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`Darkness' Keeps Us
From Fellow Humans
Lots of people put off writing a will.
It can be scary to think about.
After all, wills are for
Old people.
Sick people.
Rich people.
Other people.
RABBI IRWIN GRONER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
A
But if there are people you care about, a will is more
than just a good idea.
Safeguard their future. Draw up a will. And after you
have, ask yourself:
1. Does your will provide for charities you value?
2.
Do you need language in your will to help you
provide for your community in a way that is
meaningful to you?
Let us help you. Contact the Jewish Federation Endowment Fund
office, 642-4260, ext. 202.
Federated Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
P. 0. Box 2030 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030
Know
someone
new in town?
Please let us know
Shalom
Detroit
is here to
welcome
newcomers
Call 642-4260, ext. 183 to arrange a visit.
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story is told about a
young boy who was
studying with his
teacher the Torah
selections of the week. The
youngster read to his teacher
the narrative about the ninth
plague, "There was a thick
darkness all over Egypt, and
they saw not one another .. .
for three days."
The student turned to his
teacher and asked, "What
kind of plague was this ninth
plague of darkness? All the
Egyptians had to do was light
their lamps. Were the Egyp-
tians lazy? Isn't that what
they did every night when it
became dark?"
His teacher smiled as he
listened to the young boy's
queries and he replied, "Your
questions are excellent, but
allow me to answer them. The
darkness which afflicted the
Egyptians was of a special
kind. It did not simply affect
the eyes, it affected the heart.
Physically, the Egyptians
were able to see. However,
emotionally, the Egyptians
did not feel for each other.
They did not see one another,
literally, 'each his brother!
They were blind to each
other's needs."
When a person so lives and
acts that he is blind to his
brother, then he has been
struck by darkness. If a per-
son cannot face his fellow, if
he cannot extend his hand in
affection, if he does not share
his burdens, then indeed, does
he suffer from a dread afflic-
tion. This is the "great
darkness" placed ninth in the
series of plagues, for in the
order of severity, only the
10th plague, death, is more
harsh than the darkness that
prevents one from seeing
another.
What is this darkness that
divides people? What is it
that erases from a man's
heart the love of his neighbor?
What is the source of that
terrible violence that increas-
ingly is convulsing so many
societies?
First, we note the darkness
of power. When power is given
to certain people, it gives
them such a sense of privilege
that no one else seems worthy
of respect and care. A great
society produces great leaders
to whom is given the authori-
ty of power. But there should
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
be integrated with that
authority a sense of obliga-
tion and responsibility. In
Deuteronomy, it is stated that
the King of Israel should have
a copy of the Torah with him
at all times. He should study
it and consult it. For if the
king, the leader, the chief ex-
ecutive is not bound by a
system of moral values, then
power will become a source of
exploitation and corruption.
Secondly, we find the
darkness of insecurity. There
are people who do not have
enough belief in their own
value to maintain their own
self-respect. They can raise
their self-esteem only by hav-
ing someone beneath them.
So much of prejudice rests
upon this emotional need. If
there were no lower classes,
Shabbat Bo:
Exodus 10:1-13:16
Jeremiah
46:13-28.
how could we belong to the
higher? If there were no poor,
how could we take pride in
our wealth? If there were no
servants, how could we be
masters? We find those who
cannot accept the equality of
others because it would
disturb their own perverted
sense of self-pride. Darkness
descends upon such people for
they reject brotherly relation-
ships with those who differ
from them.
Finally, we encounter the
darkness of doctrine.
Desperate people accept
ideologies and beliefs that
give them a sense of
superiority and encourage at-
titudes of contempt and scorn
for others. We identify the
great causes or ideals to
which we are loyal adherents
— democracy, freedom, in-
dependence, justice, faith,
social reform. We isolate a
certain quality or value or
goal — by assigning to it great
importance, and then we
dismiss, reject and crush all
who differ from us. Those who
speak in the name of high
ideals should never forget
that the ultimate test of their
efforts is measured by the
lives of men and women.
The most extreme and
dangerous expression of this
moral darkness is demon-