Okay, I’ll admit it. It’s not my favorite task. But, then again, it actually is.
Changing diapers is one of the duties of being a dad. But, dirty diapers are… dirty. And, most people aren’t excited to handle them.
But, if I am changing my daughter’s diaper, it’s an act of love. I might not enjoy the motions, but helping my daughter gives me great joy!
Sometimes it’s not the act itself I enjoy, but the deeper objective.
***
At the Seder last week we read about Yaakov (Jacob) traveling to Egypt, resulting in Egyptian exile. The Haggadah informs us that Yaakov went against his will, only because G-d insisted.
Why did G-d need to force Yaakov? Wasn’t he, our Patriarch, the faithful servant of G-d, eager to oblige His bidding?
Also, G-d told Yaakov that “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will bring you up—you will also ascend.” If Yaakov knew it would be a temporary move with G-d guiding him along the way, ultimately benefitting Yaakov, why did he hesitate?
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According to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, “Although Yaakov was happy to do G-d’s bidding, his descent to the debased environment of Egypt was a constant source of discomfort for him. Despite the benefit that his move would ultimately yield, Yaakov never made peace with the enormous spiritual risk it posed for him and his family, even if its impact would be only temporary. His descent to Egypt at G-d’s command was therefore a source of distress, though simultaneously a cause for joy.”
***
Similarly, each of us finds ourselves, from time to time, in situations that seem contrary to who we are. Some circumstances are devoid of holiness, some environments are antithetical to our values, some people too difficult to value.
In fact, one can argue, much of Jewish history has placed the Jewish people in such circumstances. We are in exile, largely in non-Jewish surroundings. Sometimes friendly, sometimes hostile, but often with values that aren’t ours.
Like, Yaakov, we ought to remember the Jewish approach to our surroundings. We have a divine mission to infuse our environs with sanctity, which we enthusiastically embrace. But, like Yaakov, we must always remember that this is not “home.” If we become too comfortable in “Egypt” we lose the role of being a beacon of light for others.
It’s a balancing act. Gleeful devotion to G-d’s mission on one hand and discomfort with the actual environment – which is not yet up to our standards.
***
As we approach the last days of Pesach, we look back at the escape from Egypt and keep in mind that some tasks and some environments are simultaneously both enjoyable and unpleasant! With that attitude we also look forward to a time of unbridled joy, with the coming of Moshiach!