When will we be truly safe and free?
We live in a country that declares that each of us has the inalienable right to be free. Of course, comparing the freedoms we have today with those we had under Paro is quite interesting. But are we as free as we think we are? Are we able to really conquer time and space with the internet, smartphones, tablets and the like? Compared with our ancestors in Mitzraim, for all our relative prosperity, high tech devices, and other modern conveniences that we all enjoy, are we free? Do none of us have any inner demons caused by scars of bad relationships or family pressures? Are we free in our relationships? Are we free of jealousy and anger? Are we free of substance abuse, gambling and other addictions? Are we free or are we all slaves to our situations, things and relationships?
Soon we will begin the Mitzvah of counting the 49 days known as Sefirat Ha’Omer, when the Torah invites each of us on a journey into our innermost soul. While the science of psychology may or may not have come into its own to compete with Jewish spiritualism, Judaism has proven to help us through our daily lives ever since its beginning.
Yes, traditional Judaism wants us to know that there are seven basic emotions that we face during our journey through the human experience. Interestingly, Judaism teaches that the root of enslavement happens when these seven emotions are distorted. As we count the 49 days, seven weeks will pass as we go from Pesach to Shavuot. Each of the seven weeks is dedicated to examining and refining each of the seven emotions. These seven emotional attributes are:
1. Chesed - Loving-kindness
2. Gevurah - Justice and discipline
3. Tiferet - Harmony, compassion
4. Netzach - Endurance
5. Hod - Humility
6. Yesod - Bonding
7. Malchut - Sovereignty, leadership
Imagining how wonderful it would be if, for each of the seven weeks, we took the time to focus on refining one of our emotions. The first week focuses on loving-kindness, the second on justice and discipline, continuing in this manner until Shavuot arrives. By that time, we cannot help but to be better people, and even more ready to accept God’s gift of Torah as was B’nai Yisrael at Sinai.
Soon, we will read the Haggadah at the Seder; the Haggadah introduces us to a horrible person. Who is that? Most of us would answer, “Paro.” The Haggadah tells us that there is someone even worse than Paro. Who could be worse than Paro? Of course, it is the character that I pick on year after year when we read about him in the Torah. It is the character that we read about in the First Book of the Torah, Bereshit, and who lived long before the birth of Moshe. Yes, the person I am speaking about is singled out in the Haggadah as being much worse than Paro! Anyone know? Yes, it is Lavan.
Who is Lavan? Why does the Haggadah say he is worse than Paro? Lavan was Yaakov’s cousin. Yaakov had run to be with Lavan when Yaakov thought his brother, Esav, wanted to kill him for taking the birthright. Lavan promised Yaakov his daughter as a bride; then misled him as to which daughter he could marry; then went ahead to take advantage of Yaakov for the better part of 22 years.
Yes, Lavan was a horrible scoundrel. He certainly was not very nice; but was he worse than Paro? Well, according to the rabbis who codified the Haggadah, he was much worse. Paro tried to destroy the males of B’nai Yisrael. The Haggadah tells us that Lavan was much worse. Lavan tried to “uproot everything.” And he did so in a sinister way.
Lavan, acted in a “white” manner. White is the color of purity, of innocence. Lavan made sure that his public image was one of a kind person, a fair person. No one could see that he wished to harm Yaakov and his family because his appearance was pure. While everyone knew they could not trust Paro, Lavan put on a public frontage that encouraged trust. While Paro announced his desire to destroy Israel through the elimination of the male children, Lavan more cleverly tried to slowly destroy them; not physically, but spiritually.
Lavan knew that the survival of Avraham’s teachings depended on how faithful his lineage was to God. He knew that they had been granted the blessing of “everything,” since it is written, “And God blessed Avraham with everything.” That was because Avraham was faithful to God. Avraham had rejected idolatry and taught his offspring to do the same.
Lavan, on the other hand, was a devout idolater. Yaakov’s belief in God threatened Lavan because those who followed God were held to a higher standard. Idolaters make their gods in their own image; the people make the rules. Lavan’s idolatry was created to support the corruption that made him so successful. Yaakov had proven to be a spiritual threat for Lavan. Lavan had to turn Yaakov’s life upside-down. That is what the Torah means when it says, “Lavan sought to uproot everything.” He looked to uproot Yaakov’s faith, which was the root of everything to follow.
And yet, we Jews do not have a holiday for this struggle. That is because, unlike achieving our freedom from Paro, Lavan’s fight to “uproot everything” still rages on to this very day. The rabbis of the Haggadah introduce Lavan’s attempt to “uproot everything” with the phrase, “go forth and see.” In other words, Lavan’s attempt to “uproot everything” Jewish will continue well into the future.
Lavan’s brand of antisemitism is still a troubling reality in our world today. The spiritual and physical challenges faced not only by the Jewish community but by all who hold faith in God, are as pressing as ever. This is particularly evident on college campuses, where some professors, with their seemingly approachable and polished demeanor, propagate antisemitic ideas, gaining the trust of students. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant and aware. These are challenging times, as history appears to be echoing itself once more.
Hopefully, and soon, antisemitism will end, and we can then enjoy a proper celebration of Pesach in our homes, universities and everywhere we go.
But today, by celebrating Pesach, we are reaffirming our Jewish identity. By celebrating Pesach, we are striking a strong blow against those who would destroy us. And by celebrating Pesach, we are reminding ourselves that it was God, not idols, who gave the entire world the great gift of our unalienable rights; the gift that all people are free. And, yes, it all started when Moshe guided B’nai Yisrael from Mitzraim, to the Land which is once again ours; Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. It’s our land, make no mistake about it. May peace flow through the land and may all our people be safe and free from terror and evil. Amen!
Happy and healthy Pesach!
RABBI RICHARD PERLMAN is Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Ner Tamid of the North Shore, Peabody Massachusetts, and Chaplain, Massachusetts State Police, Peabody Police.
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