Parshat Bo; Exodus 10:1 -13:16 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger
Parshat Bo is the dramatic moment when Pharaoh finally agrees to let the Children of Israel go free. The conclusion of the 10 plagues is revealed in this week’s portion, dramatically affecting the Pharaoh’s own family, with the final plague-the killing of the first born. Pharaoh’s own child dies as a consequence of his intransigence in acknowledging the sovereignty and power of the Hebrew God. Like most mortals, Pharaoh is only moved by tragedies affecting his own home his own family. His hubris as a leader of Egypt, failed to understand his role as caretaker of the entire nation of Egypt. His stubbornness failed him because he didn’t understand that when one part of his nation suffers so greatly, be it from plague or his own cruelty that the soul of a nation suffers, eating away at society. The Egyptian leader and Pharonic dynasties imagined they were Divine. But this week’s torah portion is a reminder that the Divine dimension is wholly other beyond the realm of humanity.
Pharaoh agrees to let the Children of Israel go out of slavery only when his own household is touched by death. But shortly afterward, he again has a change of heart and mind and pursues the Israelites into the desert—only to meet his own doom in the raging waters that rush over him as the Red Sea closes around him.
The lesson for all of us and particularly for those who are in leadership capacities is that suffering must not be ignored. Injustice and cruelty affect an entire nation. Although the human tendency is to ignore it, pretend it isn’t there. Many only want to face it when it touches their own lives. But part of the Jewish way of being in the world is that our mitzvah system helps us to be more aware. We have holy and sacred rules of behavior that guide us toward creating just societies—where the worker is paid his/her days wages. Where the poor are cared for and the powerless in society (in the Torah characterized as the widow, orphan and alien in our midst) must be looked after by society as a whole.
The obligation is not upon others but upon us.
In our North American society we must become keenly aware of the suffering and cruelty that surround us on a daily basis. If we are to really create a society that meets its dreams that everyone can have a piece of the pie, then we all need to be engaged in the process of transforming society. Public policy must not be left to corporate interests or politicians. It must be in the hands of the public. Homelessness can be solved, the health care crisis can be averted, and economic empowerment of the poor can and must be a priority. But we must set aside the hubris of thought that says this isn’t my problem or Not In My Back Yard.
I hope we can learn before it is too late—that leadership demands humility and the ability to collaborate with others. Leadership demands that we not wait until our own house is affected. From a Jewish perspective leadership also demands that we remember to place the Divine aspect at the core of our work and ask God’s guidance and blessing to direct our efforts to bring healing, justice and hope to others. May this be our call and our prayer.
Posted by Aaron at January 7, 2008 09:35 AM
