barrykind
Advanced Member
Member # 35
|
posted
As we start the year 2009, our mood seems to be more nervous apprehension than eager anticipation. A vague sense of disquiet permeates the festivities.
Maybe, just maybe, that could be a good thing.
Ancient Jewish wisdom teaches that the physical realities of the world in which we live provide vital clues to spiritual realities. For instance, internal and external locations of the reproductive organs of both sexes reveal important distinctions between the spiritual nature of men and women.
This is why we should not ignore a crucial spiritual clue we gain from an amazing fact about child birth.
Immediately after a baby’s birth, doctors perform an assessment of the newborn’s health. Medical personnel rate the baby’s respiration, heartbeat, appearance, and other factors. This is done in order to determine whether any intervention is required.
Now this will amaze you. A baby born by caesarean section is expected to score significantly lower than one who arrived through the birth canal.
It should be just the opposite! The natural childbirth process squeezes and pushes the infant in ways that some child welfare activists would outlaw if they could. However, the child born through caesarean section is spared that entire trauma.
The spiritual insight we get from childbirth is that we humans often get stronger from adversity. I hate to quote the slightly bizarre nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche but he did make two interesting observations.
In what has become a well known phrase, he noted “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Later, recognizing the centuries of persecution and oppression to which European Jews had been subjected, he made an astounding assertion: “….The Jews, however, are beyond any doubt the strongest toughest and purest race now living in Europe.” (Beyond Good and Evil, 1886) The Jews, says Nietzsche, were strengthened by adversity.
Before Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin developed the polio vaccine in the middle of the twentieth century, the disease was the most dreaded childhood scourge in America. One of its peculiarities was that it struck upper class families disproportionately. Doctors theorized that the tougher, less hygienic existence of poor people offered them a degree of immunity. We see once again that adversity can help to produce strength.
Now bear with me for a moment as we contemplate the horrors of slavery that the Hebrews endured in Egypt. The book of Exodus offers graphic descriptions. They were oppressed and enslaved. Their baby boys were murdered. They were beaten and tortured and their families were decimated.
All of which makes the following Torah verse utterly incomprehensible.
You shall not abhor the Egyptian because you were a stranger in his land. (Deuteronomy 23:8)
Excuse me! We Hebrews did not exactly choose to be a stranger in his land, and while we were there he was a pretty appalling host. Yet we owe the Egyptian a courtesy? How can this be?
Ancient Jewish wisdom provides the answer. Egypt was the womb of the nation of Israel. It was in that tough and harsh environment that a nation grew which later was able to endure the travails of birth—the Exodus. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word for Egypt—Mitzrayim—actually means narrow and constricted passage way, just like a birth canal.
So yes, Jews may not abhor the Egyptian even until today because over three thousand years ago, the Jewish nation was forged within his. He may not have meant well, but he did the Jews a favor nonetheless. He surrounded them with challenge and adversity which forged the strength that would allow them to survive for millennia. An eternal people.
Everyone can picture a man who grew up in utter poverty but eventually became wealthy. He now drives his grandchildren to their school in his limousine. After school he picks them up and gives them money to spend at the mall. Is he doing them a favor?
I wish you a 2009 of health and prosperity. If it is a tougher year, do not be fearful. Embrace the adversity and cherish the challenge. It can make you stronger and bring you success.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin
--------------------
The HEART of the issue is truly the issue of the HEART!
John 3:3;Mark 8:34-38;James 1:27
Posts: 3529 | From: Orange, Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged | 
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
