The Egyptians did bad to us and oppressed us. (Devarim 26:6)
What does it mean that the Egyptians “did bad to us”? It says in the same pasuk that they “oppressed us,” so what is the meaning of “did bad to us”?
Sefer Beis Halevi cites commentators who explain that the Egyptians publicized that the Israelites are “bad” people. The Egyptians said they are people with a bad-hearted nature and you can’t trust them, neither in matters pertaining to the country as a whole nor in matters pertaining to Egyptians as individuals.
And that’s how it has been throughout the generations. The non-Jews are always badmouthing us.
You have made us disgusting and repugnant in the midst of the nations.
You have probably heard the old expression, “A dirty Jew!”
There is a hidden blessing in this curse. A Jew once came to the Baal Shem Tov and said he is afraid of a certain non-Jew who calls him “a dirty Jew.” The Baal Shem Tov calmed him and assured him that there is nothing to worry about regarding this non-Jew. He won’t harm him. Because if the non-Jew sees the Jew as “dirty,” this is a reason for him to stay away from the Jew, and not attack him.
The negative light in which non-Jews tend to see us helps to put distance between them and us, and that’s a blessing.
