Shemot - Exodus 1:1-6:1
18 Tevet 5771 – December 25, 2010
Rabbi Daniela Szuster
B´nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica
DON’T SAVE YOURSELF
Don’t remain immobile
On the edge of the road
Don’t freeze the joy
Don’t love with reluctance
Don’t save yourself now
or ever
Don’t save yourself
On the edge of the road
Don’t freeze the joy
Don’t love with reluctance
Don’t save yourself now
or ever
Don’t save yourself
Don’t fill with calm
Don’t reserve of the world
Just a calm place
Don’t let your lids fall
Heavy as trial
Don’t reserve of the world
Just a calm place
Don’t let your lids fall
Heavy as trial
Don’t speak without lips
Don’t fall asleep without sleepiness
Don’t imagine yourself without blood
Don’t judge yourself without time…[1]
Don’t fall asleep without sleepiness
Don’t imagine yourself without blood
Don’t judge yourself without time…[1]
(Mario Benedetti)
This Shabbat we start reading the book of Shemot, second book of the Torah. In this parashah, we are told –among other things– of the birth of our leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, and about the slavery in Egypt of the people of Israel. As you will remember, Moses was born and survived thanks to a miracle, seeing that Pharaoh had decreed the death of all Hebrew babies. The daughter of the Egyptian ruler rescued and adopted Moses, and thus, he grew up at Pharaoh’s palace.
One morning he went for a walk and was surprised to see how an Egyptian hit a Hebrew. Moses, without hesitating, defended the Hebrew, beating up the Egyptian. He didn’t think of his position (save himself); he was not indifferent to human pain, but rather tried to do justice. In fact, the text tells us about Moses’ attitude: Vayar besivlotam, “observed their burdens” (Shemot 2:11). He could have seen only slaves, he could have seen what happened on a daily basis; however, he was able to see human suffering. How often do we walk our streets and don’t see our neighbor’s pain!
When Pharaoh found out about this and other similar incidents, he ordered his death. The text tells us that Moses escaped and fled to Midyan. A second courageous incident happened there. It is written in the Torah: “The minister of Midyan had seven daughters; they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's sheep. The shepherds came and drove them away. Moshe got up and saved them and watered their sheep” (2:16-17). Moses could have turned his head the other way, but nevertheless, although he was a stranger to that place, he stood up and didn’t think to avoid danger (save himself). Instead, he saved those wounded women.
In both episodes, our leader was risking his life so that there would be justice and nobody was discriminated against. Being as he was an adopted grandson of Pharaoh, he could have obtained an important job within the Egyptian court. But he didn’t mind losing that opportunity; he didn’t save himself, seeing that others would not be saved.
In this sense, the meaning that the Torah awards to Moses’ name is interesting: ki min-hamayim meshitihu, “For I drew him from the water” (2:10). Moses was saved from the danger of the river. Perhaps because he was saved, he was able to save others. And he will be the one who will save his people, taking them out –with God’s hand– from slavery.
This teaches us that no one saves others unless they are raised along that path. It is important to teach children, at an early age, to listen to the cry of those who suffer, even to silent cries. “Don’t save yourself”, says the poem; Moses didn’t save himself, but rather saved his fellow men in times of distress.
How do we conduct ourselves? What do we do when we see an Egyptian beating up a Hebrew? What do we do when shepherds take advantage of their strength and force young girls who just want to draw water from a well?
How often do we keep silent, despite our having mouths; feign deafness, despite our having ears? We have hands, but we don’t help. We have feet, but we remain immobile on the edge of the road.”
The great leader of our people, like Mario Benedetti’s poem, exhorts us: Don’t save yourself, don’t remain immobile on the edge of the road […] Don’t save yourself, don’t fill with calm, don’t reserve of the world just a calm place.”
Shabbat Shalom!
