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When Enough is Enough: Learning from Moshe to Take Action in the World

01/22/2013 01:03:00 PM

Jan22

Rabbi TaffIt is unfortunately too often that we find ourselves in situations where we witness atrocities; People persecuted and denigrated because of the color of their skin or the religion of which they were born.  I often find myself saying, “I am but one person.”  It continues to bother me and the pain continues to surmount, but a feeling of helplessness and powerlessness runs through my veins.  “But I am only one person,” I say to myself over and over again.  Where can we go for strength?  Who can we turn to, and who can help us find a way to relieve that pain and stand up against all that is wrong ,to try to bring light into the darkness.  What does it take for our feeling of paralysis, to transform into action?

I wish I could go back in time and talk to Moshe Rabeinu.  After growing up in the house of Pharaoh, Moshe steps out of the palace for a breath of fresh air, only to find an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew man.  The Torah teaches us that Moshe looked “co v'cho” and saw that there was no man.  He then struck the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.

Moses, according to what we know, at that point in time, probably did not know that he himself was a Hebrew, yet he felt it necessary to put an end to this punishment, and in the same motion exact punishment upon a member of his so-thought, own kind. 

Sforno (15th C. Italian commentator), notes on this verse,“mitzad achva hitorer la'azor lo,” Moshe's brotherly side awakened to help him. 

The first question one can ask of this explanation is with regard to the assumption that Moshe knew, or realized that it was his brother or a member of his people that was in trouble.  It is possible that at that moment, something awakened in Moshe, jolting him to this realization.  Alternatively, the assumption that Sforno is making; stating that Moshe's concept of brotherhood is awakened, begs the question: Through what determinants does one define brotherhood? Do we define brotherhood by the color of one's skin? One's religion? One's place of origin?  Or, do we define brotherhood through the lens of human existence.  Maybe Sforno is saying something about Moshe's character.  Maybe Sforno is saying that Moshe could not stand idly by while a member of the human race was suffering. 

Rashi (12th Century French commentator) teaches that Moshe knew of the abuse this taskmaster had forced upon Shlomit bat Divrei, the wife of this particular Hebrew man.  The following day when Moshe witnessed the actions of this same taskmaster, Moshe was outraged and thought to himself that this was too much for one person to endure- and this is why Moshe intervened.  Again, we have a comment with regard to the character of Moshe.  Rashi is reinforcing Sforno's point about Moshe caring deeply for humanity, but,  in addition, I think Rashi's comment is pointed towards us.  Rashi is asking all of us to ask ourselves a different question.  What would it take for each of us to take stand?  How much suffering must be endured before we stand up for what we believe in? 

Moshe looked around, saw there was no one there, and acted.  Our tradition teaches us, in Mishnah Avot, “B'makom sh'ayn ish, tishtadel lhiyot ish.” In a place where there is no one responding, do your best to respond.”  We are not being asked to change the world in one day, rather, our tradition demands of us that we aspire to be like Moshe. 

My teacher, Rabbi Shawn Fields-Meyer suggests that “co v'cho” actually means that Moshe looked inside himself before he acted.  Today I ask, that we, all of us, try to dig deep within ourselves, to awaken that which we are passionate about.  Let us internalize this teaching and in our own ways, try and bring light to those dark places in the world.

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784