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Religion
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Pharaoh’s final solution – stifle the children
A wealthy businessman presented his nephew with a siddur for his Barmitzvah, and the nephew was most disappointed. From his rich uncle, he was hoping for a substantial monetary gift. When the uncle passed away, in his will he had left a note for his nephew saying, “I know he is disappointed with my Barmitzvah gift. Otherwise, he would have opened it and cashed the $1000 check inside.”
I know this sounds cynical as many Barmitzvah boys have indeed made genuine transitions to maturity and earnestness. The sad reality, though, is that your average Barmitzvah boy is only too pleased to be done with his work and preparation and isn’t necessarily back in shul next Shabbat.
Sad indeed. Because Jewish people are utterly dependent on the next generation taking their place in our ongoing destiny. And if they don’t, who will?
This week, we read in parshat Bo of a fascinating conversation between Moses and Pharaoh. It’s after the first seven plagues have struck Egypt, and Pharaoh’s servants are urging him to let the Israelites go before all of Egypt is lost.
So Pharaoh calls back Moses and Aaron, and says to them, “Go and serve the L-rd your G-d. Who exactly will be going?”
And Moses tells him they are all going. “With our youngsters and our elders shall we go; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and our cattle shall we go.”
Let me paraphrase Pharaoh’s reply.
No way, Moses! Don’t be ridiculous! There’s not a chance that I will allow the children to go. You may take the adult males. Now, get out of here!”
Indeed, Pharaoh and every antisemite in history has known that our children are the key to our survival. Stop the children from participating in Jewish life, and you will suffocate the growth of our people.
During the bad old days in Communist Russia, Stalin and his successors closed Jewish schools, yeshivas, and Talmud Torahs. Many religious teachers were arrested, imprisoned, and even executed. My wife’s own grandfather was a mohel. One day, he was taken away by the Soviet police and never seen again.
Yes, they allowed the big shul in Moscow to remain open as a photo opportunity for foreign visitors. But who was there? Ten old men who made a minyan! That was no threat to the atheist authorities. The old men would soon die out. But a school for children? Out of the question!
Sadly, they were successful in destroying Jewish life, which is only now being revived and rebuilt.
Pharaoh may have been the first, but he certainly wasn’t the last of our enemies who knew that if you stop children from learning about Judaism, you’ll wipe out any hope for a Jewish future.
I make no apologies for promoting Jewish schools. And the more Jewish the better. We need the next generation to open the siddur and know how to use it.
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Mark Alcock
February 10, 2025 at 10:36 am
And Moses tells him they are all going. “With our youngsters and our elders shall we go; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and our cattle shall we go.”
This revealing non-negotiable statement above, separates the Jewish people as one big united family who cared for every member ,who lived and relived the Torah ,and enlightened others too, forevermore .
The non -Jew unfortunately is divided and thus doesnt experience the Bible the same holistic and enriching way .