Light and Darkness

Bo
Exodus 10:1-13:16
Précis: God sends the 8th and 9th plagues, locusts and darkness and warns Moses that the 10th and final plague will follow. God instructs Moses on the institution of the Passover. Then, the final plague, the death of all of the first born, is wrecked on Egypt, and the Israelites, accompanied by the “mixed multitudes” leave Egypt, carrying with them the “spoils of Egypt” given to them by the Egyptians. The parasha ends with a repetition of the laws regarding Passover.

Exodus 10:23 “…But the Israelites had light in their dwellings...”

Our narrative brings us to the concluding plagues. While the Egyptians huddled in their homes, frightened during the plague of darkness, unable to see one another and even prevented from moving about, the Israelites "had light in their dwellings." Does this mean that the plague did not affect the Israelite homes, but magically spared them?

Sforno tells us that the darkness was more than the absence of light, which could otherwise be overcome by a candle. This was a darkness so thick it could be touched - a palpable darkness of a deeper nature. One midrash emphatically says that it was just as dark in the homes of the Israelites, but that their suffering kindled the lamp of hope, and knowing that their freedom was soon to occur, they could have "light" in their homes. When we are surrounded by the "darkness" which is part of life, keeping in mind the hope of redemption can spark the light we need to overcome the difficulties.

We can look at the concept of light and darkness from another perspective. Jews living in 21st century America have the ability to live Jewish lives more freely, openly, and unencumbered than any generation before us. We are free to participate in all aspects of American life: business, politics, education etc. In other words, we live in an environment of unprecedented “light.” But like the darkness which blinded the Egyptians, this light can be blinding as well. Our freedom to engage in all aspects of modern American life can “blind” us to what our tradition declares to be most important: love of God, devotion to family, and care for the less fortunate among us.