Timeless Torah

Screams and wails can be heard throughout Egypt. Reports coming in tell of a mysteious plague that struck suddenly at midnight, killing every first born in the land. According to our correspondent at the palace, even the eldest son of Pharoah suffered the same fate. News is also coming in that a very dazed looking Pharoah was wandering the alleys of Goshen...

Although it was already two in the morning, Moses could hear someone impatiently banging at his door.
“Hello. This is the King of Egypt. I am really sorry to be calling at such a late hour, but this is urgent.”
“Your Majesty! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Listen carefully, Moses. I’ve seen what your G-d can do against a stubborn and foolish tyrant. He gave us ample warning, even though we brutally abused His people.”
“Mr. Pharaoh, let’s face it, the actions you’ve taken during the horrible enslavement are illegal under all decent and moral laws designed to protect people...”

“I know I promised that the ‘disengagement’ of the Jews from bondage would proceed. Now it’s going to happen. I’ve asked for an emergency Security Council session of the Egyptian High Command to declare your freedom... so that you may go and reclaim your own land.”

Can you picture a Jewish People today loved and admired by the world at large? An Israel that perennially wins the “Most Admired” prize in international voting?
And yet, this is the challenge and the dream that lies ahead of us. As the verse recalls, “Hashem caused the Jewish People to be viewed favorably by the Egyptians; Moshe too was admired as a great man by the masses and by Pharaoh’s servants.”

One might have expected a different reaction. After all, the ten plagues did decimate Egypt. One would have imagined we would be run of town on a rail. Instead, we were showered with lavish gifts.
So, what was it that changed their view of the Jew? Our defining moment came when we took a lamb, the Egyptian deity, and offer it to the one, true G-d. Tough? Absolutely. But no guts, no glory.
As long as we saw ourselves as a pitiful people, others viewed us likewise. Their pity soon turned to contempt. If we had no self-respect, how could we expect others to respect us?

First, we had to leave the “sivlos Mizrayim,” the tolerance of being mistreated by Egypt. We needed to stand up for ourselves, and conduct ourselves as the Chosen nation, not a slave people. When that occurs we shall be looked up to by the world as a model for for others to admire. It seems so far away. Yet, the longest journey begins with the first step. So stand straight and walk tall, secure in our role as G-d’s “firstborn”, and let us reclaim our national pride and land.