Jan 22/05 — Shabbat Beshallach

Commentary by Chazzan Aníbal Mass

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through Philistine country, though that was closer. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Ex. 13:17)

- - -

As a result of the ten plagues, Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt. Two hundred and ten years of dwelling there finally came to an end. We would expect that they should have taken the shortest way from Egypt to Canaan. Probably, by that route, the journey would have taken a maximum of 10 days. But the Israelites were not taken that way because “Ki karov hu”, “that was closer”. As a result of that decision the trip took 40 years.

The Midrash explains the meaning of “Ki karov hu” with a parable: “This is similar to a King who wants to bestow his young son with a valuable piece of real estate. “If I give this important present now while my son is a little boy, he won’t be able to preserve it or appreciate it; so I will provide him with an appropriate education and when he’s ready to appreciate the importance of what I want to give him, he’ll receive it”. (Midrash Rabbah, Shemot 20)

This comment has a very deep message. Going through the land of the Philistines would have caused a war against an experienced, well trained and well equipped army and probably the dreams of the Israelites would have vanished quickly. They didn’t have all the necessary "ingredients" to become a Nation. The degradation they suffered in Egypt almost destroyed their spirit, and, although they were physically free, they weren’t “truly free”. In all honesty, they weren’t ready to “fight for an ideal”. Why? Because “Ki karov hu”, they were too close to Egypt, physically and emotionally. It was too soon to be free of the superstition, the despotism, the idolatry, the moral decadence, etc.

The journey to the Promised Land wasn’t easy or brief; it was 40 years of privations, conflicts, disillusionment and several challenges to be overcome before they were ready to inherit the Land of Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. But those hard and difficult 40 years were worthwhile because the Israelites learned values that strengthened their character and motivated them to have the passion and determination to reach their goals.

During those 40 years, they learned the value of freedom. And history repeated itself many centuries after this episode: Our people waited and waited under the long night of the Galut (Diaspora), and the obstacles they had to face didn’t stop them; they served – on the contrary – to fortify the decision and the compromise. The State of Israel wasn’t presented to them on a silver platter.

Our Parashah emphasizes transcendence to avoid the “shorter route” in our Jewish life. This is an invitation to live as Jews committed to all the traditions, rituals, Holidays and wisdom that can help us inherit a life full of meaning.