A BISSEL TORAH: MIKETZ: THE MODERN LAMENTATION
By: Suri Davis
A couple of weeks ago, in the New York Times Book Review section, the cover had a review of five books written about Judaism in America. The reviewer was Gal Beckerman, and the article, entitled, LAMENTATIONS, was riveting.
On the heels of increasing anti-semitism in America, Gal’s thesis is that it is not anti-semitism, the hatred of Jews, that will fundamentally end Judaism in America, but the LOVE of Jews. You see, a Pew Study reveals that Jews are one of the most loved minorities in America, a fact supported by an ASTOUNDING 72% of Jews in America intermarry. And this assimilation was the core raison detre of our Greek rulers thousands of years ago forcing the Jews to assimilate.
Unlike Purim, where the Persians wanted to physically annihilate the Jews, Chanukkah celebrates the inability of Greek rulers to force Jews to assimilate.
In this week’s torah portion, we have Joseph who is stuck in a jail in Egypt under false pretenses. He asks his jail mates who are about to be brought before the king to remember him and ask for his freedom. They fail him and he remains in jail until he is freed for his ability to interpret dreams. He then tells Pharaoh that there will be seven years of famine coming, and Pharaoh wants guidance as to how to weather these years of famine. Joseph tells him that there should be a tax on grains and for the seven years of plenty that will precede the famine years, the grains should be warehoused to reserve for the famine years. Pharaoh appoint Joseph to oversee the program. It works.
This is a pivotal moment in history. Joseph saves Egypt and the entire surrounding area from famine. This should remain in the annals of history of all time. Yet a generation later, we learn in a couple of weeks in the Torah portion of Exodus, that a new Pharaoh rises to the crown who “doesn’t know Joseph,” what Joseph did for the Egyptians is forgotten, and the Jews are enslaved for 200 years with brutal work.
While anti-semitism is frightening, we are our own undoing, it appears. The message of Chanukkah and of current events is clear, Yisrael b’tach b’Hashem, ezram umaginam hu/Israel believes in G-d, He is their shield and security.
When Joseph relied on his jail mate the baker and the sommelier, they failed him. When G-d was ready to put Joseph “in play” and actualize his potential in the world theatre, Joseph was redeemed. It would have been easy for Joseph to assimilate into Egyptian society, but we learn he kept the Jewish laws meticulously.
The Macabbees were few in number, they relied on no allies and they defeated the powerful Greek army. They believed in G-d, they moved forward and they prevailed. They stood up against assimilation, and this is core Chanukkah.
We have survived for millennia not by the grace of any man, nation or army, but by G-d’s will alone. G-d provides us with miracles for surviving our enemies. He also provides us with the wisdom to counter the threat of assimilation, the enemy from within.
We are a pluralistic nation. We support the right for human beings to live and let live. It is not part of our religion to proselytize, and ask those who are not Jews to become Jews. But we have to protect our identity. We are a light unto all nations, because we keep our laws, our boundaries and our ethical posture.
Gal Beckerman, Lamentations indeed. What G-d would not permit the Greek army to do to us, we are doing to ourselves. Reaching out to all Jews is our hope for the future. Love of Judaism and how it is relevant today, approaching all Jews on whatever playing field they are on, especially on campus, requires intelligent ambassadors of Judaism who can grab hold of the young nowadays, as our previous generational leaders, like Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach grabbed on tight to prevent Jews from the claws of cults in the 70s.
72% intermarry…lamentations. We in America, are handing the Greeks a belated victory.
The Lubavitch Rebbe was a Renaissance man in his day, reaching out to Jews through any and all media to spread the word and LOVE of Torah to any Jew on this Earth. We are all ambassadors of Judaism, grab a Jew, and hold on tight…each soul is our future.
Chag Sameach.
-Suri