A deeper dive into our ‘Guide to the Perplexed’
Most readers of this column are likely familiar with this week’s title as belonging to a brief but powerful and yet controversial work written by the incredible Rambam, Moses Maimonides (1135-1204).
I do not intend to talk about him other than to say that the Hebrew title of this work is Moreh Nevuchim, which is usually translated as Guide to the Perplexed. But is that an accurate translation?
Before we continue, let me say that the answer is more than one of semantics, but rather has profound implications and relevance for all of us today.
If we look at last week’s parsha, B’Shalach, we note the presence of this very same word, nevuchim, uttered by Pharaoh as he sees B’nei Yisrael trapped between his advancing forces and the Yam Suf (Re(e)d Sea): “V’amar Paroh, nevuchim hem ba’aretz; sagar aleihem hamidbar (Pharaoh will say of the Children of Israel, they are locked in the land, the Wilderness has shut them in).”
This is based on Rashi’s interpretation, where he uses the words keluim and meshukaim to explain — which he says means locked in, like a prison, and submerged, as in underwater, citing several verses in Tehillim (84:7) and Job (28:11, 38:16).
But all those places he cites are talking about being in depths of water. Here, B’nei Yisrael are still on dry land and furthermore there’s nothing about being perplexed.
Rashi, realizes these difficulties, and adds a second interpretation that states “they were locked in to the midbar (wilderness) and didn’t know how to get out and where to go.” This is certainly closer to being confused or lost, but we’re not at “perplexed” yet.
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When I read how B’nei Yisrael were confronted by galloping Egyptian chariots behind them and teeming waters of the restless sea in front of them, I can hear Yul Brynner murmuring with glee, “This G-d of the Hebrews is a bad general. He’s left them no way of escape. They’re trapped up against the Red Sea; there’s nowhere for them to turn.” Based on that, I don’t think they were perplexed — they were terrified!
Targum Onkelus has a better interpretation using the word m’arbelin, meaning mixed up. That’s closer to our understanding of they’re being confused.
There is another place in Tanach where the same root word as nevuchim is used, and honestly I’m surprised that Rashi did not bring it as a source that would explain everything. It too is familiar to almost all of us, coming from Megillat Esther.
At the end of Chapter 3, verse 15, just as evil Haman has convinced Achashverush to allow him to murder ALL the Jews and take ALL their possessions, they sign an official document, seal it with the King’s royal signet ring — v’Hamelech v’Haman yashvu lishtot, v’ha’ir Shushan navocha (and the King and Haman sit down to have a drink and the city of Shushan is perplexed)!”
Bewildered, confused, perplexed, not having the foggiest notion what is happening and why it’s happening. That’s what nevuchim/ navocha means.
But in truth, further examination indicates Rashi may be right as well. This confusion, this feeling of being lost is not just an academic issue. that you can dismiss as being incomprehensible but of no concern or consequence to you. For B’nei Yisrael in the midbar after leaving Mizrayim and then being blocked by the sea, or the Jews of Persia given a deadline for their destruction that is irreversible, it affects you and your family and your people personally. You are not just lost; you are trapped. You feel doomed.
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Isn’t this the way we feel today? Israel is opening Gaza, even though Hamas is still there and still armed. Iran is threatening Israel, in fact the whole world, with destruction, while it slaughters its own population. China and Russia have rushed plane loads of aid and support to Iran while the United States is supporting Israel. The United States under President Trump has amassed an armada of military might to bring down upon Iran, but messages are mixed. Is he bluffing? Is this a masterclass in war strategy and a brilliant feignt? Or will he cut a deal that will leave Iran and Hamas still armed and a threat? Are we on the brink of nuclear World War?
We don’t know! We are perplexed, trapped, confused and petrified! It turns out Rashi, Onkelus and even Cecil B. DeMille are all correct.
So what do you do when you are lost, confused and frightened? You pull out a map, or open Waze; you read your instruction manual and you start praying.
And that brings us to this week’s parsha, Yitro. As is often the case we need a virtuous non-Jew to remind us of the gifts we have but often neglect. Yitro got the honor of having the parsha that bears his name, describe for all time, the greatest gift Hashem has given to the people of Israel and to all humanity, our Holy Torah. The Torah, and by Divine extension all of Tanach, is our map, our instruction manual, our source of prayer and protection all rolled into one. It is our Guide to the Perplexed, the Lost and the Frightened. It has all the solutions.
The people of Shushan, were saved by Yad Hanistar, Hashem’s hidden Hand. But ostensibly it was two Jews, Mordechai and Esther who worked with a non-Jew Achashverush to overcome the threat of Haman. They were aided by other non-Jews, such as Charvonah, an otherwise minor figure, who suggested they hang Haman high (Esther 7:9) and he is remembered for this good deed.
Today we are led by a president that some describe as Achashverush. I believe he is a combination of both Achashverush and Koresh, both Persian kings that did great things to aid the Jewish people. It is ironic, but evidence of Yad Hashem b’Kol davar, Hashem’s hand is in everything, that this president must now defend us and all truth loving people from the new Persian despots. There are many non-Jews, worthy and righteous, even more so than Charvonah, in Trump’s administration. Mike Huckabee and Marco Rubio are two that come to mind. And how many know that the Abraham Accords were in fact named by a non-Jew named General Miguel Correa of the National Security Council?
It is so clear that we are on the verge of incredible miracles, the ultimate Geula. But like Kriyat Yam Suf before and the rescue of the Persian Jews on Purim, it took the actions of both Jews and non-Jews, individual leaders and the people as a whole, to make it happen. Nachshon jumped in but the rest of the Children of Israel had to follow. Mordechai and Esther led the way, but the rest of the Jewish community had to fast and pray, display their emunah, and then fight to bring about victory. They had to lead their non-Jewish allies in this battle. But before they could do that, they had to unite themselves. They had to come together, as Esther instructs Mordechai, “Lech knos et kol hayehudim (Go, gather all the Jews together).”
We must do the same and come together as One people, so we can lead the civilized world to victory over evil. Just as B’nei Yisrael came together upon the exodus from Egypt, as Esther and Mordechai united the Jews of Shushan, we must put aside our differences and lead the world away from this abyss and to the light of redemption. Nothing less than the fate of the world depends on it.
Shabbat shalom.
Write: Columnist@TheJewishStar.com
