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Jews”, whom even if you break them into small pieces you will eyes of the Egyptians. But when they became free men and
find little that is edible inside (and “do not give charity to their were redeemed, they became leaders of all mankind, and all the
brothers even if they are asked”); and not only our “average nations were astonished. And the people of Israel said to them:
walnuts”, whom if you break them open you will find edible just as you are amazed by us, so are we astonished by ourselves
food inside (and “give charity when they are asked”); but even – ‘I did not know my own soul!’” (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:12).
the “soft walnuts” among us, those who “give charity on their In future times, “the congregation of Israel will say to the nations
own initiative”, wear a disguise of humanism upon their faces, of the world: ‘Rejoice not against me, my enemy; though I have
so nobody should suspect them of harboring any special feelings
for their Jewish brothers and their Jewish roots. fallen, I shall arise’” (Micha 7:8). “I was sitting in darkness” – and
so I fell, but “when G-d brought me out to light” – I arose! When
They do not “support the poor gentiles together with the poor I sat in darkness, “I did not know my own soul” and so I fell, but
of Israel because of the ways of peace (םֹול ָ ׁש י ֵכ ְר ַ ּ ד)” (Gittin 61a), when I leave the darkness for the light, the knowledge of my
according to the laws of the Jewish nation, but rather support soul will return – and I will arise!
the poor of Israel together with the poor gentiles because of  Translated by Rabbi Elie Mischel.
their “humanistic” ideals.
Above: Remains of the ancient synagogue in Umm el Umdan, Modiin (PHOTO:
All this is because “I did not know my own soul” in exile, and HOWIE MISCHEL)
have made the “princes of my people” into chariots for strangers.
The first step of redemption is this: a nation that knows its own
soul, that recognizes what is within it and appreciates its abilities
and uniqueness. The shell that fell into the filth of exile must be
scrubbed clean until it is once again made beautiful. It must
reveal its ancient roots to its children, its tender seedlings,
so that they will grow strong and become “the seed which
Hashem has blessed” (Yishayahu 61:9).

However, before anything else, the nation must recog-
nize and admit that it does not know its own soul.
Only then will it begin to learn and to know itself!
“When the people of Israel were in Egypt, enslaved
in mud and bricks, they were abominable in the

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