HaShem brought us out of Egypt with a Mighty Hand and an Outstretched Arm (Deuteronomy 26:8)
PESACH - SEVENTH DAY
Rabbi Yaacov Haber
National Director of Jewish Education
Orthodox Union
One of the most frustrating things
that can befall a rabbi is that, while looking for a good topic for a talk during one
Yomtov, he comes across something suitable for another Yomtov! (This is reminiscent of
that well-known occupational hazard of pulpit rabbis, "trep zikoren", where you
remember a great thought to include in your sermon just as you are coming down the steps
afterwards.)
This happened to me during the past Chol HaMoed, when I found a beautiful idea, connected
with Purim. Well, since I don't think it will last until next Purim, I'll just say it now!
The Sages say that Mordechai was expelled from the Sanhedrin. This is remarkable.
We read in the Megilla of Esther of how he was a tzaddik, and helped to save the Jews in
Persia from extermination, and yet he was expelled from the Sanhedrin! What could he have
done to merit this?
Well, you will recall that King Ahasueras, after his sleepless night, let Mordechai ride
through the streets dressed in royal clothes, with Haman leading him. That was all right,
but the sages infer from the language that Mordechai actually enjoyed the humiliation of
his enemy. And it was felt that one who derives honor from the downfall of his friend (or
enemy) had no place in the Sanhedrin. Let us now turn to Pesach.
The Tur (in Hilchos Pesach) gives two reasons why we do not say "Shehecheyanu"
at Kiddush on the last two evenings of Pesach. The first (and obvious) reason is that it
is not a new festival (unlike the last two days of Succos, which are really new festivals:
Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah).
But there is another, deeper reason. On the last two days, we commemorate our crossing of
the Red Sea, when the Egyptians, G-d's creatures, were drowned. This should mute our
rejoicing. That is also one of the reasons given for saying a shorter Hallel on these last
days of Pesach.
Now let us turn to a current event. I don't usually talk about current events in droshas,
but there is one that seems very relevant here.
We have been reading about the accident at a nuclear power plant in Russia. So far there
have been, it seems, two thousand deaths, and the long term effects from radiation
poisoning can hardly be imagined. Yet when people talk about this, I can often detect a
certain glee. They won't admit this, but it's there. And I suppose it's understandable,
since the Russians are always making trouble, being aggressive, and so on. But these
people who are suffering are G-d's creatures! They are no worse than Haman or the
Egyptians! And we should not derive satisfaction from their troubles.
Finally, let us turn to Moses. It is said that when he sang the Song of Praise by the Red
Sea (Exod. 15: 1-18), which we read today, he had to force the words out of himself. He
was right to sing a song of praise at our deliverance from the Egyptians, but his heart
was heavy, because of the drowning of the Egyptians. There is a well-known midrash, that
the angels came to G-d, asking to be allowed to sing this song as well, and G-d refused,
saying, "How can you rejoice, while My creatures are drowning?"
The Sages said: "Whoever derives honor in the downfall of a friend, has no share in
the world to come." There is a character trait in many of us, to derive pleasure from
someone else's downfall, and we should work to eliminate it. Let us rather strive to share
our neighbor's burdens, and rejoice in his triumphs.
Pesach Kasher VeSameach!!
"A tree of life for those who embrace it"
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