The human psyche is complex and multi-layered. We don’t easily get to see or understand someone else’s deepest feelings, or even our own.
The Torah tells us that, while in Egyptian slavery, the Jews suffered sadistic abuse and murder at the hands of their captors. But “G-d saw the children of Israel, and G-d knew;” so G-d sent Moses to save the Jews.
Our Sages point out that the double language of G-d “seeing” and “knowing” the Israelites’ suffering describes two levels of recognition: “G-d saw” the physical abuse, and “G-d knew” the deep emotional scarring and traumatic impact that tormented the Jewish psyche.
The Jews had been living in Egypt as respected citizens. When the abuse began, and especially once any pretense of civility fell away, everyone was able to see the evils being perpetrated.
But, aside from the readily observable, how do you think the Jews really felt? They had been part and parcel of their society. Until they weren’t. They were now ‘other,’ as their Egyptian neighbors and associates watched – some with applause and some in silence – from the sidelines. How did that affect their fundamental faith in humanity?
So, the Torah tells us that “G-d knew.” G-d didn’t only see what was readily observable, G-d understood the torment of the Jewish soul, the emotional disgorging and upheaval of an entire people and all the psychological turbulence that it brought. And G-d sent Moses to speak up.
It’s safe to say this is an emotionally difficult time for Jews in America.
Imagine if - at the turn of this century - I had told you that within 25 years:
- Jewish students wouldn’t feel safe on Ivy League campuses
- Only 4% of elite American academics under 30 would be Jewish
- NYC’s Congressional delegation would be down to one Jewish
Senator and one Jewish Representative.
- Hamas would send thousands of marauders into Israel to murder, behead, rape, mutilate and abduct men, women, and children, from babies to the elderly, while recording many of the atrocities in real time to the open celebration of Palestinians. That the atrocities would be so undeniable that even the NY Times would – 10 weeks late – print a scathing in-depth report. And that, instead of the world finally gasping at the depth of savage hatred being nurtured in the Palestinian community, there would be regular demonstrations – in the U.S. by U.S. citizens – advocating the elimination of Israel.
You would have thought I had gone off a dystopian cliff.
So how are Jews REALLY feeling in our perplexing reality? G-d certainly sees and knows. Do you?
Speak up.