I forgot who said this answer but I concur with it. The leviim were not slaves and everyone else was so the leviim must have done something extra and went out of their way unlike the Jews
Rabbi, Can I simply say that this was the wrong move. I honestly do not believe we should not have been enslaved. However, assuming I needed to provide an answer, it was to prepare us for tough times ahead. As a nation, we first needed to know what is is like to face harsh times. Young Coops (AKA Ethan Cooper)
I think the reason for the enslavement was as Ethan most earlier mentioned. Every nation has its ups and downs, and to show bnei yisrael that to be the chosen nation we will have ups and downs just like every other nation, Hashem put Bnei Yisrael through slavery. In short, it was just another step to the growth of the Jewish nation.
I'd like to side with those who agree with the idea that B'nei Yisrael without doubt has its highs and lows, ups and downs, goods and bads, pros and cons, affirmatives and negatives, love and hatred, I think you got the point. By enslaving the Jews, it is conveying the message that we must step up if we really want to be this Mamlechet Kohanim V'Goi Kadosh. We must take control if we want to be the idealized Jewish nation. We must suffer the consequences. That's why. Happy Trails, Dylan
I think that the fact Hashem had them enslaved was not necessarily a bad thing. I think the reason for enslavement was to bring the whole nation together, and build them up spiritually (as well as physically I assume) in bondage as one nation. When the time came that Hashem felt they had a bit more of a connection to each other as Jews, I think that's when Hashem decided to take them out. Coming with a legitimate (and the BEST) reason (as always), Jake Baum (AKA more awesome than Ethan in every way)
The Bnei Yisroel could not expect to be a great and powerful nation all the time. For them to become a great nation they first had to prove to HASHEM that they could withstand the harshness of slavery and still be successful. Since the Jews continued to keep their Jewish identities and believe in HASHEM, they earned HASHEM'S respect and he eventually led them to the promised land.
According to rav yaakov kaplan, the bnei were enslaved because hashem had to test them to see if they were the right people to chose as "the chosen nation of g-d." Some might say that this is a harsh test however g-d can do what ever he wants so its best not to ask questions.
I have a comment from the ReZesh (Reb Efroni Zerach Schleinger) to share with you all; i hope you enjoy it. The ReZesh feel that the aswer provide by Abarbarnel is verry problematic on two acounts. 1. To suggest that it could'nt have been a punishment for anything Avraham did because he wouldn't do an Aveira is completely rediculous. we know the people in Tanach he lived without doing an Aveira and Avraham wasn't one of them. Additionally, we know things that he's done wrong. such as lying about his wife being his sister on 2 occassions and as the Ramban suggests, leaving C'na'an just because there is a famine. 2. To say that this is Meda k'neged Meda for the brother's sin... 1 thier hatred wasn't baseless, they felt from the history of thier fathers that they needed to get rid of Yosef. Also is it was MKM for the brotheers then it seems that Yosef's decendats would be obsolved. also Binyamin wasn't involved so his descendants shouldn't suffer either. And if you want to claim Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh la zeh , then Levi's descendants should have been punished as well. However, we know they were not slaves like the rest of am Yisrael.
I forgot who said this answer but I concur with it. The leviim were not slaves and everyone else was so the leviim must have done something extra and went out of their way unlike the Jews
ReplyDeleteare you saying the leviim were 'good' while the rest of Bnei Yisrael were 'bad'?
ReplyDeleteRabbi,
ReplyDeleteCan I simply say that this was the wrong move. I honestly do not believe we should not have been enslaved. However, assuming I needed to provide an answer, it was to prepare us for tough times ahead. As a nation, we first needed to know what is is like to face harsh times.
Young Coops (AKA Ethan Cooper)
I think the reason for the enslavement was as Ethan most earlier mentioned. Every nation has its ups and downs, and to show bnei yisrael that to be the chosen nation we will have ups and downs just like every other nation, Hashem put Bnei Yisrael through slavery. In short, it was just another step to the growth of the Jewish nation.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to side with those who agree with the idea that B'nei Yisrael without doubt has its highs and lows, ups and downs, goods and bads, pros and cons, affirmatives and negatives, love and hatred, I think you got the point. By enslaving the Jews, it is conveying the message that we must step up if we really want to be this Mamlechet Kohanim V'Goi Kadosh. We must take control if we want to be the idealized Jewish nation. We must suffer the consequences. That's why.
ReplyDeleteHappy Trails,
Dylan
I think that the fact Hashem had them enslaved was not necessarily a bad thing. I think the reason for enslavement was to bring the whole nation together, and build them up spiritually (as well as physically I assume) in bondage as one nation. When the time came that Hashem felt they had a bit more of a connection to each other as Jews, I think that's when Hashem decided to take them out.
ReplyDeleteComing with a legitimate (and the BEST) reason (as always),
Jake Baum (AKA more awesome than Ethan in every way)
The Bnei Yisroel could not expect to be a great and powerful nation all the time. For them to become a great nation they first had to prove to HASHEM that they could withstand the harshness of slavery and still be successful. Since the Jews continued to keep their Jewish identities and believe in HASHEM, they earned HASHEM'S respect and he eventually led them to the promised land.
ReplyDeleteAccording to rav yaakov kaplan, the bnei were enslaved because hashem had to test them to see if they were the right people to chose as "the chosen nation of g-d." Some might say that this is a harsh test however g-d can do what ever he wants so its best not to ask questions.
ReplyDeleteI have a comment from the ReZesh (Reb Efroni Zerach Schleinger) to share with you all; i hope you enjoy it. The ReZesh feel that the aswer provide by Abarbarnel is verry problematic on two acounts. 1. To suggest that it could'nt have been a punishment for anything Avraham did because he wouldn't do an Aveira is completely rediculous. we know the people in Tanach he lived without doing an Aveira and Avraham wasn't one of them. Additionally, we know things that he's done wrong. such as lying about his wife being his sister on 2 occassions and as the Ramban suggests, leaving C'na'an just because there is a famine. 2. To say that this is Meda k'neged Meda for the brother's sin... 1 thier hatred wasn't baseless, they felt from the history of thier fathers that they needed to get rid of Yosef. Also is it was MKM for the brotheers then it seems that Yosef's decendats would be obsolved. also Binyamin wasn't involved so his descendants shouldn't suffer either. And if you want to claim Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh la zeh , then Levi's descendants should have been punished as well. However, we know they were not slaves like the rest of am Yisrael.
ReplyDelete