A New King in Egypt

"Now there arose a new king in Egypt
who knew not Yosef."
(Exodus 1:8)

Tevet 25, 5766/January 25, 2006



With these words from the eighth verse of the book of Exodus a new and troubling chapter opens in the life of the nation of Israel. Yet this seemingly simple statement begs many a question: How could any Egyptian, let alone the king, forget Yosef, the Hebrew that just a generation before had literally saved the entire nation of Egypt, while all the while heaping more glory upon Pharaoh, and pointing to the One G-d as the hidden guiding force behind all existence? Was this really a "new king" or was it the same old king, making himself over as part of a well thought out political machination? Did he truly "not know Yosef" or was he committing a self imposed amnesia upon himself? And if so, what, in his eyes, did he have to gain from acting as if he had never met the giant that saved his people and saved his throne?

Perhaps, as Yosef himself might have responded, the answer to all these questions is one. The Jewish people has preserved an oral tradition of commentaries - explanations and perspectives - that has been archived in the many books that line our shelves. But we also are witness to an oral tradition that is written in the days of our lives and the history of our nation. When we teach that the Torah has relevance to the events transpiring in the land of Israel today, we are also stating that these very current events can shed a new and instructive light on the Torah itself. Yes, the news evolving in Israel today is eerily reminiscent of the above quoted verse: "Now there arose a new king in Egypt who knew not Yosef." The democratic nation of Israel today, at this very moment, is being ruled by a political faction that did not exist the last time a vote was cast in the land. And this political faction, and indeed, the nation itself, is being run by an acting Prime Minister that was never elected, in fact was never an option, to lead the nation. But lead the nation he is - against its own people; against its own brethren. A new king has arisen in Israel that knows not Yosef!

Here would seem to be revealed the answer to our question above: Yes, we have a new king - not a prime minister, but an acting prime minister - who is not a new king at all. In fact he has never even been elected! He hasn't forgotten his brethren, the decent and selfless Jews who have settled the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria - he has chosen to estrange himself from Yosef; to throw him in the pit; to abandon him to his bloodthirsty enemies. He - the acting Prime Minister - along with the scheming brothers of his "Kadima" party, have chosen to literally strip Yosef of his protective coat and to cast him to the mercy of a merciless enemy. No doubt he will wipe his hands clean, present a blood soaked garment, and with an eloquence most deep and distinguished, pronounce to an unsuspecting world, "alas, our brother is no more, torn to pieces by a bloodthirsty beast."

In this week's Temple Talk, Rabbi Richman - back from his fortnight in the USA, and Yitzchak Reuven, discuss these Torah issues. In an interview with Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith, the mayor of the Samarian frontier community of Itamar, we learn of the evil calculations the acting Prime Minister is methodically plotting against the very lives of the men, women and children of Itamar. Rabbis Richman and Goldsmith discuss what is behind this inexplicable turn of events: not the political calculus, but the spiritual calculus that is being played out, hopefully, we believe, not as a cruel replay of distant historical events, but as a stage in the unfolding redemption of the people of Israel.

Also discussed in Temple Talk is the figure of Moshe Rabbeinu - Moses our Master. We learn of Miriam and Yitro, and the crucial roles they played in the Children of Israel's future march to freedom. We learn of the mysterious staff that passed from the hand of Adam Harishon - the first man - from generation to generation, until it was taken by Yitro from the courtyard of Pharaoh, and planted in his garden in the land of Midian, where Moshe plucked it, earning himself both Yitro's daughter Tsippora, and the very staff with which he would split the Sea of Reeds.

Also discussed is Rabbi Richman's spiritual journey throughout the United States these past two weeks, the season of the year called shovevim, and yes - special mention of the legend of King Arthur! All this, and more, in this week's Temple Talk.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the proud pioneering community of Itamar, or to contact Rabbi Goldsmith, can do so by clicking on Itamar.

Special: Our colleague from Arutz Sheva, Yishai Fleisher, would like to remind each and every Jew living outside the land of Israel that it is a Jewish imperative to pick up stakes today, and make aliyah! If you have not yet purchased your ticket, or you are still uncertain, or especially if you have never considered it, please have a look at this online flash feature : Aliyah Revolution

With blessings of deliverance,

Yitzchak Reuven

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500