Parshat Shemot - Living in a Strange Land
by Rabbi Lobel

All the suffering endured by the Jewish people in Egypt was done "al kiddush Hashem" (sanctifying G-d's name). The Egyptians tormented the Jews for the sole purposes of torture and preventing any retaliation as the verse testifies (Shmos 5:9) "let the work weigh heavier upon the men and let them engage in it." The Medrash Rabba (Shmos 2:5) explains that the bondage of Egypt was the worst of all time. G-d first appeared to Moses out of a thorn bush to symbolize the harshness of the Egyptian slavery; that just like a bird who flies into a thorn bush feels its abrasiveness, so too Israel felt the anguish of the worst subjugation.

The Medrash Tanchuma (Bamidbar, Parshat Behaloscha, chapter 8) has a perplexing commentary regarding the tribe of Levy. The Tanchuma praises the Levites , whom were not subjected to slavery, for maintaining the highest levels of Torah study. Much of the Hebrew population, their spirits broken by the Egyptians, began to resent their heritage. Slowly, the children of Israel became seduced by Egyptian society, disregarded Torah principles, and worshipped other Gods. However, the tribe of Levy remained righteous and constantly labored in Torah study.

Surely, one can praise the tribe of Levy and feel pity for the others, but how does one compare the two? The Levites were dwelling comfortably in Goshen while their brethren were suffering immensely in the fields. The pressures of maintaining quotas for making bricks and mortar came to the point that if one did not make his, quota his children were placed in the walls as punishment (Pirkei Drebbe Eliezer chap 48). How can the Medrash bring praise to the tribe of Levy at the expense of the rest of Israel ?

In order to reconcile the Tanchuma, one has to understand the influence society places on the individual. Imagine, the Israelites were being seduced by the very society that enslaved them and murdered their children. The great-grandchildren of Judah, Joseph, and Benjamin, embraced the values of their tormentors. Yet, the Levites, for whom it would have been easy to adopt Egyptian mores, overcame the lure of Egyptian society. The Tanchuma is testimony to the Levites' dedication to Torah, so great it would have endured all pain, suffering, and external influences. The Tanchuma went to such lengths that it even praised the Levites' commitment to Torah in comparison to the other tribes.

Another insight from the Tanchuma is that societal influence causes one to neglect his religion. It appears Egyptian society caused the rest of Israel to go astray. Bondage alone would not have sufficed.

Being exiled in the western world, we can grasp, just a bit, how much dedication is necessary to wage this internal battle.