Today's date and time:

Sermon for Sidra Shemos
January 2009
by Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman

May I first of all mention that on Tuesday night there will be an evening of Inspiration and Prayer, hosted by Newbury Park Shul, starting at 8pm. Rabbi Lister and Rabbi Davis will be speaking, with Prayers led by the local Rabbinate. Please support the evening and do your bit to help the war situation in Gaza.

Anglo-Jewry is to be applauded for the turn out at last Sunday’s Rally in Trafalgar Square in support of Israel. It is at times like this when frenzied hatred against us is so rampant – including the malicious graffiti outside our own Shul on Friday - that the unity of Klal Yisroel is not just precious, but essential. Yet it is tragic and sad that we have Jews rallying against Israel, including the dangerous Neturei Karta, the Independent Jewish Voices and Jews for Justice for the Palestinians. Add to this the letters and statements that go in the press expressing these “distorted” viewpoints – all of which does not help us at all!

But there is something else I want to highlight today, and that is: what on earth does Rabbi Tony Bayfield, head of the Reform Movement, and Rabbi Danny Rich of the Liberal Synagogue, think they are doing in signing a letter sent to The Observer this week? In this letter they were concerned that Israel’s actions could “strengthen the extremists”, whilst casualties threatened to “undermine international support for Israel.” It was also signed by other Reform and Liberal leaders. Do they really think that their carefully crafted letter will not “strengthen the hands of extremists”? Surely they will say: “Ah look at these Jews – even among their own people – they are against Israel.” In Rabbinic literature people like this were called “Moserim” (Informers), and were put in Cherim (excommunication). And by the way, the report on this appeared in the Jewish Chronicle discreetly on page 8!

Add to this, the 78 people of Jewish origin who signed a letter that appeared in the Guardian last Shabbos, comparing Israel’s action to the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto. How evil is that! Read the commentary article in the J.C. against it!

How can the Moshiach come? How can matters improve if we are so embittered and divided?

But we should bear in mind that the early Reform Movement was against all mention in our prayers to the return to Eretz Yisrael, and moreover they were opposed to the rise of modern Zionism. It was only much later that they recognised Israel.

In our Sidra, the Redemption from the slavery in Egypt begins when the Bnei Yisroel are united in the call for freedom. But note it was the initiative and defiance of the few which spark off the revolution.

Firstly, the midwives defy Pharaoh’s decree to kill all males born. And then we read of further defiance: “Vayelech ish …. “ – “A man went from the house of Levi and took a daughter of Levi”, they have a child and that child is then sent to take refuge in a basket in the river. He is watched over by his sister; he is saved by the compassionate daughter of Pharaoh who names him “Mosheh” – he is the one who will become the leader and take them with G-d’s help, from slavery to freedom. He too is defiant - he grows up and goes out to see his brethren, he defends a fellow Jew against an Egyptian whom he kills, but then he discovers the blight of “machlokes”, division amongst his people. He sees two Jews fighting, something that will haunt him during his long period of leadership. He rebukes the guy who then goes to Pharaoh to inform on him, that he had killed an Egyptian – and that is it.

The campaign is over – “finito” – aborted – he is forced to run away and finds refuge in Midian. My friends, what ended his earlier campaign with the possibility of freedom? The Jewish informer! It was then only years later when the old Pharaoh had died, that we read in 2:23-25, that G-d remembered the Israelites and then G-d called upon Moses from the burning bush and eventually G-d told him that his enemies have died, and then he returns to his campaign. If it were not for the informer, the Exodus would have taken place much earlier. All that extra suffering and misery was caused by the “mosser” – the informer!

Our greatest enemy is our own divisiveness and this saddens me greatly. But whereas in the past, when it came to Israel we were on the whole a united people, yes there were always meshugoim and lonely fools, but here in this case we are dealing with prominent members of the Jewish community.

From here we can learn the opposite: a united Jewish people can truly bring about the redemption.

May the time come, and I believe strongly that it will, when once again we will be a united people – “Am Echad Belev Echad” – “One people with one heart”, united by the One G-d. May we cry out in prayer together, united by our sacred mission of Torah and Mitzvos.