The Hidden Roots of Exile: How a Subtle Mindset Led to Slavery in Egypt

Our sages teach that the slavery in Egypt began through a clever strategy. Pharaoh called for volunteers for a national project, and he himself symbolically “placed a brick on his shoulder” and joined the work. The people of Israel eagerly volunteered, showing enthusiasm and strong ability. Gradually, what began as voluntary service turned into obligation, and eventually into forced labor.

Similar patterns appeared in later periods as well. Jews often joined national efforts and even sacrificed their lives in the wars of the nations among whom they lived, such as in Hungary and Germany in the nineteenth century.

What is the root of this spirit? Why have Jews so often rushed forward, even into danger, for the sake of foreign nations?

It seems that as strangers in their host countries, Jews often felt a need to justify their presence, to show gratitude, and to contribute to the society around them.

Is This Feeling Justified?

In the previous portion, Rashi brings the words of the sages that “when Jacob died, the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed because of the suffering of the slavery.” Commentators question this, since many years passed before the actual enslavement began.

A deeper explanation can be suggested. The physical slavery began only decades later, but Jacob’s death triggered a change in mindset that led to it.

As long as Jacob was alive, and as the sages say, the famine ceased because of his merit, the people of Israel felt they had a certain standing in Egypt. They did not feel like recipients of charity. On the contrary, Egypt benefited because of them.

After Jacob died however, they began to feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they felt they owed something to the Egyptian nation and its rulers. This created a subtle sense of inferiority, a feeling that drove them to join Pharaoh’s national project. They volunteered in large numbers, and that very willingness eventually turned into forced labor and crushed them under the weight of the pyramids.

This explains the phrase that their eyes and hearts were closed. The process of slavery had already begun internally, at the moment they adopted this mindset.

Although such a feeling may appear noble, and indeed has accompanied the Jewish people throughout exile, a deeper look reveals that it is not always so. Sometimes it stems from a sense of inferiority or an excessive concern with how others view us, even when the reality is different.

A New King Who Did Not Remember Joseph

The Torah says that a new king arose “who did not know Joseph,” whether literally or by choice. Had they remembered Joseph, they would have remembered that he saved Egypt from famine.

Even if the Egyptians chose to forget, the people of Israel should have remembered. They should not have felt like dependents living off others. Gratitude is important, but it must be balanced with a clear understanding of reality.

It is possible that this emotional dependence was itself the “suffering of slavery” that blinded their hearts and eventually led to actual enslavement.

Recognizing Our Contribution

This pattern has repeated itself in other exiles. The Jewish people have often contributed, directly or indirectly, to the nations in which they lived. Had they fully recognized this, they might not have felt compelled to prove their loyalty at any cost, even at the expense of their own identity.

The contribution of the Jewish people is not only economic or intellectual. Even when it is not visible, Jewish presence brings blessing and abundance.

According to Kabbalistic thought, when the Jewish people are in exile, the flow of blessing comes to them through the nation in which they live. That nation receives additional abundance so that it can sustain the Jewish people. Since this is a state of exile and concealment, it often appears as though the host nation is the source of the blessing, when in truth it is not.

This awareness should uplift the spirit of the Jewish people. Without diminishing the value of living under a benevolent society, it is important to remember both our visible and hidden contributions. This helps prevent feelings of inferiority and emotional dependence.

Praise God, All Nations

This idea may explain the verse in Psalms, “Praise the Lord, all nations, for His kindness has prevailed over us.”

At first glance, it is puzzling. Why should the nations praise God for His kindness toward Israel?

One explanation is that during exile, the abundance destined for Israel flows through the nations among whom they live. When God’s kindness increases for Israel, it also increases what those nations receive. At times, they may even receive the greater share, while Israel receives less, even though Israel is the true source of that blessing.

This situation has sometimes led nations to claim that God has replaced Israel with them. The prophets, however, affirm that God’s covenant with Israel is eternal. Even when it is hidden, it remains intact.

Within the Jewish People

This principle applies within the Jewish people as well. Those who uphold Torah create a foundation for the nation’s existence, and those who study Torah contribute to the overall flow of blessing.

Perceptive individuals can often sense that places where Torah is present are places of increased blessing and success, sometimes even in material ways. These things are not always obvious, as we live in a time of concealment, but those who look carefully can see them.

Who Sustains Whom?

This idea is illustrated by a story about Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch, a renowned rabbi and head of the Telz Yeshiva.

In his early years, he was supported financially by his father in law, whose resources were very limited. The mother in law often urged that the young couple become independent, given the financial strain. The father in law, however, wanted to continue the arrangement, valuing the merit of supporting Torah.

Eventually, Rabbi Bloch accepted a rabbinical position to ease the burden. On the day he was preparing to leave, his father in law suddenly passed away.

At the funeral, the widow cried out, “Who was supporting whom? I thought we were supporting him, but now I see that he was supporting us.”

This realization captures the deeper truth. What appears on the surface is not always the real source of strength and blessing.