyptian resources, and might ultimately rise up against him. And so, Pharaoh devised a plan to safeguard against this contingency — a plan in essence to rid his lands of dangerous immigrants. A little too resonant, perhaps?
The flip side of fear of the unknown is sometimes inaction in the face of injustice. This too is something that our recent parshiyot speak about. Last week, we read Parshat Vayechi, which is the only parsha that starts with no break before it in the written text, a situation known as “setuma” meaning closed off. Some commentators argue that the reason for this status in the written Torah is that it represents the way in which the Children of Israel were closed off, or perhaps blinded to the truth of slavery whose insidious effects begin in this week’s parsha.
Not only do we have to try to remain vigilant in the face of injustice, but we also have to protest against injustice when we experience it. This value is seen this week in the midwives Shifrah and Puah. Rather than openly opposing Pharoah’s decree to kill the sons of Israel, they worked within the system, pretending to go along with him but actually helping Jewish mothers to deliver healthy male and female babies, and to keep them alive. In this way, they became part of the solution, not simply opposing the problem.
In my opinion, these two responses to uncertainty, remaining fearless and open minded in the face of the unknown, but protesting that which we see as injustice, are central to our mission as Jews and Americans. In the days and years to come, may we all be blessed to keep our eyes and hearts open in equal measure.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rav-Hazzan Scott M. Sokol, PhD
Head of School- MWJDS