EVERY MAN DID WHAT WAS
PROPER IN HIS OWN EYES
In this week’s Parsha, Israel is surrounded, with the Sea of Reeds in front and the Egyptians behind. They had thought they were free, but suddenly, Paro’s forces thundered up behind them.
They were trapped! There was no place to go! And the people were petrified.
My friends, I would say this is our situation today. We think we are free, but even now our enemies are plotting our destruction. The Chofetz Chaim said that the events at the end of history will parallel the events of Yetzias Mitzraim, which means that we can expect this.
Last week in Yerushalayim there was a demonstration which tied up the entire center of the City. Nebach, during this demonstration Yidden were killed and injured. I am not going to speak about the purpose of the demonstration; I am not judging anyone. But what about the result of the demonstration?
Every demonstration generates hatred. People are sitting in their car for an hour and they are boiling in anger. Against whom? Against their own brothers! They are trapped! The inevitable result is terrible frustration leading even to rage. When the demonstrators are religious, the anger goes against them and it goes against the Torah which they apparently represent.
Do I have to remind you what preceded October 7, 2023? Demonstrations throughout Israel tore at the very fabric of our nation. It was Jew against Jew. We were embarrassed throughout the world and our Torah was embarrassed.
The reaction was mida keneged mida. At that very moment a fire of hatred was ignited in our enemies’ hearts. As I have discussed in the last few weeks, this is the story of our Golus, which began with the brothers’ sale of Yosef. This internal hatred resulted in the death of the Ten Martyrs, the Churban Bayis Shaini and our entire unbearable Exile leading up the Third Reich and beyond.
Do you think it’s over?
Just last week in Miami – Miami, Florida! -- they were shouting “Heil Hitler!”
An Israeli recently said to me, “Israelis don’t like it when Americans come here and speak English. They look down on them.” My friends, how can a Jew speak like that?
So he speaks English! Welcome him with open arms!
The father of the Klausenbeger Rebbe zt”l told his son, “I had such illustrious forebears and this is how I look … I have so much to be embarrassed about!” (Klausenberger Rebbe, Artscroll/Mesorah) This is how a holy Jew speaks! How can one Jew look down on another?
If you want to look down on someone, look down on yourself and do teshuva!
Last week, Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein Shlita”h was quoted as saying that it is forbidden to blame others for recent tragedies. “Rather, one must know that everything is from Shomayim, and we [must not look to] blame others. Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants to awaken us so that we will come to our senses and do teshuvah. Therefore, everyone needs to examine his deeds and think about why Hashem did this to this land and what this great fierce anger is.” (Yeshiva World News)
My friends, the Torah tells us that, in the Days of Judges, “there was no king in Israel. A man would do whatever seemed proper in his eyes.” (Shoftim 21:25) What does the Torah expect of us?
With respect, I would like to suggest that we contemplate Rabbi Zilberstein’s words and “examine our deeds.” It is not the other one’s fault. We say on Yom Kippur, “Chatassi!” That is the secret of our redemption. We don’t say, “it’s his fault.” We say “It’s my fault! I am the one who needs to improve my deeds. I am the one who needs to be a better Jew. I am the one who needs to control my anger and my jealousy and my ego.”
This is not an exaggeration; this is life and death. If indeed we would calm down and start giving honor and respect to our brother Yid, then we would find that the anger of the surrounding nations would suddenly disappear.
Look in our current Parsha! When the Children of Israel were surrounded at the Sea of Reeds, shaking with fright, Moshe Rabbeinu said to them these amazing words which ring down through the ages: “Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of Hashem that He will perform for you today!”
Yes, my friends, that is what we can expect. At the very moment when destruction looms, at that very moment we can come to our senses and call out to Hashem, “Ana, Hashem, hoshia na … Please Hashem, save us!” And, if we are true brothers and sisters who love each other, then Hashem will suddenly reveal our King and build the Bais Hamikdosh in front of our eyes and we will be saved!
May we see it soon in our days!
Street Demonstration
GLOSSARY
Bais Hamikdosh: The Holy Temple
Chatassi: “We have sinned”
Churban Bayis Shaini: the destruction of the Second Temple
Golus: Exile of the Jewish People
Hakadosh Baruch Hu: G-d
Mida keneged mida: the reaction is consistent with the cause
Paro: Pharaoh, the king of Egypt
Teshuva: repentance
Yetzias Mitzraim: the exodus from Egypt
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