Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - March '25

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the rabbi

“Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, ‘Go! Worship the
When Moses’ Hostage Deal Lord, but your flocks and your cattle shall be left. Your young tendencies are sometimes associated with the reptilian
brain, the mammalian brain, or the Animal Soul. Modern
Fell Apart children may also go with you’” (Exodus 10:24). psychologists refer to them as “parts” — active members of
Why would Moses make such a big deal over the animals? our Internal Family Systems (IFS).
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler Why do animals need freedom, anyway? Was it worth We are all different, and the animals inside us are unique.
They were so close prolonging the slavery and suffering of an entire nation just Our inner animals carry fear, guilt, shame, addiction,
to making a deal. And it for sheep and goats? As it turns out, the final plague — the insecurity, and other baggage, born of early-childhood
fell apart because of one Death of the Firstborn — was necessary solely to secure experiences or even inherited trauma. The animals within
insignificant detail. Pharaoh’s consent for the animals. All the customs and laws us might include farm animals, such as the stubborn goat
The hostage negotiation associated with the Paschal sacrifice and the very name of representing narcissism, the meek sheep symbolizing
between Moses and Pharaoh the festival — Passover, when G-d passed over the Jewish codependency, or the raging bull reflecting addiction. Wild
seemed to be a done deal. homes to strike the Egyptian firstborns — were all for the animals could include: the snake representing a psychopathic
After the ninth plague, animals. trait, the weasel suggesting a manipulative side, the deer
Darkness, Pharaoh had been What’s so special about animals? symbolizing avoidant personality traits, or the lone wolf
humbled by G-d’s Almighty The animals of the Jews were never enslaved. Clearly, embodying introversion. Even household pets can reflect
power and acquiesced to let it wasn’t for them that Moses delayed. Our sages explain psychological tendencies — cats exhibiting neurotic
the Jewish slaves go free — except for the cattle. that each of us has inner animals — parts of ourselves that behaviors and dogs symbolizing separation anxiety.
behave in ways we struggle to control. These animalistic When you have the courage, wisdom, and humility to
identify the animal that rages within you, you have a choice
to express it or suppress it. The former may push people away,
while the latter may create inner turmoil. But Moses and
Pharaoh’s fierce negotiation over the inner animals reveals
a profoundly exciting third option. We often think our inner
demons must be ignored or suppressed, but Moses fearlessly
inspires us to embrace our flaws, using them to deepen our
character and elevate our potential.
A farmer can plow his field by hand, but attaching
his plow to an ox yields far greater results. A person can
walk on foot, but when he learns to ride a horse, his reach
expands exponentially. A person who has never struggled
with addiction may not fully appreciate the sensitivity and
spirituality of a recovering addict. When the codependent
learns to celebrate his own presence, he becomes far more
self-aware and conscious than ever before.
“But Moses said, ‘You too shall give sacrifices and burnt
offerings into our hands, and we will make them for the Lord
our God. And also our cattle will go with us; not a [single]
hoof will remain, for we will take from it to worship the Lord
Diversity. Inclusivity. the Lord until we arrive there’” (Exodus 10:25-26).
our God, and we do not know how [much] we will worship
Moses insists that we never be defeated by our inner

struggles. He passionately inspires us to see our challenges
as our divine assignment — to find a way to use our inner
Jewish Values and a better human being.
animal to become a better Jew, a better parent, a better spouse,

A grieving widow, desperate to save her ailing child,

sought help from the Baal Shem Tov. Despite his prayers with
ten holy rabbis, the child’s fate seemed sealed. Refusing to
March with Jewish Federation in the give up, the Baal Shem Tov ventured into a dangerous forest,
where he encountered a band of thieves.

Asking them for help, he gathered a minyan of criminals
annual Palm Beach Pride Parade to pray. Miraculously, the child recovered. When his students
questioned how he succeeded, the Baal Shem Tov explained,
“All the gates in heaven were locked. I needed someone who
Sunday, March 30 | 11 a.m. knows how to pick a lock.…”
This story is profound in its implications. There are

Downtown Lake Worth Beach heavenly doors that only a recovering sinner can open. G-d
is perfect and knows what He’s doing. He loves you — all
of you, including your unique strengths and imperfections.
You’re not a mistake — have fun figuring out the things that
(Meeting location will be provided after registration.) only you can do!
Rabbi Dovid Vigler is the spiritual leader at Chabad of
Palm Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio
Show. Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.

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