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 One of the amazing features of man is his ability to adapt to practically any and all situations. When facing tragedy one often feels that one can no longer go on. Yet the successful lives that so many holocaust survivors have built testify to the ability, even need, to move forward notwithstanding that so much has been forever lost. Financial ruin, divorce, death of close ones are unable to deter man or woman from moving forward and making the best of his or her situation. Those who can not move on are doomed to a life of pain and misery. Yet this ability to accept our fate has its negative side. We all too willingly accept the world as is and spend little effort in changing it. People who move to a big city and experience violent crime are often shocked and determined to fight back. Yet more often than not this initial feeling is turned to resignation and one learns what areas are to be avoided for personal safety. We unfortunately have the ability to tolerate the intolerable.
While the Jewish people were welcomed with open arms to Egypt (and many other countries throughout our history) after a few years of tranquility Jewish life started to become very difficult (as it has in so many of the countries that Jews have inhabited over time). Taxes, hard labor, even murder. Yet amazingly the Jews accepted their new position rather calmly. Nary a word of protest by the Jews is described by the Torah. Yes, after the death of Pharaoh "the Israelites were still groaning because of their subjugation" ( 2:23) but only "G-d heard their cries". There was no public manifestation of their desire for change, just resignation to their situation. When word of the mission of Moshe and Aharon reached the slaves "they believed", yet they did not act on that belief and their miserable conditions continued. And when Moshe's first meeting with Pharaoh (at Camp David?) ended in failure the Jewish people blamed not Pharaoh but Moshe for their increased troubles. "You have destroyed our reputation with Pharaoh and his advisors. You have placed a sword to kill us in their hands" (5:21). They had become so accepting of their condition that those who tried to improve it were viewed as the enemy.
"Therefore, G-d tells Moshe, say to the Israelites in my name, I am G-d, I will take you away form your forced labor in Egypt ( Sivlot Mitzraim ) and free you from their slavery. I will liberate you. and I will be to you as a G-d, You will know that I am G-d your Lord. I will bring you to the land (6:6-8)." The word sivlot come from the same root as savlanut meaning patience, acquiescence. The tragedy of Egypt was that the Jews accepted their situation, they were in no hurry to actively change it. G-d therefore had to first and foremost remove those Sivlot . Only when we are unwilling to tolerate the terrible can we be liberated. Only when we fight for positive change will be able to accept G-d as our Lord. Only when we are determined to continue working despite the inevitable setbacks can we inherit the land. While we may be physically free the sivlot mitzraim hold their grip on so many. So many of us have learned all to well to accept our fate but have yet to learn that we must and can change our fate and that of the world around us. We just have to try. Shabbat Shalom!
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