The elation and jubilance generated
by the Jewish people’s redemption from slavery, can often onscure the tragedy
of all those who perished in the plague of darkness. Rashi tells us that the reason this particular
affliction was chosen, was to hide from the Egyptians the shame of those Jews
that were slain at that time due to their being unworthy of being released from
their servitude. In truth though we know
that the Jewish people were at a very low level in general. The Angels on High in
fact came before Hashem and questioned what distinction there was between the
Egyptians and the Jews, both being equally guilty of idol worship. So what was the distinguishing factor that
meant some survived the plague of darkness, whilst others never merited to
witness the exodus?
One way to understand this, given by
R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky zt’l, was that the disparity lay not in their actions, but
solely in their beliefs. Whereas one
faction of the nation believed wholeheartedly in Moshe’s foretelling of imminent
salvation, the other questioned its veracity due to a calculation indicating
they were not yet due to be released from exile. This is interesting for a number of reasons,
but R’ Yaakov highlights an amazing facet of this episode, the fact that from
the point of view of those experiencing this decimation of their brethren,
there appeared to be no outward difference whatsoever between those who lived and
those who died.
Life is full of unanswerable
questions. This is the very nature of
this world, where truth is clouded by ignorance, and the infinite is ungraspable
to our finite minds. This is not a
question against the truth of our belief, but a necessary part of believing in
a divine and unlimited G-d who can create ex-nihilo, transform the laws of
nature on a whim and Who possesses boundless power to do whatever He
wills. How could a creation as limited
as we are hope to comprehend such Power or indeed His workings? But just as there was absolute purpose in
Hashem’s dispensation of life to those Jews deemed worthy in Egypt (even if we
cannot truly fathom even this) so too everything that happens is with a clear
and entirely essential objective. We
will never understand everything that happens, but the sooner we recognise that
this is how things must be, the sooner we can live with all that is.
May Shabbos grant us clarity.
לעילוי נשמת לאה
בת אברהם
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