As we celebrate Passover this week, marking the exodus of the enslaved Jews from Egypt, I am reminded of something astounding and rarely mentioned: According to the medieval Torah scholar Rashi, only 20% of Jews actually left Egypt, meaning 80% of Jews stayed put. Yes, the vast majority chose to remain enslaved.
That 80% became assimilated and perished in the darkness, a footnote in history. Now it’s easy to say, they made a bad choice.
Of course, change is difficult. Following a cranky old guy, Moses, without much of a plan based on God’s promises sure seems kind of risky. Waze would have never approved of the route God had in mind for leaving Egypt. Plagues and all, better to stay behind and not rock the boat, even if it meant remaining in bondage, so reasoned the masses.
Fast-forward to today, and it reminds me that some reports indicate that about 80% of Jews in the United States voted for Kamala Harris as president. Hmm?
Before continuing, let me be clear: This is not a political rant. Instead, this is a rant on self-survival, same as the Jews faced in Egypt.
I look forward to the day when Democrats give me a credible choice to vote Democrat again. I look forward to the day when being a “Zionist” is a positive part of the Democrats’ lexicon, as it should be.
But the truth of the matter is that even after the atrocities on Oct. 7, Dayenu. Even after babies were beheaded, Dayenu. Even after young people were butchered attending a music concert, Dayenu. Even after Holocaust survivors were murdered, Dayenu. Even after women raped, Dayenu. Even after hostages were taken and not released—Dayenu. Even after Jewish kids are targeted and attacked on college campuses, Dayenu. Even after 19 Democratic senators (three of whom are Jewish voted against supplying Israel with weapons, Dayenu. Even after “liberal” groups condemn all Jews as “oppressors,” Dayenu … and yet many Jews remain unswayed and unwavering Democrats.
Sorry, but those Jews would have stayed behind in Egypt. I am convinced that had today’s mainstream Jewish groups been leading Jews back in the day in Egypt, they would have advocated to stay put. They’d be part of the 80%.
They’d earnestly explain how they’re “working quietly behind the scenes” with Pharaoh to make things better for the enslaved Jews. Instead of focusing on Jewish freedom, they’d be focusing on slowing the pace of Jewish destruction.
These mainstream Jewish groups issue milquetoast statements condemning antisemitism and ostensibly supporting Israel, but they are part of the 80%, and their statements ring hollow. Too much of their speech and more so their conduct are centered on the “but.” Yes, we support Israel, but …
Spare me the “but.” When babies are being beheaded and college students attacked, there is no room for “but.” Your claimed nuance is folly or worse.
The examples are sadly plentiful. In Chicago, an Orthodox Jewish man walking to synagogue on a Saturday morning for Shabbat services was shot by a Muslim man shouting Allahu Akbar, “God is great” in Arabic, who then proceeded to get in a gun battle with police. In response, some of Chicago’s Jewish “leadership” initially wouldn’t even call it a hate crime, saying only that there’s been an “uptick” in antisemitism.
Similarly, Jewish college students are attacked in broad daylight at DePaul University in Chicago, and there’s nary a word from organized Jewish leadership. Ho hum. If you ask them, they’ll likely give you the old refrain that they’re working quietly behind the scenes. They’re working so well that antisemitism is off the charts.
It reminds me of a comical headline in the old satirical newspaper The Onion: “ACLU defends KKK’s right to burn down ACLU.” And so it goes with too many mainstream Jewish organizations, they are more interested in not offending others and staying true to liberal orthodoxy than defending Jews and Israel.
By trying to be all things to all people, the only thing our mainstream Jewish groups, including many synagogues, have done is fail the Jewish people. They are, thankfully, becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Put bluntly, if it’s hard to say “We support Israel” without equivocation, then you are not a leader and you have failed. In my book, you remained behind in Egypt, advising others to do the same.
All said, this Passover teaches me that if there is to remain a Jewish people, the Jewish people need more people like Moses—contrarian, unapologetic, fearless and principled leaders.