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Understanding art

The birth of the Jewish people began with the descendants of Yaakov being subjected to the cruelty and decadence of Pharaoh and the Egyptian society. In fact, that precedent seems to have played a major part in our history as we continued that role during the past two and half thousand years. Why was this necessary? What is the point? If HaShem wants us to be His people should we not be people of might and strength rather than weakness and timidity?

In many pieces of art the image that the artist draws is painted on a background. While the primary idea of the artwork is the image itself, nevertheless the background plays the role of highlighting distinct features of the image. Without the background the image would be lacking.

This week's Parsha, Vaeira, is the image that HaShem, the Painter of history, begins to draw. Last week's Parsha is the background upon which this image will be drawn. Let us therefore focus a moment on the background so that we may recognize the distinction of the image.

Last week we read how the Jewish people grew and developed as the underclass of Egyptian society. They descended from being the underclass to abject slavery and from servitude to victims of genocide. At the same time we read about the total degeneration of Egyptian society from imposing slavery upon us to becoming animals of murder.

On the background we have a mighty nation, the mightiest in its time. At the base of Egyptian culture was materialism. The Midrash identifies Egypt and the root and source of materialism. Enveloped in this mighty materialistic nation we have a subculture of the descendants of Yaakov. This subculture is entirely subjected to the mother nation. They have no leadership within them that might bring them a brighter future. When finally a leader does arise, namely Moshe, he too fails. In fact, the more he does on behalf of his people the more desperate their future becomes. Last week's Parsha concludes with Moshe throwing his arms up in despair expressing this to HaShem; "For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has added even more evildoing to this people and You have not delivered Your people!"

The picture that appears from this background is one of intense materialistic strength overpowering and almost extinguishing the life of its subculture. There is utter despair of any hope for a nation to emerge. The conditions of the Jewish people found in last week's Parsha are the conditions that should terminate the existence of a nation.

From this background HaShem begins to draw the primary image, the image of the Jewish people. These people will remain His to the end of history at which time they will have brought awareness to the entire family of mankind of His existence and His absolute sovereignty.

Let us now try to recognize the distinction of the image over the background.

The image our Parsha begins to paint is the story of how HaShem smote Egypt with the ten plagues. (Actually only the first seven are recounted, the remaining three come next week.) Every plague was a demonstration of HaShem's might and sovereignty. The very sources of Egypt's physical strength were smitten. For example, the Nile Rive from which all Egypt's material success flowed was turned to blood for an entire week!

The emergent picture is the awesome strength of HaShem's power and His absolute dominion over His material world. This image continues to be drawn in next week's Parsha until finally the nation of Israel emerges from Egypt and march their way to Sinai at which point they become united in an eternal bond with HaShem.

Hence, were our people to be a nation of might and strength, our existence would no longer be a demonstration of the His power and His dominion. The means by which we proclaim the awareness of His existence and absolute sovereignty is through our existence.

Our existence has become one with HaShem's Sovereignty.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Paysach Diskind