At one time or another they were referred to as the ‘righteous gentiles’, the brave and courageous non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust and during other times in history when Jews were persecuted. Baruch Hashem, in our day and age this kind of help from those elite gentile souls have are not been needed to save us physically, at least not in most western civilized countries). I would like to suggest that the innate culture of goodness that clearly some gentiles have will reveal itself in another form. I believe that we don’t need to look too far in order to identify the goodness and righteousness that certain people have when it comes to helping Jews.
In today’s modern age thanks to the innovative medical devices and the discovery of many drugs and medications, the life span of man has been extended. While people are living longer than they used to, the blessing of long life, in certain circumstances, has its limitations. The longer people live the greater chance there is that they will need an aid or a helper for their physical, daily chores. Even though we are ‘living’ longer, we are not typically living at ninety the same way we lived when we were seventy. Our physical capabilities become limited as we grow older, and the bottom line is most people need help. For many different reasons, family member’s blood relatives are limited in filling this ever-increasing role. Be that the situation, who have we turned to?
My observations are not more perceptive than anyone else’s. Just take a look at the non-Jewish helpers in and about the Shul and community. In Israel the number of aids for the elderly has skyrocketed as well. Many families have household cleaning people who have been working within the community for many years. There is a clear sense of devotion and dedication that I appreciate among these people. We might say their purpose is always to help Jews and the Jewish community wherever and however they are needed, whether it requires risking their lives in order to smuggle Jews out of danger, or to physically help, enabling them to do things we Jews need to do. The care, respect, and gentleness has inspired me. Observing how a worker takes care of a stranger, sometimes with even more attentive, devoted care than given to one’s own child is remarkable. These personal aides and cleaning ladies have become such a part of the Jewish community of our know so much of Jewish heritage (for sure Jewish/Kosher cooking) that I have come to believe that these are the righteous gentiles of our time, and they will be rewarded accordingly.
We, as a people, need to see, recognize, and appreciate the health aids, cleaning ladies and others within the Jewish community. Unfortunately, at times we either take it for granted or, even worse, their kindness and dedication goes unnoticed in the sense that we don’t truly appreciate the pure dedication that goes above and beyond the call of duty. It would be a tragedy if we fail to recognize this. A support to this theory can be found in this week’s Parsha Ki Savo.
In Devarim 29:1 the Torah states: “Vayikra Moshe El Kal Yisrael VaYomer AhLeihem, Atem R’Eesem Eis Kal Asher Asah Hashem L’Eineichem B’Eretz Mitzrayim L’Paraoh UlChal Avadav UlChal Artzo”. “Moshe summoned all Israel, and said to them: You have seen all that God did in Egypt before your very eyes, to Pharoah, to all his servants, and to all his land”. In this passuk we identify the rebuke that Moshe gives to the Jewish people. Moshe uses the word ‘L’Eineichem’, ‘before your very eyes’. This seems to be an extra, superfluous phrase in understanding the verse ,because Moshe had previously said, ‘Atem R’Eesem’: You have seen’? Additionally, 29:2 states: “HaMasos Hagedolos Asher Ra’u Einecha, HaOsos V’Hamofsim, HaGedolim HaHeim,” “Your own eyes saw those great miracles, signs and wonders.” The word ‘HaHeim’, ‘those’ seems also to be extra. Why is it there?
We have a tradition that there are no extra words in the Torah. Reasons are given to explain why those seemingly extra words teach us, giving deeper emphasis to the rest of the surrounding text. Moshe Rabbeinu’s intent in saying these words comes to remind the Jewish people of all the incredible good that they witnessed and benefitted from during their travels in the desert right up until the end of forty years. And Moshe said, “Look at the difference between the earlier days when you left Egypt to the current days before entering our land. Even though you witnessed all of the great things God did in Egypt, at that time you experienced these things it you did not see them well. Back then in Mitzrayim, Egypt, we only saw the actual miracles and wonders being done against Pharoah, his servants, and the land of Egypt. You failed, however, to see, to understand the message of what you saw! You lacked the ability of seeing with the eyes of intellect what was going on in heaven; you were only able to see what the naked eye sees in the physical arena.” Moshe continues explaining, “You failed to see the battle raging in heaven of Hashem’s decision to take the Jews out of Egypt earlier than originally decreed. You only saw the secondary powers of God punishing the Egyptians but failed to see the primary miracles that took place in shamayim – in the heavens. You saw only a limited physical power and capability of God, not comprehending the deeper picture of Hashem’s greatness”.
Those extra words are hints and reminders that the Jewish people overlooked the greater miracle that took place. So, too, witnessing great people, the righteous gentiles who, in truth, are doing miraculous acts because it is way above ninety nine point nine nine percent of what the rest of population-at-large would do. Of course one can argue that they are doing a job; why make a big deal out of it. But that is exactly why Moshe rebuked the Jewish people: they failed to see that extra, even greater miracle in heaven. We too need to appreciate and value the extraordinary efforts of these particular helpers who fulfill their tasks of serving Hashem through the Jewish people.
May those righteous gentiles be blessed and may they continue to ‘look out’ for us Jews in times of great need and or in times of lesser need.
Ah Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky
