A word of Torah:
Though I normally use this space to discuss the upcoming Torah portion, instead I am struck by a teaching of the 19th century Hasidic master known as the Sefat Emet, as I think about the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. The Sefat Emet focuses on a verse in Exodus that refers to the erev rav, the mixed multitude who joined the Israelites as they fled Egypt. (Ex. 12:38). These were Egyptians who saw the evil of enslaving the Israelites and decided to leave Mitzrayim/Egypt behind. The redemption of Egypt was a clarifying moment for both the Israelites and the Egyptians. Both began to see the importance of justice and the need to act. The Sefat Emet makes this comment on the Torah portion of Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, who also comes to join with the Israelites. He too sees the light of the Exodus and in that way is like the Egyptians who joined the Israelites on a journey toward freedom.
In America, we have been living with a plague of darkness over our land. Like the plague of darkness in Egypt, it became manifest when people were no longer able to see their fellow human beings standing right next to them. In the biblical text, we are told that where the Israelites lived there was light because, despite the darkness of slavery they struggled for freedom, despite the darkness of slavery they could see the light illuminating the way ahead, freeing them—and thereby freeing Egypt from an economy built by slave labor.
On the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, we understand his death as a clarifying moment like that of the Exodus. Many who weren't aware or tried to justify or minimize the racism and injustice of this country now see it more clearly. They realize that, while not being people of color and therefore not subject to the “slavery” of racial injustice, they are connected to this oppression. They are like the mixed multitude of ordinary Egyptians who finally understood what the Pharaohs had done to their country. In response to the moment, they joined with the Israelite slaves who were leaving for the promised land and a better future. While they realized that no one can completely understand another’s experience, getting proximate to that experience offers more understanding rather than less. It is true you cannot really walk in someone else’s shoes but you can walk with them on the way.
(based on his commentary on Yitro 5644 bepasuk va-yishma yitro).
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